EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I keep alluding to this program because some students want to get summer jobs where they learn skills that can assist them when they go back to school.
At the appropriate time, I will be asking questions to the (interpretation ends) Minister for Human Resources, Hon. Minister Shewchuk.
As a courtesy, Mr. Speaker, I would like to inform the Minister of Human Resources that I will be asking about summer student employment.
Member’s Statement 073 – 3(3): School Non-attenders (Ugyuk)
I rise today to once again stress the urgent need to address the high rates of non-attendance in our schools.
Mr. Speaker, as you will recall, in March, I posed a written question on the number of Nunavut children and youth who are school “non-attenders.” I recently received the answer to my question and I would like to thank the minister and her departmental officials for providing this information.
Mr. Speaker, I have had a chance to look closely through the information details. In comparing the numbers from the 2009-2010 school year to the numbers from the 2010-11 school year, I am concerned to see that in the Kitikmeot region, the number of “non-attenders” appears to be going up.
Mr. Speaker, I believed, like many others, that when we got more Inuit teachers in our schools, this would keep more of our students in school as well, but it doesn’t seem to be working out that way.
Mr. Speaker, I understand that many of the district education authorities, in cooperation with the DEA Coalition and the Department of Education, are working on attendance policies for their communities, but things seem to be taking a very long time to be finalized and implemented. In the meantime, children are falling through the cracks.
Mr. Speaker, in looking at the numbers, it seems quite clear that it is our teenagers… .
The member seeking unanimous consent to conclude her Member’s Statement.
There being none, please proceed.
In looking at the numbers, it seems quite clear that it is our teenagers and young adults who are not attending school.
What happens between the earlier grades and the later grades that are causing them to lose their interest and commitment?
Mr. Speaker, I believe that we need to be doing more work in this area and we need to be doing it now before another generation loses the potential to become productive adults and future leaders.
At the appropriate time, I will have questions for the Minister of Education on this issue.
Member’s Statement 074 – 3(3): Back to Work in Iqaluit (Kusugak)
Firstly, I want to thank my colleagues and I regret that I was unable to attend last week.
I am pleased to be back in the House for the remainder of the session.
I wanted to inform my constituents that I’m back in the House. If you wish to contact me, I am again available via my office contact numbers. I wanted to let Whale Cove and Rankin Inlet residents know that I am back in the House by way of this statement.
Member for Iqaluit East, Madam Aariak.
Member’s Statement 075 – 3(3): 2011 Graduates of Inuksuk High School (Aariak)
I wish a good afternoon to Iqalummiut and in particular, my constituents in Iqaluit East.
I rise today to speak to certain educational milestones.
Last Saturday at Inuksuk High School, they held a grade 12 graduation ceremony.
There were a large number of students who graduated. Sixty students graduated from grade 12 at the Inuksuk High School in Iqaluit.
We were so proud to see them obtain their diplomas.
We were told that this year has seen the highest number of grade 12 graduates and we are very pleased to see that.
We have always treated education with great importance and when we see people pass these educational milestones, we tend to celebrate these occasions.
I also want to mention another person who completed her courses. I wish to congratulate Dr. Mary Leia Sowdluapik Cunningham from Iqaluit.
She has received a doctoral degree in veterinary medicine and I am very proud of her accomplishment.
She grew up in Apex and we look forward to seeing her open a practice in the near future.
Another individual who was recognized this past year as a doctor was Paleah Black (interpretation ends) in toxicology at the University of Ottawa (interpretation) last year.
She studied the toxicological and critical links between the environment and human health.
Mary Leia Sowdluapik Cunningham attended (interpretation ends) the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan.
(interpretation) I am very pleased to congratulate these two individuals and that is why I have mentioned their accomplishments. They are excellent role models for Iqalummiut as well as Nunavummiut.
Congratulations to all of the graduates from Inuksuk High School and all of the other high schools across Nunavut.
We will move on to Item 5.
Before we start, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome and recognize one of the independent officers of the Legislative Assembly who is in the House today. That’s our Integrity Commissioner, Mr. Norm Pickell. Welcome to the Gallery.
Also sitting beside him is his cousin, Ron Wakeling. Welcome to Iqaluit and welcome to the Gallery.
I would like to recognize behind me here, Chris Cousins, and his wife, Maanasi Cousins.
Chris is an ex-employee of Qulliq Energy and had worked for Qulliq Energy for 16 years.
Mr. Aupaluktuq: Hello to everybody in Baker Lake.
It gives me great pleasure to acknowledge someone here today.
I’m sure all of my colleagues would attest as well that we all encourage education and professional development.
I am very proud to acknowledge a Baker Lake resident here in the Chambers today who is also an Arctic Winter Games veteran in the sport of soccer, a high school graduate, a Nunavut Sivuniksavut year one graduate, a Nunavut Sivuniksavut year two graduate, also presently a Carleton University student, my niece, Kiah Aqattuaq Hachey. (interpretation) Welcome to the Gallery. (interpretation ends) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I wish to recognize one of the pages, who is originally from Arctic Bay, but is down here in Iqaluit going to school as her father is working for the Government of Nunavut. It’s Amy Kalluk over there.
We will move on in the Orders of the Day, Item 6.
Before we proceed, I would just like to remind all members and ministers to keep your preambles brief and keep your responses short, to the point, and brief.
We have limited time for question period and to have respect for all members so that they have an opportunity to ask their questions.
With that, we can now start the clock and move on to question period.
Question 100 – 3(3): Status of Request for a Comprehensive Performance Audit of the Qulliq Energy Corporation (Schell)
My questions are for the Premier in her capacity as Chairperson of the Executive Council.
On March 22, 2010, the Legislative Assembly unanimously passed a motion that called on the government to advise the Commissioner of Nunavut to request that the Auditor General of Canada conduct a comprehensive performance audit of the financial, billing, contracting, procurement, leasing, and human resources management practices of the Qulliq Energy Corporation.
On October 28 of last year, the Minister of Energy informed the Legislative Assembly that, and I quote, “a formal request will be submitted in the near future.”
On February 24 of this year, the minister informed the Legislative Assembly, and I quote “I believe that that process has begun. At an appropriate time, we will be able to table that necessary document…”
Mr. Speaker, my question is this: has the Premier signed a formal letter to the Commissioner advising her to make this request, yes or no?
Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) Yes. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Can she commit to tabling this letter this week and, if not, why not?
Prior to any document being tabled in the legislature, we have to submit them for cabinet approval and once approved, they can be tabled.
If that occurs, I will inform the members at that time.
I guess my next question is: why has the government not respected the will of the House? It has been a year and a half now and they still haven’t got it there.
Perhaps if I clarify and further explain what I just alluded to.
I have enquired about these matters that require cabinet approval prior to the documents being tabled in the House. However, I want to state that the request for a review was submitted and sent quite a while ago, but I have yet to receive a response as to what the status is.
I was hoping that at least this audit could have been done before the 19 percent increase happened, but I guess that’s not going to happen until later.
Madam Premier, if you wish to respond to it, it’s up to you.
Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank the member for his line of questioning.
Whenever we request an audit from the Auditor General, it is not always possible to get a response forthwith. However, it is at the discretion of the Auditor General to conduct their audit and we cannot initiate an audit on our own. We can only request the audit to be conducted.
Question 101 – 3(3): Tabling of Suicide Prevention Strategy Action Plan (Elliott)
My questions are directed to the Minister of Health and Social Services, Minister Tagak Curley, and are based around suicide prevention within the territory.
Mr. Speaker, is the minister going to table the Suicide Prevention Strategy Action Plan during this sitting, yes or no?
An appropriate and important question.
I know that the work plan has been circulated between all three or four parties involved in that.
Until I have a clear acceptance of the action plan proposal that we have submitted, along with our partners and until they have all concurred with the work plan as recommended from our department, I cannot commit to whether or not I’ll be able to table that today.
If I’m informed today that they have all signed onto the action plan, I’ll be pleased to table it, but I cannot assure him now whether or not they have.
The indication I have is that they are on stream now, but I will have to check with my officials whether or not all of the documents have been completed.
I would just like to remind Mr. Curley that during the winter session, he had committed to tabling the action plan during the spring sitting. So could the minister explain what is delaying the tabling of this action plan?
Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Elliott. Minister of Health and Social Services, Minister Curley.
Yes, I had committed to tabling the document and I’m just trying to assure that proper protocols are being followed.
The parties all have to be on side.
The department has recommended this winter that the action plan is now ready from the department’s side. If all parties can bank onto the document, the sooner the better that we continue with carrying on the work needed urgently. My department is constantly working, contacting all parties, including NTI, the Embrace Life Council, and to some extent the RCMP, that is normally given the courtesy of being consulted.
All indications are that they have.
It’s just a standard thing that I’ve just got to be assured by way of a proper briefing that they are ready to do so. If they are ready, I might be able to table a document towards the end of this session. It’s just that I don’t want to preclude anything from getting in the way, if there are any, so I’m a bit more cautious than I should be.
According to the sessional work plan, we probably have about four more days of sitting. I’m just wondering: is the minister confident that he will receive the appropriate briefing or have a meeting of all of the parties within those four days to be able to table that document?
Hon. Tagak Curley: Mr. Speaker, I think the member and this Assembly should know that we’re not restricted in continuing to carry on the work of the prevention and to continue to address the issues that are related to that very important subject if we don’t table any work plan to the House.
The work plan is circulated amongst the members and I think there was a minor situation that did delay it. There were some compliance issues with one of the partners and I believe that they have been resolved.
The work is going to continue. We are going to be implementing this strategy once all parties have signed on to the draft. I don’t think the signatures are actually required.
I did get a letter, which I quoted partly during my statement in the House the other day, from NTI. They are in full support. So NTI is not at all a question in that regard.
It’s the other parties that we’re working with. I know that my deputy minister had a number of meetings with them and they’re ready to go. It’s just a matter of time.
The courtesy from my side is that I have committed to tabling the action plan once all parties have discussed it.
I agree with Mr. Curley in terms of work continuing on suicide prevention within the territory. I just think that once the action plan is tabled, it will actually solidify and provide more direction as to who is responsible for what and what tangible outcomes will come.
So my final question to the minister is: can the minister provide me with a breakdown per community of where and how many ASIST workshops will be conducted across the territory this fiscal year?
Certainly, once that information is available from my department and the parties have all agreed to the detailed plans for each community, we will be prepared to share that.
Let me say that I appreciate all of the work that continues to be provided by the communities as well because we’re not, like I said, doing a one-track thing in trying to establish better communication with the people that we support with respect to suicide prevention in communities.
There are other community members in communities that continue to assist the families, as well as the churches, and so on, other groups.
From our part, we’re trying to do the best, but we have partners involved with a four-party agreement that is in question right now.
I look forward to tabling that once the information is available to me.
Question 102 – 3(3): Summer Student Employment Opportunities in Smaller Communities (Ningark)
I would like to direct my question, through you, Mr. Speaker, to the Hon. Minister of Human Resources.
The Department of Human Resources administers the government’s Summer Student Employment Equity Program.
My question is this, Mr. Speaker: can the minister tell me how many students have been hired under this program in the communities of Kugaaruk and Repulse Bay?
Minister responsible for Human Resources, Minister Shewchuk.
I would like to thank the member for that important and timely question in regard to the summer student program and hiring summer students.
I would just like to comment that he’s absolutely right in the numbers that he has in front of him about the number of students who have taken part in this program since 2001.
Even just last year, there were 164 students who were hired in 16 communities across the territory that were sponsored by 12 different departments.
We, as HR, encourage all departments to get engaged and involved in the summer student program and to hire students in communities for the summer.
In regard to his two communities that he has asked about, the statistics that I have in front of me for last year’s employment under the summer student program show that there were no summer students hired in either one of those communities, Mr. Speaker.
I’m not sure of the reasoning. However, I think a lot of it is that the government departments that are there need to be encouraged by their departments to hire summer students for summer work in those communities.
I thank the hon. minister for his response to my question.
Concerns have been expressed that many of Nunavut’s smaller communities do not have a significant Government of Nunavut presence, which limits summer student employment opportunities.
Earlier this year, MLAs urged the minister to consider such ideas as providing wage subsidies to municipalities and other employers to hire summer students in smaller communities that do not have a large GN presence.
Can the hon. minister tell the House what he has done in this regard?
Minister of Human Resources, Minister Shewchuk.
Again a very good question by the member.
As the member knows, I have been the Minister of HR for a couple of days now. However, I do have some encouraging news in this regard, though, too.
As the member is well aware, we only have so many dollars that are budgeted for the summer student program. However, it is my understanding that new initiatives are being looked at. The federal government is being consulted with through our Department of HR to help coordinate and supplement the summer student program in communities for different means and various means, one being the municipality.
So I can advise the member that there is ongoing communication with CanNor in regard to implementing summer student programs throughout more communities.
Again I would like to thank the hon. minister for his positive response.
The minister has indicated that the federal government is a partner in job creation for summer students.
I’m wondering, and perhaps he has explained that already: what about the small community employers?
Is the minister working with the employers to create summer employment opportunities for students in the smaller community across Nunavut?
The summer student program is the responsibility of the Department of HR and the GN is to deliver the summer student program through their departments that they have in place.
We will try and encourage that with all departments working in all communities that they hire summer students to give the benefit to the summer student the skills and knowledge of moving ahead in the GN workplace.
So I can say that we will encourage all of our departments across the government to get involved in the summer student program and we will also work with other entities, including CanNor, to seek alternative and better ways that we can provide summer students, not only through the government but through municipalities also, that they might be interested in.
Moving on, Oral Questions.
Question 103 – 3(3): Update on Social Worker Vacancies in Nunavut (Ningeongan)
Just a short time ago, the members spent two days in this House reviewing the report of the Auditor General on the status of the child, youth, and family services and programs.
One of the issues considered the most important factor was to ensure that vacant social worker positions were filled in all of the communities in Nunavut.
Can the minister inform the House today approximately how many social worker positions across Nunavut have been filled and how many are still vacant?
That is a pertinent question and it has been dealt with by our officials in conjunction with the (interpretation ends) Department of Human Resources. (interpretation) They conduct the interviews and advertise all GN positions out for competition.
It’s only the registered nurse positions that are administered by our department and none of the others.
At present, there are a total of 38 funded social worker positions in Nunavut.
The most recent information I have is the statistics from June 1. For 2011, 18 positions have been filled and the remaining 20 are still vacant within Nunavut.
However, as I stated earlier, we worked with the human resources department during the month of January because the positions are prepared for competition for a six-month period and similarly in June for the remaining six months.
We haven’t completed that preparation as of yet. At present, we have 20 vacant social worker positions.
In the winter session, I raised questions regarding the status of the vacant social worker position in Coral Harbour. It has been vacant for quite a few months. Can the minister update the House on the status of the social worker position in Coral Harbour?
Has this position been filled or can we expect a social worker in our community soon?
Yes, we still have the vacant position allocated to Coral Harbour and it has not been filled to date.
I cannot advise the member as to when this position will be filled since I haven’t received any updates on this matter.
Mr. Speaker, whenever I get the information about the change in the status of this position, I will inform the member immediately. I will also table a copy of the information to the Assembly once the report is made available to me.
Member from Nattilik, Ms. Ugyuk.
Question 104 – 3(3): School Non-attenders (Ugyuk)
Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned in my Member’s Statement, I am still concerned about the high numbers of school “non-attenders” across Nunavut, especially in the Kitikmeot region.
I would like to ask the minister to clearly describe what efforts are made by her department to analyze attendance data and information and to determine what factors relate to children and youth not attending school.
Minister Responsible for Education, Madam Premier.
Indeed, absenteeism is a very serious issue which needs to be resolved locally. I thank you for your question. We consider this a very important matter and obviously most Nunavummiut are concerned about it as well.
You asked about the review of the attendance data information. We are developing a (interpretation ends) student records system (interpretation) to ensure that there’s, if I were to state in English (interpretation ends) consistent data collection. (interpretation) That is what they are reviewing at this time, how to collect the data.
In 2009-2010, absenteeism in schools has decreased by 4 percent from the previous year, which means the total attendance in schools is at 71.6 percent to date.
Additionally, we consider this matter a high priority, and the DEA and the department are trying to entice students to attend school and to also improve the school system.
Looking at the numbers in the Kitikmeot, the absenteeism rates were quite high in previous years. (interpretation ends) Can the minister update this House on what specific programs or initiatives are in place to address school non-attendance?
Minister of Education, Madam Premier.
Yes, there are a number of initiatives currently under development. As an example, a program currently being developed is entitled Naamanngittuq Upaqattanngikkuvit.
In English, (interpretation ends) “It’s not okay to be away.” (interpretation) This program initiative contains the process that our schools within Nunavut can follow to help students overcome their problems and how we can work together as a community to combat the problem of absenteeism.
Additionally, they’re gathering information on the activities students can employ to improve attendance as (interpretation ends) a pilot project in Baker Lake to determine what works to help students stay in school. So it will be interesting to find out after the pilot project is over as to how the outcome of that will be.
Another work in progress is a new program and approaches to new programming in grades 6 to 9, where students sometimes start dropping out. Funding to DEAs to support attendance initiatives in each community is another initiative; the development of a project to identify ways to help male students find school more interesting and engaging so that they stay in school; and improving attendance requires the combined efforts of schools, DEAs, education, parents, and the whole community.
(interpretation) The statement I just voiced in English attests to the importance of working in conjunction with the local community. We have to make a commitment to work with the DEA, the Department of Education, parents, as well as the entire community to lay groundwork on collaborating towards improving the situation.
Yes, as we live in the communities, we know students who have dropped out tend to end up in the justice system and they are generally less well off and this is a priority that I want resolved.
(interpretation ends) Under the Education Act, district education authorities are required to establish attendance policies for their communities. Can the minister update this House on how many DEAs have their attendance policies written and what is being done to support and encourage those DEAs that have not yet finalized their community attendance policies?
I don’t have that information in front of me, so I’ll take that as notice.