EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I thank the member for lobbying on behalf of his constituents. That’s a very important issue when people are travelling for medical purposes.
As the Department of Health and our contractors meet our obligations to our patients and their escorts, if they have, I will absolutely look into the issue.
I haven’t been made aware that there was an issue with transportation to the boarding home for meals.
I would appreciate if the member, after the sitting day, would be able to give me some particulars in the individual circumstances.
As always, if there is ever an issue that people have while they’re away, they can contract the medical travel office or our patient relations office. In the meantime I’ll look into the member’s concern immediately.
I’m sure my staff are listening right now and are very diligently already scrambling around to make some calls to find out what’s going on.
I just received a phone call last night about this issue.
There was a person complaining about the fact that that person sees these patients that went to go for medical travel, especially in Winnipeg. They don’t have enough money to pay for their own food. They have that problem down there.
Can the minister work on this right away? I know he stated that he will. We need to find a solution for this as soon as we can.
The people who run the boarding home down there should be met with right away.
Just as we were sitting here, I got a message from my deputy minister that they’re listening.
If the member would be able to maybe send me a note with the client’s name who called him last night, I’ll have that specific incident looked into right away, but the overall issue will be addressed as well.
Question 642 – 4(3): Chesterfield Inlet Airport (Sammurtok, T)
I want to ask these questions. (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation.
Last year the minister tabled her department’s Nunavut Airports 20-Year Infrastructure Needs Assessment. This report indicates that Chesterfield Inlet’s airport, and I quote, “requires immediate replacement with a new building” as a consequence of its “failing structural and building system condition.”
As the minister will recall, I have tabled photographs of the current airport terminal building which clearly shows its poor condition.
Can the minister indicate where Chesterfield Inlet currently stands on her department’s capital priority ranking list for airport terminal building replacements?
Chesterfield Inlet’s ATB is part of the (interpretation ends) 20-year needs assessment. (interpretation) We spoke about this with the other department that we’re working with on this. It’s not in the business plan, but we know that it’s going to have to be included in the plan in the future.
Mr. Tom Sammurtok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) The Nunavut Airports 20-Year Infrastructure Needs Assessment indicates that Chesterfield Inlet’s new airport terminal building, and I quote again, “will be based on the standard model air terminal building design that will be developed for the community of Taloyoak.”
As the minister will recall, the government’s 2017-18 capital estimates indicate that the total cost of Taloyoak’s new airport terminal building is $6.41 million.
By contrast, the total project cost for the new international airport in Iqaluit is now over $300 million.
Can the minister confirm that the cost of a new terminal building for Chesterfield Inlet would be approximately the same as Taloyoak’s new airport terminal building?
I don’t have the cost estimates in front of me and that would have to be something that the department looks at moving forward when they are considering the project.
I want to revisit the issue of the federal government’s response to the recommendation contained in the final report of the Canada Transportation Act Review Panel concerning the establishment of a new “Northern Airports Capital Assistance Program.”
In her responses to questions on this issue that were asked last week by my colleague from Baker Lake, the minister confirmed that she raised this issue with the federal Minister of Transport when he visited Iqaluit on July 8, 2016.
My question is this: what was the federal Minister of Transport’s response to the concerns that our minister raised?
We continue to voice our support for a northern-specific airport capital assistance program to our federal counterparts at every opportunity.
As yet we have not heard back on what they will have committed at this time. We are expecting that the federal government will make a reflection of something in the upcoming federal budget.
Question 643 – 4(3): Public Service Dental Plan (Angnakak)
The 2015-16 Public Service Annual Report indicates that the government spent almost two million dollars in the 2015-16 fiscal year for employer costs related to the dental insurance plan that is provided to members of the public service.
Mr. Speaker, my memory is not 100 percent, but if memory serves correctly, the government changed its insurance provider a few years ago to the current company, Great-West Life.
For the record, can the minister remind the House why the government decided to change insurance providers?
My memory is not as good as Ms. Angnakak’s memory, but the government is in the business of seeking out vendors who can provide affordable, efficient and good services for our public servants.
I’m sure there was an RFP at the time, I believe, and based on the evaluation of the RFP by the officials at the time. I’m sure it was done fairly and transparently. They were selected.
Since the government spends close to two million dollars per year on the insurance plan, I would hope that it has some say in what coverage is provided to participating employees.
Can the minister clarify the extent to which the government works with the insurance provider to determine what level of coverage is provided to participating employees?
Hon. Keith Peterson: Mr. Speaker, I feel like I should be working on the frontlines to get all this information that Ms. Angnakak wants.
I don’t have that level of detail. I can assure Ms. Angnakak that I think Great-West Life is providing a very good service. Personally in all the years I have been the Minister of Finance, I have never received a complaint from a single employee about the dental benefits that they receive.
If there is someone out there who has a complaint, send an email or write a letter, sign it, and we will look into it.
It’s not always about people complaining. It’s about getting what I always say, bang for the buck. For what we pay, are we getting the service?
Since the government spends close to two million dollars on this insurance plan, that’s a lot of money, I would hope that it receives detailed reports from the insurance company that provide information concerning the number of employee claims that are accepted and the number of claims that are denied.
Can the minister indicate approximately what percentage of employee claims is accepted and what percentage is denied?
Hon. Keith Peterson: Mr. Speaker, seriously I just don’t have that information here.
If I had known that Ms. Angnakak was going to ask that question, maybe I would have come here with that information.
That’s very detailed day-to-day administrative information.
We have officials who work in our department that work with Great-West Life who assist employees with their applications. I’m sure we get the reports.
The RFP at the time would have… . I don’t know how many proposals were received, but their submission would have probably been one that was best. Based on the evaluation criteria at the time, it would have been the best proposal that provides the best services for Government of Nunavut employees.
Mr. Speaker, let’s be confident that the Government of Nunavut provides a lot of benefits to our employees.
Our medical travel benefits alone are well over 10 million to 12 million dollars. We’ve got medical travel.
We give time off for doing all sorts of things. Great-West Life provides a lot of good services.
If Ms. Angnakak has a constituent or an issue, put it in front of me and I will deal with it. I’ll talk to my officials.
Question 644 – 4(3): Status of Agreement between Government of Nunavut, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police “V” Division, and the Ottawa Police (Okalik)
Last year I called on our government to consider establishing a new civilian oversight body to replace the review mechanism that has been in place for some time with the Ottawa Police Service to undertake reviews of police shootings or other serious incidents that occur in Nunavut involving the RCMP.
On October 18, 2016 the minister informed the Legislative Assembly that he had directed his department to consider this issue. What have they decided to do?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The Hon. Minister of Justice, Hon. Keith Peterson.
Even before Mr. Okalik asked that question last fall, my department was looking into doing a jurisdictional review. I can assure Mr. Okalik and Members of the House that this work is ongoing.
I believe that work has been completed and we’re doing a more detailed analysis of civilian oversight.
Your first supplementary. Mr. Okalik.
I would like to thank the minister for dealing with this matter.
When is this review going to be completed? When will the minister be able to table a report?
It’s a high priority for the department. I have made it a high priority given the public attention to the RCMP in the media and other concerns.
It’s not a report I’m going to make public, but it’s an internal report that we will use to consider other organizations that can provide oversight and investigations of police-related incidents.
The people of Nunavut also need to know about the results of investigations related to the police.
Could the minister indicate as soon as possible what the results were of the review?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The Hon. Minister of Justice, Hon. Peterson.
Just so I’m clear, we aren’t currently doing any investigation of any police incidents. We are looking at other jurisdictions and other organizations across Canada.
We have talked to our provincial and territorial partners of what they do to provide oversight. We will be looking at other organizations, civilian and provincial police that can provide a level of service to us in Nunavut and give us other options.
Currently we only have the Ottawa Police Service that provides investigations of police allegations of violence in police custody.
Question 645 – 4(3): QEC Windmill Study for Sanikiluaq (Rumbolt)
Earlier in the sitting I asked the minister for an update on the Qulliq Energy Corporation’s recent study concerning wind power generation in Nunavut.
As the minister will recall, a technical report that was recently prepared for QEC stated that the best location for this project for using wind power would be Sanikiluaq.
In response to my question, the minister indicated that he would have to look into the matter, as he did not have the information with him.
Did the minister make any effort to obtain the information that I requested?
I also thank the member for asking about that again.
I’m still waiting for the information that he has asked about from the Qulliq Energy Corporation.
Question 646 – 4(3): Firearms Safety and Education (Joanasie)
On November 8, 2016 the minister tabled the 2016-18 Shared Directional Statement between the Government of Nunavut and the RCMP “V” Division.
In this statement the government and the RCMP indicate that, as a part of their work to reduce and prevent crime in the territory, they will implement a firearms safety and education program.
Can the minister tell us who will be delivering this program and when this program will be delivered?
The RCMP “V” Division, I believe, is working with the Department of Health and there are community agencies in different communities to continue the firearms safety program.
What they would do is provide trigger lock and gun safety information kits to the communities.
It is important that these types of programs teach the safe use and storage of firearms, including specific information on how and why firearms can be used safely for subsistence hunting.
Can the minister give us an idea of what this firearms safety and education program will include?
Hon. Keith Peterson: Mr. Speaker, I don’t have the specific details, but I’m sure the firearms safety will teach such things as basic firearms safety, storage of guns and gun cabinets, whether they’re metal or wood, how to operate firearms, using trigger locks, and things like that.
It is also important to ensure that these types of programs are provided to as many individuals as possible.
Can the minister indicate who will be required to participate in this firearms safety and education program?
I believe that anyone who is interested in firearms safety could participate.
Mr. Speaker, let’s be clear that it’s not the Government of Nunavut or RCMP responsibility to deliver gun safety. There is a federal program that I saw in here.
It’s the Canadian Firearms Safety Course that’s offered by the federal government.
They have a territorial firearms instructor who is based here in Iqaluit who would offer training for specific individuals, whether it’s individuals or on a course.
I believe it would be incumbent upon residents in any community who are interested in carrying firearms to be aware and knowledgeable of the courses that are required to be certified. If they do want to be certified to carry arms, they should contact these federal organizations.
I guess you can contact the RCMP too and ask for instructors to come to their community. I believe there is even an online firearms safety course where you could review presentations, watch videos, and answer quizzes in preparation for exams.
Question 647 – 4(3): Concerns Regarding Elders in Transit (Mikkungwak)
Mr. Speaker, some time ago I raised the issue of elders who are on medical travel and have to pass through the Rankin Inlet Airport on their way home.
When flights are delayed or cancelled, the passengers have no place to go.
It is very upsetting to see our elders trying to rest on the metal benches at the airport.
Can the minister provide an update on what steps have been taken to ensure that there is some sort of transient centre or location in Rankin Inlet where medical travel clients can go to rest when their flights are cancelled or delayed?
Again, we have had ongoing discussions with Health Canada, who has the responsibility of Non-Insured Health Benefits.
We are examining the feasibility and the options available to us in Rankin Inlet as well as Cambridge Bay as central hubs for medical travel.
That being said, there are steps that are in place currently that are available to people if they’re there for an extended period of time.
I believe it’s three or four hours. I would have to confirm the exact number. I’ll try to get it before the member’s first supplementary question on the exact length of time that it takes.
Medical travel patients can get day rooms that we have negotiated with hotels in Rankin Inlet so that if somebody is going to be there for a period of time, we can get them a day room, especially elders can get a safe, clean place to rest.
I appreciate that the Department of Health’s travel office does its best to ensure that patients can travel home as comfortably as possible. However, we all know that travel plans can be easily disrupted.
Can the minister explain what information is provided to medical client travellers, especially elders, of what to do in case their travel plans are disrupted?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The Hon. Minister of Health, Hon. Hickes.
Just to clarify my previous response, it’s not three or four hours. If you have an extended delay of two hours or more, day rooms can be provided for people that are travelling.
With regard to the member’s question, as we all know, travel in the north can be a volatile adventure in some cases.
We continuously have phones that are monitored for medical travel to make sure that people are aware from their point of departure, especially if there are any expected delays, but sometimes some of those delays can happen mid-travel.
Every airport in the territory has medical travel numbers posted right in the airport where people can contact through a toll-free number to make sure that as issues arise, they can be dealt with as fast and as efficient as possible, Mr. Speaker.
We can’t always control the weather or the mechanical issues of some airlines that sometimes occur, but we do have our patients’ travel needs at the forefront of our practices and procedures.
We want to make sure that people don’t encounter any more challenges than are necessary. We work with our patients, our medical travel, and our patient relations offices to make sure that medical travel is as seamless as humanly possible.
Earlier this sitting I raised this issue with the minister and I hope he has had the opportunity to get some more information since then.
Some elder medical clients use battery-operated oxygenators while they travel.
If these elders face a long delay, there is a risk that their oxygenator will run out of power.
Can the minister clarify whether this issue has been addressed with the airlines and, if so, what options have been considered to ensure that the elders’ oxygen machines can be recharged or replaced while their travel is delayed?
I do know that there have been staff at the Department of Health that have been looking into this issue since the member raised it in Committee of the Whole.
With regard to the airlines themselves, we haven’t heard a response back yet. We do have people reaching out to them to get the actual travel parameters for oxygen equipment.
With regard to the member’s specific question on battery-operated oxygenator equipment that medical travel patients can travel with, there are normally rechargeable methods in airports where there are plugs that are available to charge during extended delays.
First and foremost I do want to make sure to mention that the member passes this on to his constituents. We haven’t been made aware of any circumstances where it has been an issue, but I do appreciate the member bringing forward concerns on behalf of his constituents.
What I would suggest is that if people are in the midst of travelling and have an issue with their equipment, first they would contact the patient relations office, who would get in touch with the nearest appropriate health centre or health equipment so that we could make sure that the necessary steps are taken to make sure that the client has the equipment needed to continue their travel.
As an example, if one of the member’s constituents were in Rankin Inlet and had concerns with their equipment, they can contact the patient relations office immediately or if it’s after-hours, somebody at the Rankin Inlet Health Centre and the staff there would work to accommodate the traveller.
Question 648 – 4(3): Supports for Persons with Disabilities (Angnakak)
Mr. Speaker, the Department of Family Services coordinates the labour market agreement program to provide and enhance support for persons with disabilities to get jobs and to enter the labour market.
Can the minister provide an update on how his department identifies candidates for this program, and what kinds of training and employment opportunities have been provided to persons with disabilities in Nunavut in recent years?
With respect to the labour market agreement program to provide and enhance support for persons with disabilities and employment opportunities, we try to work closely with the federal government on these issues to ensure that opportunities are provided to people with disabilities that are on par with healthy individuals.
I wanted to firstly clarify that they have rights that apply.
Yes, we have tried to work in collaboration with the federal government to service people with disabilities to enhance their employability through training and employment opportunities. We have employees in the Career Development Division who have undertaken work in this area.
I don’t think I really got what I was asking for.
I was asking for what kinds of training and employment opportunities have been provided.
I know that they work with the federal government.
Perhaps he can look at the Blues tomorrow.
Mr. Speaker, it seems to me that there are relatively few individuals with disabilities employed by the Government of Nunavut.
Can the minister describe how his department works with the Human Resources Division of the Department of Finance to identify opportunities and actively recruit persons with disabilities to apply for positions within the government?
With respect to the plans laid out, I can only speak to cases that the Department of Family Services has been involved with.
Ultimately the Human Resources Division will be affected as well.
We have looked at programs for training on the job or pre-employment training, as well as the Nunavut learning and training opportunities which we have used in the past to hire people with disabilities.
Further, using either cultural programs or sewing circles, and in looking at the extent of their ability to work, we look at the work they can accomplish.
Yes, this recruitment effort is something I will have to review primarily due to the human resource component and how exactly they collaborate with our department.
That is why I will have to look into the issue on how disabled persons could gain employment with the government or if the plans already exist to recruit them into the public service.
It is for that reason that I will have to obtain the information related to her question.
I thank the member for agreeing to get back to me with more information on that.
Mr. Speaker, a number of factors can affect the ability of a person with disabilities to pursue an employment opportunity, whether it would be the lack of training, a lack of counselling, or even a lack of appropriate access or specialized accommodations in the workplace.
Can the minister clarify whether his department’s Career Development Division addresses these issues with potential employers and, if not, who does?
As I stated, it is managed through the department’s Career Development Division.
The division works to identify ways to assist people with disabilities and determine what is available to them.
We are committed to take advantage of their career counselling services.
As per my earlier statement, we are looking at ways to recruit people with disabilities. We look for means to support the person using the department’s resources to determine how people with disabilities can be better served and given more employment opportunities within government.
The GN has to create a process to increase the recruitment of disabled persons or to better meet their employment needs.
As I stated, I will have to look further into this.
It seems clear that the reasons underlying the English title here (interpretation ends) by submitting a targeted training initiative proposal to the career development department, (interpretation) it goes through that division and then it reaches my desk.
This is just in addition to the question the member raised on how people with disabilities can be recruited into the GN workforce or even in the private sector.
Question 649 – 4(3): Energy-efficient Light Bulbs (Okalik)
Mr. Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation.
Last fall I had asked about the LED lights that were being distributed to households in the NWT.
The lights use less than half the energy.
I asked the minister to look into that. Money spent on utilities would be quite a bit lower if you use them.
I would first like to ask the minister what has been done to date on this issue.
Mr. Speaker, I recall his question clearly. Since then the work has been ongoing at the housing corporation. We are working with local housing organizations.
I can say today that new houses that are being constructed will be less costly and use LED lighting. We are moving forward with this in our new construction.
Mr. Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am happy to hear that.