EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I’m still not quite sure what the member is asking, but if he is referring to their role on justice committees, they have a very important role. If the individual is diverted to the justice committee, whether it’s a youth or another person in town, they could appear before the justice committee and have the justice committee talk to them and then present their decision on what the justice committee recommends, either their punishment for whatever the charge is.
The elders have an important role.
I’m not sure if the question is about legal aid, but with respect to legal aid, I can certainly check and get back to the member on that.
Indeed, it is the first time this issue has been brought up, so this is the first time he deals with it.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the minister about this matter. What I am enquiring about is not related to justice committees, but it is specifically related to elders who are included in trial proceedings with a judge and listening to case arguments.
The elders involved can provide advice to the accused. I was asking about the actual elders and not the committees the minister alluded to.
My constituent relayed the fact that he is given a seat, yet he is not allowed to offer any advice or reasoning, so he does not know what purpose his role entails.
That is what he wanted me to ask about. If the minister cannot respond now, since this is ongoing, he can perhaps provide the answer at a later date.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Hon. Minister of Justice, Mr. Peterson.
I thank Mr. Shooyook for the question.
I appreciate the question and raising the concern from the elder.
Certainly, the elders do have an important role in justice within the communities.
If he’s referring to the court circuits and sitting with judges, I’ll certainly have my officials in the Department of Justice look into that and provide some clarity through our courthouse to the communities on what the role is of elders when they sit there with the judges so that they know exactly what their role is.
Mr. Shooyook (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank the minister for saying that he will have his officials provide information later on.
These elders in our community have been involved in this process for quite a while now as part of the court system in various roles to assist the court workers.
This government usually makes the statement that elders are involved, but as the elected representative for that constituent who is an elder, he wanted to get a clearer explanation of what is expected of him.
In questioning this government, it is about Inuit Qaujimanituqangit.
However, it seems this is just used as ammunition, so do we as elders play a meaningful role?
Is it possible to provide our elders with more authority that is not so legally complicated to try to protect those people on trial before a judge?
Can the minister please look into this matter and provide information via correspondence whenever he has the answer and time to do so?
Hon. Keith Peterson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again I thank Mr. Shooyook for raising the concern.
Again, I will have my officials review this issue and we will provide clarity. I will write a letter to Mr. Shooyook that he can present to his constituent to show them that they have an important role in the community.
Question 272 – 4(3): Open Custody Placements for Young Offenders (Angnakak)
My question today is also for the Minister of Justice.
As the minister is aware, section 28 of the Young Offenders Act, provides that young offenders may be placed in a designated facility for open custody. Subsection 28(1.4) provides that this type of facility “may include a private residence, a community residential centre, a group home, a child care institution, an outpost camp or a forest or wilderness camp.”
Can the minister describe the steps that his department takes when determining if a young offender can and will be placed in an open custody facility?
She is quoting a chapter and verse from the Young Offenders Act. I was just counting this morning and there are 83 or 86 laws that the Department of Justice is responsible for. I don’t think I’ve got that one reviewed in detail yet.
Mr. Speaker, certainly the Department of Justice would like to see young offenders diverted from the criminal justice system rather than be incarcerated.
I believe they consider the individual, what their history is, whether they are a minimum-risk or low-risk candidate for open custody versus a higher risk, and then they would take the necessary steps.
There would be counselling involved, interviews, then talking to their case managers, and then they would make recommendations on where they should be placed.
It’s with interest from his business plan I see “open custody” that sparked an interest in me.
Mr. Speaker, in the case where a private residence is designated as an open custody facility to house young offenders, it is important that residents of that home are trained to work with the youth to understand their behaviour and to facilitate their rehabilitation.
Can the minister explain how a facility is designated and prepared to hold young offenders in open custody?
I apologize, Ms. Angnakak. I have only been here for a week as Minister of Justice. I just don’t have that level of detail, but I can assure her that officials from the Department of Justice are going to put young offenders in open custody in a facility that’s conducive to them being rehabilitated and turning away from a life of crime.
They’re not going to put them in a facility that doesn’t meet certain standards.
I will have to follow up and get that information for Ms. Angnakak.
Your final supplementary, Ms. Pat Angnakak.
Perhaps it’s a little early for the minister to also answer my last question, but he could probably include it when he comes back to me with the other.
Mr. Speaker, the issue of measuring the success of rehabilitation programs in Nunavut has been raised in this House on a number of occasions.
Can the minister explain how his department measures the success of its open custody programs in rehabilitating young offenders in Nunavut?
In the volumes of information I have read in books, manuals, reports, and everything else I have read in the last week, I did read about recidivism.
One of the concerns with recidivism is that the department doesn’t really have an adequate tool to measure recidivism, but they are working on that. Again, I think it would apply to open custody.
I will look into that again and we will respond to the member.
Question 273 – 4(3): Medical Transient Centre in Churchill, Manitoba (Sammurtok, T)
Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding that the Government of Nunavut continues to operate a medical transient centre in Churchill, Manitoba.
There are over five GN employees in Churchill. However, the majority of medical clients from the Kivalliq region travel to Winnipeg for medical services.
Can the minister clarify why we continue to operate a medical transit centre in Churchill, Manitoba?
I’m not sure of the current situation in Churchill, so I will have to get back to him.
I’ll take the question as (interpretation ends) notice.
I shall proceed to the next. (interpretation) Oral Questions.
Question 274 – 4(3): Nunavut Food Strategy and the Niqittiavak Committee (Akoak)
My questions are for the Acting Minister of Family Services.
Mr. Speaker, on June 9, 2014, the 2014-16 Nunavut Food Strategy Action Plan was tabled in the Legislative Assembly.
This action plan indicates that the Department of Family Services is the lead for the Niqittiavak Committee, whose purpose is “to explore the factors that influence the cost, quality and accessibility of food in Nunavut, and to make policy and program recommendations with the ultimate goal of improving access to market food for Nunavummiut.”
Can the minister describe who sits on the Niqittiavak Committee and can he indicate how often the committee meets?
Acting Minister of Family Services, Mr. Johnny Mike.
I will have to get back to his question.
I shall proceed to the next member. (interpretation) Oral Questions. Member for Baker Lake, Mr. Simeon Mikkungwak.
Question 275 – 4(3): Supporting the Mianiqsijit Society (Mikkungwak)
In my Member’s Statement earlier today, I spoke of the important services being provided by the Mianiqsijit Society to the community of Baker Lake.
Services such as these, which help to promote and support good mental health and well-being, are very important, especially when the services offered by our government are so limited.
Can the minister provide an update on how many such non-governmental organizations or societies across Nunavut receive financial support from the government for the good work that they do?
Mr. Speaker, there are so many programs out there that support mental health and addictions programs, one of which the member has quoted.
These are organizations that are funded through a government program to the hamlet offices.
We continue as Health supports community-based service development through grants that are available to local hamlets and other organizations. There are things like healthy children, families and communities, parents and tots, and the Inunnguiniq parenting program.
The list goes on, one of which he mentioned, Mamisainiq Wellness Centre, and I commend all those people who put these programs in place.
Mr. Mikkungwak: Mr. Speaker, I recognize that the Department of Health is working very hard to increase services in the areas of mental health and counselling.
However, it is clear that community-based organizations, such as the Mianiqsijit Society in Baker Lake, bring an extra dimension to providing support to residents who need counselling and assistance.
Can the minister clarify how her department supports the ongoing work of community-based organizations which provide such services as mental health counselling?
There are lots of services that are available to Nunavut communities; mental health assessments, mental health monitoring and case management, counselling, addictions counselling, crisis intervention, suicide risk assessments, safety planning, appointments with visiting psychiatrists for patients, referrals to treatment within Nunavut, referrals for out-of-territory care, and the list goes on, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Mikkungwak: Mr. Speaker, as we have heard throughout this sitting, a number of organizations which provide important counselling services are facing financial uncertainty.
Will the minister commit to giving positive consideration to funding requests submitted by such organizations so that they can continue doing their good work?
In 2015-16, Health made $1.3 million available to the hamlets for the delivery of alcohol and drug counselling services. Health is still developing an addictions treatment model that will be used to inform capacity development and we continue. In the 2015-16 fiscal year, Health has made another $1.3 million in grants available to hamlets for alcohol and drug counselling services.
Question 276 – 4(3): Medical Travel Escort Policy (Enook)
Mr. Enook (interpretation): Good afternoon, Mr. Speaker. To Pond Inlet residents and fellow Nunavummiut, good afternoon.
(interpretation ends) I have some excellent questions to the Minister of Health today.
(interpretation) I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Health.
It is regarding a written response to my oral question. In reading the response, it does not even answer my question.
Mr. Speaker, let me preface this question by referring to my question as written in the Inuktitut Hansard for March 9 on page 30. I will read the question, and I know that these are the Blues and not the final version.
Nonetheless, this was the question I was asking, and I quote, “Do I understand it correctly that when a nurse or doctor wants a sick person to have an escort, that decision can be taken down by a director, yes or no?”
That was my question at the time. Due to the lack of response to this question, I am asking it again.
I am unsure of what to add to my previous response, Mr. Speaker, but the (interpretation ends) director (interpretation) positions have the final authority to approve or deny a request.
The recommendations are submitted to the directors, but as the department’s financial authority, they are the only ones who determine if the doctor or nurse is following policy directives.
Even with an escort request, their responsibility as the financial manager requires that they review each request individually.
Mr. Enook (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank the minister for her response. That clarifies the matter.
Let me now ask this question: if the director, who is the financial authority, denies a request for whatever reason they consider valid, who can the patient appeal to if they feel they need an escort?
Is there an appeal mechanism in place?
Yes, a patient can make an appeal if their request for an escort is denied. The director also reports to a supervisor.
A denied request for an escort can be resubmitted by the nurse or doctor who submitted the original request.
The second request is further reviewed and if it is denied again, you would then appeal to the director’s supervisor, who is the (interpretation ends) regional director. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
This will be my last question. Perhaps I’ll use myself as an example.
If I have to use this appeal process and I believe I should be escorted and wish to appeal to the regional director, how long does a decision take for these types of requests to appeal these denials?
The regional director has to provide a response right away. If they have to look into it, the response would take longer if it’s complicated. If it’s a simple matter, it would be decided on right away; if not, it should not take too many days from the time of the request.
I will repeat that it’s not only the regional director.
If they want to appeal a decision and they are not satisfied with the response, it would be good to also approach the (interpretation ends) patient relations (interpretation) staff.
Question 277 – 4(3): Status of Children’s Group Home in Rankin Inlet (Sammurtok)
Mr. Speaker, the government’s 2015-16 capital plan included $1.1 million for renovations to the children’s group home in Rankin Inlet to turn it into a mental health transition home.
Last summer, the Department of Community and Government Services completed an assessment on the facility with respect to the work and costs needed for this renovation.
Can the minister provide an update on the results of this assessment and indicate what the final recommendations were?
I also thank the member from Rankin Inlet. I have not yet had a briefing, so I will (interpretation ends) take it as notice.
I shall proceed to the next member. (interpretation) Oral Questions.
Question 278 – 4(3): Legal Training Program (Okalik)
I would like to direct my question to the Minister responsible for Arctic College related to an announcement earlier about the law program that will be offered in 2017.
I would like to ask what the status of that program is today.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The Hon. Minister of Nunavut Arctic College, Mr. Paul Quassa.
Hon. Paul Quassa (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank my colleague for asking about that program.
It is our wish to continue the law program.
To date, the replies to the RFP that was issued are being reviewed to determine which institution will deliver this program.
We expect that during this winter of 2016, an institution will be selected. Further, the (interpretation ends) evaluation committee (interpretation) is comprised of representatives from the college, the Department of Justice, and the Department of Community and Government Services.
The committee will evaluate the proposals.
In addition to this committee, we have an advocacy group for the program, which is the (interpretation ends) Law Society of Nunavut, (interpretation) and we will include them when we are contemplating the actual choice of a partnering (interpretation ends) university (interpretation) that will offer this course.
To date, there are two proposals. One is from the (interpretation ends) University of Victoria (interpretation) that, as you may remember, was part of the inaugural Akitsiraq Law Program. (interpretation ends) The University of Ottawa, (interpretation) has provided the only other proposal for the RFP for the continuation of the law program we are planning.
We expect later this winter to identify the program as well as the goal that we have committed to, which is September of 2017. This is the information I have regarding the law program and our plans to continue offering it.
Yes, that is good to hear. I hope to see it succeed as a program.
Members are asked quite often about the program and when the start dates are, including when selections will be made and where people can apply for the program.
Does the minister have a rough timeframe for the program opening?
I would like to know so that I can encourage the people who wish to apply to this program.
Hon. Paul Quassa (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank the member for continuing with that question.
In response to the member’s first question, I can state that we have plans to fund up to 25 students for the law program, but that has not been finalized yet. Our expectations are to have 25 spots open.
Interested people can apply to Nunavut Arctic College starting now.
When the applications are screened and reviewed, as per my earlier statement, in collaboration with (interpretation ends) the Law Society of Nunavut, (interpretation) students will be selected to then take this course.
We will work together to identify up to 25 students, which is our goal for this course when it is being offered.
Oral Questions. Member for Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu, Ms. Pat Angnakak.
Question 279 – 4(3): Nunavut’s Water Supply (Angnakak)
I would like direct my question to the Minister of Community and Government Services.
Mr. Speaker, water supplies vary across Nunavut’s many communities.
In some communities, there are concerns that current water sources will not be adequate as the population grows and demands increase.
In every community, there are concerns over water quality and the safety of supply.
Mr. Speaker, we seem to have strategies for everything. Can the minister inform this House whether or not the Government of Nunavut has a water strategy to address such issues as source, quality, and supply of water across Nunavut’s communities?
There are two separate issues here, water quality and water quantity.
I’ll deal with the water quantity first.
I think most, if not all, communities have a reservoir and the capacity of each reservoir is monitored by the hamlets and CGS hears about how much is left at the end of the season.
The end of the season means the lowest point of water because we all know that all the reservoirs freeze over. When there is a concern brought up that the quantity is not enough, we take measures to address the issue.
For quality of water, we have checks that are always made. I believe they are made daily on the chlorine levels of the water that is actually pumped out of reservoirs. We have had a few instances where some municipalities have been short on water.
Those issues are addressed through here by asking for funding to either increase their capacity or build a new reservoir, whatever it may be.
I don’t think we have an overall strategy right now in terms of dealing with the issues of water as a territory as a whole.
It’s more or less dealt with on each community base because most communities’ water supply and water quality are monitored and are okay.
Ms. Angnakak: Mr. Speaker, reports of water contamination in other jurisdictions are quite frightening and it seems they may have been avoided if proper testing had been done in the first place.
Can the minister provide an update on what kinds of contaminants are tested for in Nunavut’s drinking water and how often?
As I stated earlier, I know that the chlorine levels are checked daily by CGS workers. Biological samples are also taken usually when the reservoirs are being filled and then after they’re filled.
We’re luckier than most cities in Canada that we have good water quality up here to start off with, so we don’t have to worry about our water being so contaminated and we don’t get our water from the ground because well, we don’t have any water in the ground. It’s frozen solid, even in the summer, so we’re lucky in that way.
We do monitor the quality of the water because water safety is a big issue and it’s a health-related issue.
It’s checked thoroughly. If there are any indicators that the water quality is not what it’s supposed to be, then it is acted on immediately.
As the member may be aware, at times, there are boil water advisories until we can correct the problem for the water quality.
Ms. Angnakak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Unlike the minister says, although in Nunavut, comparatively, we have clean water and the contamination risk is low, water in most communities is treated to prevent the spread of bacteria.
Water treatment activities have the potential to include such additives as fluoride, which has been shown to prevent tooth decay, a significant problem for Nunavut’s younger generation.
Can the minister clarify whether all Nunavut communities fluoridate their water and, if not, why not?
I can’t confirm whether all communities get fluoride treatment in their water source, but I believe they do.
This is my understanding of it.
The fluoride is put into the reservoir and if your reservoir is a lake-bearing reservoir that has fish in it, well, you’re not going to put fluoride in there.
The fish have pretty good teeth anyway, so I don’t think they need any fluoride.
We are just concerned about people’s teeth.
There are issues with it, but as far as I know, most communities do have fluoride in their water.
An Hon. Member: No way.
Question 280 – 4(3): Nunavut Arctic College Course to Replace CARS Training (Sammurtok)
Mr. Speaker, in recent years, Nunavut Arctic College in the Kivalliq offered courses for the CARS program so that local Nunavummiut could get the appropriate training to fill positions at community airports.
Now that the CARS contract is no longer in place, Nunavut Arctic College no longer offers this program.
Can the minister indicate what courses are being considered to replace the CARS training and provide Kivalliq residents with training for job opportunities?
Yes, as you will remember, it is true that they used to offer CARS training in Rankin Inlet, but it is still not a part of our jurisdiction.
It is offered by others and they have made a decision that this training program be in Fort Smith. We just followed the request because we’re not responsible for that.
To date, the CARS training program is still in Forth Smith. We are trying to consider it, but we don’t have jurisdiction over it.
Even my son took that CARS training program in Rankin Inlet and he started working afterwards.
However, we want to have a discussion on that. This is out of our jurisdiction and they make their own decisions.
It is operated by them, but we will look into that.
We totally understand that (interpretation ends) CARS (interpretation) was not run by Nunavut Arctic College. However, what I am asking about is related to this issue.
Are any other training courses being considered similar to the program that was offered in the Kivalliq region so that Nunavummiut can learn the skills they need to fill jobs in the region?
Has the institution looked at offering other related training programs?
I also thank the member for continuing with his line of questioning.
We should recall that there are different courses and programs offered by Arctic College.
As a matter of fact, I have asked Arctic College to research courses we have not offered previously that can be offered here.
I refer to courses that were not available during high school, so that initiative is under development related to our colleague’s concern.
Part of the reason for looking at new courses that our college can offer is to provide choices.
We have looked at courses such as policing to allow Nunavummiut to become police officers.