EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Medical doctors today do not recognise the traditional ways of treatment.
When we are not going to be sensitive to this, I feel that this is just lip service during this discussion.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Natsiq.
My colleague and I seem to be discussing something different topics than what we’re trying to establish now or has been requested many, many times.
Inuit, especially those who work for the government department have requested this and it’s also one of their goals in our Bathurst Mandate, and we want to strengthen it.
This is not just lip service; we are working very seriously on it and that’s how we have established this and I'm very proud and happy to say that the initial meeting of the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Katimajiit will happen tomorrow.
As Katimajiit, these are Inuit and they have elders, were all there and they were also involved with individuals who are experienced in the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
We would like the Legislative of Assembly Members to give them support so that we can enhance their process.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you Are you finished?
Lastly, I would like to briefly speak about how they will be starting.
We know mature adults have assimilated European culture that’s why I was quite concerned about this.
Because this is not a European culture we’re talking about, for example we believe that we’ve been assimilated too much, if we’re told what to do, even though it’s not our culture, we start believing it and start working on, because we’ve been assimilated so much.
I will use a couple as an example, I feel should be dealt with by the department, by Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Katimajiit like councillors or social workers.
There are social workers out there and because so many are based on Government qualifications, even though they are Inuit, there are many, many barriers that we have to face with the qualifications because we have to abide by the laws.
Within the responsibilities, perhaps, like if they counsel a couple, this councillor is not going to talk to anyone about that.
As an Inuk person, an Inuk councillor approached by a young couple, in Inuktitut that councillor would speak to the parents to resolve the situation, but in the Qallunaaq way, there are confidentiality issues to deal with.
So, this is just one of the examples I am using.
Many believe that they have to abide by the laws and rules and they are not native people; they do not know the traditional Inuit ways and that should be one of the priorities that this Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Katimajiit should deal with.
And also, but those are just some of the examples I am using, but those are the ones that I would like to see, even though it seems to be funny and yet it angers us to hear.
Not too long ago, a few days ago, this person in Chesterfield Inlet harvested a polar bear out of season and they confiscated the polar bear hide.
How he harvested the polar bear was fine, but he harvested the polar bear out of season because the polar bear management zones are different and in their management, polar bear management zones seasons close on different dates.
Perhaps, that polar bear just came from one zone to the other.
That did not make sense.
If you did something, such as to have quotas and some rules to follow, yet we cannot harvest polar bears during the summer.
This is just an example; those are some of the examples that can be dealt with.
For instance, if an individual harvests a polar bear, that individual was dealt with in a non-Inuktitut way, his polar bear skin was confiscated; when you see that happen, you think that the wildlife biologists or the officers only think that these polar bears are not going to come out of their polar bear management zone.
You can only harvest polar bear from this area only, not from that management zone.
Polar bears are wanderers; they swim during summer to long distances and walk on the ice, also to long distances in the wintertime.
They go back and forth; they migrate back and forth.
Yet, that polar bear skin was confiscated as an example and I know that polar bear was in the other management zone where he would not have been harvested it out of season.
These are some of the things that I stress that the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Katimajiit should focus on or pay close attention to.
Those are some of the areas that they should be working at.
We faced a challenge earlier, a few years ago when this individual wanted to harvest polar bear using traditional ways, using a dog team and that is when we faced a problem there.
I feel that we should be considering and paying closer attention to these things so that there would be fewer barriers that Inuit face because many barriers are totally outside of our tradition and culture.
The reason why we run into barriers is because they are not from our culture and tradition.
That is my conclusion, Mr. Chairman.
I would like to thank the Member for giving us a good example of the problems that we encounter today.
We have to remember who we are working for.
The Inuit people will have to be represented by our Government, and our Government must start using more Inuit ways so that we evolve it into our Government as a working language.
The people who will be taking on these items that are not part of their culture, if they feel that it needs to be changed than the Member raises some good points to work off of.
I just wanted to thank the Member for his example that was understandable and relatable.
Do we agree that Minister’s Statement 167-1(6) has been concluded?
167-1(6) is concluded.
I would like to thank the Minister and Leona Aglukkaq.
The Committee would like the Minister of Health and Social Services to make his Opening Statements for 2004/2005 for Review of the Capital Estimates for Health and Social Services.
The Minister for Health and Social Services.
Do you have Opening Comments?
Mr. Chairman, it gives me great pleasure today to bring forward and address the Committee of the Whole on the Review of the Capital Budgets for Health and Social Services.
Mr. Chairman and the Members of the Assembly, thank you for the opportunity to present today the 2004-2005 Capital Estimates for the Department of Health and Social Services.
Before I begin, I would like to introduce the members of my staff who are with me here today in the Gallery.
Directly to my immediate left is Ms. Rosemary Brown, who is the Capital Planner for the Department of Health and Social Services, based out of Rankin Inlet, who is well known to a lot of the Members here.
Mr. Bernie Blais, who is the new Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services.
Mr. Wayne Govereau, who is also a Senior Policy and Planning Analyst.
And next to Wayne is Mr. Eric Whitford, the Certified Management Accountant, the fiscal guru who was lent to the Department from the Department of Finance, who has ascertained that the financial stability of the department is very good, and indeed working on some of the recommendations being made.
We want to thank Eric for being available to today.
Mr. Chairman, the Department of Health and Social Services is responsible for the delivery of a wide range of health and social services programs across Nunavut.
The delivery of these programs, Mr. Chairman, requires facilities that are up to date, appropriately sized for the population, and well equipped to meet the needs of all residents of Nunavut.
It is our intention over the next ten years to continue to renovate and replace Health Facilities built before 1985 in order to meet the changing needs of our communities as well as our programs.
This includes mental health, Mr. Chairman, home and community care initiatives to support residents in our home communities.
Included in the Capital Estimates is funding, Mr. Chairman, I think that you are going to be pleased to hear this.
Mr. Chairman, included in the Capital Estimates is funding for the completion of the Health Centre in Igloolik. I want to take this opportunity to thank the Member from Igloolik, and for Hall Beach, who has worked very hard with the Hamlet there, and the people of Igloolik to have a new facility.
It was one of the priorities of the Hamlet back in 1999 when I first went there, so thank you to the Member.
In January 2003, the development of the residential care facility in the new Member’s riding from Chesterfield Inlet requested that the Government of Nunavut take over the construction of that facility.
The transfer of the project went very smoothly, construction is on schedule and we would hope to able to have occupancy in early 2004.
Identified in the capital estimates are the cost for the 3 major health facilities that are currently under construction.
The Qikiqtani hospital project, Mr. Chairman, is on schedule, with site work occurring now and major construction starting in early 2004, with completion and occupancy in 2006.
The Kitikmeot health facility is now in the major construction phase and is scheduled for completion in early fall 2004.
Mr. Chairman, major construction is also underway for the Kivalliq health facility and it is expected to be completed in late 2004.
Again, I want to add that Minister Ng, brought yeoman service, along with the Members of the Legislative Assembly from the Kitikmeot have been instrumental in bringing this forward on the Kitikmeot facility in Cambridge Bay and I want to give credit especially to Minister Thompson and the former Minister Anawak for their work on the Rankin Inlet facility.
Also identified in this year’s capital estimates are funds, Mr. Chairman, to renovate the existing student hostel in Cambridge Bay.
Mr. Chairman, I want the Members to take note of this from the Kitikmeot.
Mr. Chairman, there are also funds identified in the capital estimates to renovate the existing student hostel in Cambridge Bay and transform it into the requested medical boarding home.
Other arrangements are also being investigated, Mr. Chairman, to establish a boarding home in Rankin Inlet.
Mr. Chairman, the Department of Health and Social Services will continue to be very active over the next few years.
Guidance and support of all Members is appreciated, especially from the Standing Committee on Health, which has given us good direction in putting the capital as well as the O and M together.
Mr. Chairman, I look forward to discussing our Capital Estimates for 2004-2005 with the Committee over the coming days.
Do you have your officials here?
Does the Committee, the Minister agree, for his officials go to the witness table?
As the chairman of the Standing Committee on Health and Education, I am pleased to have this opportunity to make some introductory remarks as we begin deliberations on the 2004-2005 Capital Budget of the Department of Health and Social Services.
The Capital Estimates for 2004-2005 show that the Department of Health and Social Services has a budget of nearly 29 million dollars, representing almost 27 % of the Government’s overall capital budget.
Mr. Chairman, the greatest proportion of the Department of Health and Social Services continues to be directed toward the development of 3 new regional health facilities.
In fact, the projected budget for those facilities in the upcoming fiscal year has increased by 3.5 million dollars since last year’s review.
We have reviewed the 2003-2004 Capital Estimates where the overall budget for the completion of those facilities over the next five years is projected to increase by at least $10 million dollars.
Members continue to have concerns that without finalized contracts in place for the development of the two of the three health facilities, the projected cost will continue to rise with serious implications for the future Government’s financial position.
In addition, Mr. Chairman, Committee Members were disappointed that projects in smaller communities such as Repulse Bay and Taloyoak, which have already been altered or delayed due to planning problems, are now being deferred due to priority being given to the three regional facilities.
The Committee noted the Departments cost-saving initiatives to establish a transit boarding facility in Cambridge Bay for individuals from neighbouring communities who will be coming in to receive services.
However, boarding home services in other jurisdictions, especially Yellowknife, continue to be a concern.
It is the Committee’s understanding that various aspects of service delivery in Yellowknife are currently being restructured and look forward to an update in the House in the very near future.
Mr. Chairman, Members of the Committee have, on many occasions, expressed the view that services for the elderly, behaviourally disturbed children, persons with psychiatric disorders, and people with physical disabilities are more effective by being located within communities where individuals receiving services can be closer to their families.
The 2004-2005 Capital Estimates show that the group home project in Chesterfield Inlet has now been taken on as a Government project.
Members are disappointed that the Minister has not followed up more vigorously on earlier suggestions to evaluate related needs across Nunavut and develop plans for providing services to the disabled.
Mr. Chairman, that concludes my Opening Remarks.
Chairman (interpretation): What is the wish of the Committee?
Mr. Tootoo: I move to report progress at this time.
Chairman (interpretation): There is a Motion to Report Progress.
There is a Motion on the floor to Report Progress.
Speaker: Returning to the Orders of the day.
Chairman (Mr. Irqittuq)(interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Your committee has been considering Ministers’ Statement 167-1(6) and Bill 46 and would like to report Ministers’ Statement 167-1(6) is concluded.
And Mr. Speaker, I move the report of the committee of the whole be concurred with.
There is a motion on the floor; is there a seconder for the motion?
Orders of the day. Mr. Clerk
Reminder for tomorrow at 9 o’clock in the morning, the Standing Committee of Health and Education will meet in the Nanuq committee room.
At 11 o’clock, Standing Committee Observations in Tuktu room.
Orders of the day for October 23, 2003
Motion 029 - 1(6)
Bill 46
This House stands adjourned until Thursday, October 23, at 1:30 pm.
DAY 60
Thursday October 23, 2003
Pages 3979 – 4044
Opening Prayer 3979
Ministers’ Statements 3979
Members’ Statements 3981
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 3991
Oral Questions 3995
Tabling of Documents 4012
Motions 4013
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 4013
Report of Committee of the Whole 4042
Orders of the Day 4042
Thursday October 23, 2003 3979
185 – 1 (6): Premier Okalik Absent from the House (Ng) 3979
186 – 1(6): Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Katimajiit (Kilabuk) 3979
187 – 1(6): Advertising Procedures for Government of Nunavut Job Opportunities (Thompson) 3980
188 – 1(6): Foster Parents Handbook (Picco) 3981
619 – 1(6): Government of Nunavut Contracting Procedures (Anawak) 3981
620 – 1(6): RCMP Replacing Muskrat Fur Hats (Puqiqnak) 3982
621 – 1(6): Cost of Housing Rent (Iqaqrialu) 3983
622 – 1(6): Recognition of Constituent Josephee Takijualuk (Nutarak) 3985
623 – 1(6): Pleased with Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Katimajiit (Irqittuq) 3985
624 – 1(6): Economic Development in Smaller Communities (Williams) 3986
625 – 1(6): Salute Working Families of Nunavut (Tootoo) 3986
626 – 1(6): Community Learning Centre Opening in Baker Lake (McLean) 3988
627 – 1(6): Nunavummiut Dreams and Expectations (Alakannnuark) 3988
628 – 1(6): New Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Katimajiit (Thompson) 3989
629 – 1(6): Pangnirtung Road for Turbot Fishing (Kilabuk) 3990
630 – 1(6): Business Plans to Open a Co-op Store in Iqaluit (Picco) 3990
607 – 1(6): Age Requirement to Pay and Rent (Nutarak) 3995
608 – 1(6): Department of Fisheries and Oceans in the Kitikmeot Region (Havioyak) 3997
609 – 1(6): Number of Vacant Staff Houses in Nunavut (Tootoo) 3998
610 – 1(6): Other Plans to Improve Health Centre in Taloyak (Puqiqnak) 4000
611 – 1(6): Supply Ship and Labour Only Contract for Housing (McLean) 4003
612 – 1(6): Revision of Rent Scale (Iqaqrialu) 4004
613 – 1(6): New Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Members Terms of Reference (Williams) 4005
614 – 1(6): Problems with Grizzly Bears in the Communities (Alakannuark) 4007
615 – 1(6): Polar Bear Hunting Boundaries (Anawak) 4009
616 – 1(6): Access Housing Policies (Irqittuq) 4011
131 – 1(6): Nunavut Tourism Annual Report 2000-2001/2001-2002 (Akesuk) 4012
132 – 1(6): Nunavut Housing Corporation Annual Report 2001/2002 (Ng) 4012
029 – 1(6): Member for Nanulik Appointed to the Standing Committees (Tootoo) 4013
Honourable Olayuk Akesuk, Mr. Ovide Alakannuark, Mr. Jack Anawak, Mr. Donald Havioyak, Mr. David Iqaqrialu, Mr. Enoki Irqittuq, Honourable Peter Kattuk, Hon. Peter Kilabuk, Mr. Glenn McLean, Mr. Patterk Netser, Honourable Kelvin Ng, Mr. Jobie Nutarak, Honourable Kevin O’Brien, Honourable Ed Picco, Mr. Uriash Puqiqnak, Hon. Manitok Thompson, Mr. Hunter Tootoo, Ms. Rebekah Williams.
Speaker: I would like to call on Mr. Puqiqnak to say the prayer this morning.
Speaker: Good afternoon, Members. Item 2.
Minister’s Statement 185 – 1 (6): Premier Okalik Absent from the House
Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise Members that Premier Okalik will be absent from the House today and tomorrow.
Minister’s Statement 186 – 1(6): Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Katimajiit
It is my pleasure to announce that eleven appointments have been made to the newly established Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Katimajiit.
The Katimajiit will provide advice and assistance with the government’s effort to incorporate Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
Mr. Speaker, the new members are as follows, we will recognise them later on, Miriam Aglukkaq, Rynie Audla, Atiima Hadlari, Henry Isluarnik, Jackie Napayok, Metuq Nowdluk, Albert Nuvviyak, Peter Peetooloot, Kananginak Pootoogook, George Qulaut and Mary Ann Tattuinee.
The Katimajiit members are in Iqaluit this week for their first meeting and will begin their important work by meeting with Deputy Ministers and interdepartmental Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Committee Tuqtarvik.
Mr. Speaker, as a government we are very pleased to welcome this fine group of representatives from across Nunavut.
And we look forward to working together and I would like to ask the Members of the Legislative Assembly and you Mr. Speaker, please join me in welcoming them.
Speaker: I’d like to also welcome all the elders here in the chamber today.
Especially my special friend from Arviat, Henry Isluarnik.
It’s nice to see you here.
Item 2. Ministers’ Statements. Ms. Thompson.
Minister’s Statement 187 – 1(6): Advertising Procedures for Government of Nunavut Job Opportunities
I would also like to welcome the people here for the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Katimajiit.
I would also like to remind Members they are still showing the educational materials so everyone is welcome to attend.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to reaffirm the Department of Human Resources’ commitment to effectively promoting employment opportunities within the Government of Nunavut and to inform my colleagues of new cost saving measure being used in the department.
Mr. Speaker, it is perhaps important for me to emphasize our commitment to northern recruitment.
The Department of Human Resources uses a variety of ways to promote job opening to Nunavummiut.
For example, we use our northern newspapers and we post our job advertisements in prominent community locations; we are also starting to regularly advertise our position on local radio and cable stations.
All our job opportunities are listed on the GN website.
All of our advertisements are posted in Inuktitut/Inuinnaqtun and English.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, in the past the Department of Human Resources has incurred considerable costs advertising in southern newspapers.
I am please to announce that since October 1st, 2003 we have been using a new, more economical way of advertising for some of our senior level and hard to fill positions.
We are now advertising Government of Nunavut jobs using an online recruitment service.
“Monster.ca”, (Monster dot ca), posts job ads on the internet that can be accessed by anyone.
This type of advertising reaches a much broader audience, across Canada and is much more cost effective than print advertising in the south.
Mr. Speaker, effective recruitment strategies like these will enable us to concentrate more on northern recruitment to ensure that we bring well-suited, qualified individuals into our public service.
Minister’s Statement 188 – 1(6): Foster Parents Handbook
Mr. Speaker, our foster parents provide temporary shelter for young people in need.
To help them better understand how to fulfill their responsibilities, the Department of Health and Social Services has produced a handbook to provide information on roles and expectations, including what is required from them under the Child and Family Services Act when they are caring for children.
Mr. Speaker, the handbook explains what is expected of the foster parent and describes the duties of the social worker.
This will help develop a closer relationship between all involved with the child in the foster care placement.
Mr. Speaker, foster parents perform an important service to our children and deserve our support, understanding and thanks.
Member’s Statement 619 – 1(6): Government of Nunavut Contracting Procedures
Yesterday, when the Iqaluit Centre MLA was asking questions to the Premier, the Premier stated that he was in support of the people who have companies in the communities.
I asked similar questions, but I could not get an adequate response and he had the Minister of Housing respond to my question.
The Premier had stated that he is in support of the people with the companies in the communities.
If he could be a better leader, if he would have said that the government will be using private companies in Nunavut.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I quote the Premier in his response to the question put forth by the Member for Iqaluit West, “what we could like to say to the people of Nunavut that we support you if you are locally based”
I like that quote because, if the Premier could show real leadership by directing this government, to look at the contracts that are given out for erection of houses in the communities by dividing the contracts to supply and ship and letting the communities erect, that way the money would stay in the community rather than sprouting wings and flying off to southern cities.
I congratulate the Premier for thinking locally based companies are the ones we should be looking at.
Again I point out, now is the time to show some real leadership by directing the government to divide the contract and allow local communities to erect the houses so that the money stays in.
You save money for not providing hotels, wires, electrical, get them but let the community do the work.
That would be real economic development by ensuring that the money stays in the communities in Nunavut.
Member’s Statement 620 – 1(6): RCMP Replacing Muskrat Fur Hats
Mr. Speaker, I am sure that I will be running out of time, so let me know when I do. Mr. Speaker, this is not a new issue that I am going to be brining up and it is involved with Green Peace.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my concern on the recent news that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police is looking at replacing the classic RCMP muskrat hats because of pressure from extremist groups in the South.
Mr. Speaker, trading fur was, at one time, the only source of income for Inuit.
Extremists, anti-fur groups almost destroyed our fur industry to a point where our people could hardly survive.
We are only now starting to recover and it started only when the Inuit and the people from the North became vocal.
Mr. Speaker, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police claim that they would like to find out if a more durable, wind-resistant alternative to muskrat fur exists.
Mr. Speaker, there is no comparison to fur and that is why we, the Inuit, have survived for so long in this harsh climate and that was the time before the Europeans came in.
Mr. Speaker, if you take a look at old RCMP photographs, you will see that the officers only wore caribou or sealskin clothing during the winter because that is the only piece of clothing that is suitable in our harsh environment.