EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
And, Mr. Speaker, under the current transportation review that we’re doing with KPMG that has been announced in this House, I’m hoping Mr. Speaker, in the next week to have a copy of the preliminary report.
And Mr. Speaker, this is, as the member just spoke, is one of the areas that we’re trying to deal with to see what is the most efficient way of handling patient services.
I want to emphasise Mr. Speaker, the cost is not the point on the missing of the tickets.
It seems that logistically, we haven’t been able to staff to the point for the ticket to be written on the weekend and that is not acceptable.
So that is something that we’re reviewing.
Yes, the problem is quite serious for patients that are travelling just for a single appointment.
It is obvious that some patients who are not too seriously ill have an appointment to see their doctor, which is not the problem.
It is only hard to tell when the doctor is going to be finished with their appointment.
I found I don’t know how many people on their way to Hall Beach and Igloolik, a few patients who were left behind earlier on today.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the minister, if the patients came to see their doctor with the appointments for only one night and a day, I was wondering what the approximate cost was of the patient being left behind like that.
Mr. Speaker, the member has brought up a couple of very important issues surrounding the area of transportation.
Mr. Speaker, almost 25 percent of our budget is in travel as all members in this House know.
I think we could cut those numbers if we could have a better way of doing ticketing before and after the point of departure for the patient.
The cost right now includes, if a patient has to stay for example in Ottawa or Iqaluit or Winnipeg for more than one day, we have to pay for the room and board as well as Mr. Speaker, the cost of accommodations and food and so on.
Also Mr. Speaker, of course there’s the cost of the return portion of the ticket as well as the portion for the outbound flight.
So Mr. Speaker, those costs can contribute considerably to the overall cost of medical travel.
Mr. Speaker, the KPMG study is looking at, among other things, includes for example, the provision of washrooms on planes, that has come up to this House as well as Mr. Speaker, exactly what the member has talked about which is why our patients are being left behind.
Mr. Speaker, I met with a representative of First Air, who holds the contract for medical travel in the Baffin Region as a result of the Baffin Regional Health and Social Services Board having negotiated with them previous to this government starting.
Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding today, that patients should not be left behind.
They don’t have stand-by tickets; they should be full fare excursion tickets allowing them to be put on the plane.
There have been some instances brought to our attention this week where people were left behind and Mr. Speaker, we’re looking into that right now.
I asked regarding one patient, if one patient stays here for one day, the patient’s accommodation and meals, how much does that cost for a day when they are left behind?
It depends, Mr. Speaker, if the person is staying at Tammaativvik, then those costs are insured through the NIHB.
Mr. Speaker, if the Tammaativvik is full, then at that time, the hospital, the person who is the patient receives a white paper and they take that to the home where they’re staying and they get, I believe it’s 40 dollars a day.
So it depends on what the cost is depending on the board and lodgings that are in place.
That would be the primary cost.
Those are covered, Mr. Speaker, under the NIHB Agreement that we have in place with the Federal Government.
Yes, thank you for allowing me to ask my final question.
Mr. Speaker, the patients that are left behind during the year when you total them, the number is quite huge.
The patients that have been left behind, I was wondering if the minister is willing to table information on how many patients were left behind in the Baffin region for one year.
Mr. Speaker, the member has a lot of support around the table today for his question.
Mr. Speaker, it would be very difficult to get the information of every patient that was left behind.
It depends on how they were left behind.
Were they left behind, Mr. Speaker, because the plane went mechanical?
Were they left behind because of bad weather, or were they left behind because the plane was full and they went stand-by?
Mr. Speaker, most of that information would have to come from the airlines and I understand, Mr. Speaker, as most of the members of this House do, the airlines don’t keep records on how many flights were cancelled and how many passengers were left behind.
What I can say, Mr. Speaker is that the member is correct.
We have had this complaint several times not just from the Baffin, but also from the Keewatin and from the Kitikmeot regions.
Mr. Speaker, we have also had patients left behind for various reasons in Ottawa, in Yellowknife and Edmonton, as well as in Churchill and Iqaluit and Ottawa.
Mr. Speaker, I would not be able to provide the depth of the information that the member has asked for.
However, Mr. Speaker, I would as I committed before to the member, table the report on the Transportation Study, which is a far ranging report, and looks at some of the issues that the member is talking about, to this House.
I would commit to doing that, after the Cabinet has reviewed it of course.
Question 130 – 1(6): Short Term Insurance for Seasonal Marine Operators
Although I have asked questions previously in relation to insuring boaters, or the operators of marine vessels and the WCB policy in relation to harvesters’ insurance, the minister stated that he would respond.
We only go boating within the three months of the year and these hunters buy their insurance premiums for twelve months.
The minister stated that he would respond, already the rivers have started to flow and the boating season is almost upon us.
I was wondering if the minister is willing to respond to me before the session is over.
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You have a very good question.
Yes, in the coming week I will be appearing before the Committee of the Whole.
At that time I will be able to respond to you in regards to that question.
This information is included within the funding estimates of Nunavut Tourism.
I will be announcing to you the Main Estimates as they relate to tourism.
At that time I will be able to respond to you when I appear at the witness table for our O and M Main Estimates.
So in regards to the question of the member, if we were to look at boats, let’s say Peterhead boats, how we can give more support to the Peterhead operators.
When I appear before the Committee of the Whole, I will be able to respond to the Member for Nanulik’s question at that time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 131 – 1(6): Funding For Community Freezers
I will be talking about community freezers.
My question is directed to the Community Government and Transportation Minister.
I directed a question earlier to the Public Works and Services Minister, and I was referred to the Minister of Community Government and Transportation.
I raised the question to the Public Works Minister whether a community freezer that broke down could be replaced.
I was directed to you that your department would be responsible for that issue.
As I had asked previously to your colleague whether they be able to provide money for a new community freezer, I am now directing that same question to you, if there is funding available for replacing a community freezer that has broken down.
Under the Community Government funds, in any of the funds, there’s no money available for community freezers within the capital plan, but it could be done through the Hamlet’s priority list and if it was a priority for a Hamlet Council, then funding could be provided.
But presently, there is no money for community freezers within the capital plans.
We are able to construct community or government facilities, such as health or school facilities because the money is already set aside for those buildings within the capital plans.
We don’t have any money allocated for community freezers at the moment and perhaps this is something that could be researched.
But if this was a priority for the Hamlet, then we would have to allocate money for this kind of project and at this point, I could not tell you the approximate cost of such a building.
Perhaps a figure of five hundred thousand dollars would have to be allocated for this kind of work and that is only an estimate.
But presently there’s no money available at all and these facilities are not recognized as core community facilities.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): I asked earlier if a community freezer was to break down, if there would be money available for its replacement.
If the Public Works Minister and Community Government and Transportation Minister would direct their staff to go to Pond Inlet and look at the community freezer, then their staff would be able to see what problems there are.
Depending on the situation, would insurance cover this type of building?
I know that if they reviewed the facility and all of their options, something could be done.
It broke down last year and if it was a priority something would have been done but my polar bear hide had to be thrown out because it spoiled.
I have heard that it is malfunctioning again.
The Hamlet would want assistance on the facility’s replacement and it’s something that needs to be looked into before some of the Inuit lose their only means of preserving their summer catch.
Can the minister look into this further, perhaps outside of this House?
The Minister of Public Works stated that this could be reviewed by his staff with respect to the Pond Inlet freezer but as the Minister of Community Government and Transportation, I’ll look into how we could provide assistance for this kind of problem in the community and I’ll work with my staff to deal with the situation.
Question 132 – 1(6): Policies for GN Staff on Medical Travel
My question is, what kind of rules or policies are in place for medical travel where unilingual Inuit have to travel, but if they work in any capacity for the Nunavut Government, they are given hotel rooms.
What kind of policies do they have for staff regarding medical travel and hotels?
Mr. Speaker, over a year ago we brought forward a travel escort policy.
In that policy that was approved by the government from the cabinet, Mr. Speaker, we have different rules outlining different types of things for travel.
Specifically for government employees, Mr. Speaker, government employees are covered under their Green Shield and under that program Mr. Speaker, commercial accommodations for medical travel are reimbursed to the employee.
Mr. Speaker, for people in Nunavut who do not have insurance coverage, like the Green Shield, they are covered under the Non-Insured Health Benefits program, NIHB, which is provided by the Federal Government.
In those cases, Mr. Speaker, those patients are housed by the Government of Nunavut in boarding homes which are situated in Churchill Manitoba, Iqaluit, Ottawa, Edmonton, Yellowknife and Mr. Speaker, Winnipeg.
Perhaps my question was not clear.
I will try to ask it again.
What is the policy for the people that are travelling on medical when you are working for the Government of Nunavut?
Are they forced to just stay in the hotels?
For example, if the person cannot speak very good English, sometimes they are uncomfortable staying in the hotel.
Is our policy very restrictive to employees of government that they must stay in the hotel?
Mr. Speaker, there have been instances in the past and depending on the patient, the first rule, Mr. Speaker, that we have put in place with the Government of Nunavut, is to make all medical travel, the best that it can be.
Mr. Speaker, after saying that, if the patient is a government employee, then they have the option, as I said earlier today, of staying in a hotel.
If the person is unilingual, Mr. Speaker, under the NIHB we cover the cost of an escort for that person.
Mr. Speaker, if the person feels uncomfortable staying in a hotel, at the time of leaving their home community, they can make a request to stay at the boarding home in one of the communities where we have it.
In that case Mr. Speaker, we would accept the patient. So Mr. Speaker, it is not stringent.
It is on a case by case basis, based on the need of the patient.
That’s very, I think very good information for the people in the communities because they think that they have to stay in a hotel because they’re working for the government.
It’s good to know that they could have this option.
Perhaps, this could be communicated to all the nursing stations or health centres that this is an option that people can have.
Mr. Speaker, you’re correct and that’s a really good question.
Mr. Speaker, very quickly, I want to make sure that we’re clear on one point and that is that in the majority of cases, the boarding homes are for NIHB patients, that’s people who do not have the opportunity for other coverage.
Mr. Speaker, if we had a case where several people wanted to stay at the boarding home but had optional coverage through Green Shield, at the point of departure, when they leave their community, the nursing staff make a recommendation.
So for a unilingual person, for example, or for an elder who could be a government employee, at that time they’re told that they have the option of staying at a boarding home.
We would not want to see Mr. Speaker, all patients travelling staying at the boarding home when they had an option of staying in commercial accommodations because they have that insurance coverage through Green Shield.
So the member’s correct, maybe as a department we should be communicating that a bit more strongly, not only through the House but a least in hand-outs that we’re doing right now for example in the Keewatin on the problems encountered when travelling.
Mr. Speaker, that’s something that we would take a positive look at.
I think there are very few people that would rather stay in the boarding home and think a lot of people are very happy to stay in a private accommodation like hotels when they can speak, when they could order their meals and calls, use the telephone and stuff like that.
So this is the case especially for Ottawa, Winnipeg, maybe Edmonton for Kitikmeot.
This has been an issue that they think that they have to stay in the hotel but it must be very intimidating to be put into some hotel in Ottawa when you cannot speak very good English, even though if you can communicate well in English it’s strange to be in a hotel.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker and I think this information is good for the people of all of our communities.
Question 133 – 1(6): Response to Request for Information on Proposed Education Act
Mr. Speaker, I think I’d like to thank the minister for his comments he made earlier and I look forward to your ruling on it.
Mr. Speaker, one day it took the minister to come back with a response and explanation to concerns that someone had with regards to the Act and as members are well aware last week and for quite some time now not only myself but the Standing Committee has asked repeatedly for exactly that information.
I asked the minister in the House last week and finally he said he’d provide that information.
It seems he can get that information very quickly when he wants.
I’m wondering if he can indicate to us, I know he said he’d get it to us, can he indicate when?
It is something that judging by the response that he gave earlier, that he can get this information very quick.
Is it something he can commit to providing the members of this House prior to the end of the session?
I’d like to ask the member which specific request he’s referring to.
Without knowing which request it is it’s hard for me to give the response to the member.
I guess I’ll have to do it one more time.
We’d asked and I’d asked, the Committee’s asked, for responses that the department’s received in its consultations, results of the consultations and also a list of the changes and what’s changed from the old Act to the new Act that he’s committed to providing to us.
I was wondering how quickly, if he could commit to getting us that information prior to the end of the session?
Hon. Peter Kilabuk: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To date, I still have no specific request from the Standing Committee on the information that they will require to do their consultations.
At the time I recall, when this matter came up in the House, I advised the Standing Committee that I’ll be more than willing to provide the information that they request to do their consultations, in an open and also in accordance with what the Standing Committee sets out to do.
I am however prepared no later, at the end of the business day to provide an overview to the member of where the changes have been notified, same as the information that has been provided to the District Education Authorities.
Mr. Speaker, on that overview at the end of the day and I’d like, the minister committed to providing to us as members of this House, copies of the results of the consultations and a list of what the changes to the act were.
And that’s what I’m looking for and I think that’s what we need if we’re going to be able to go back to our communities and do proper consultations on the act so that our communities will understand and know what the changes are and the impact that they will have on them.
That’s the reason why we’re looking for that information.
Hon. Peter Kilabuk: Mr. Speaker, I’m more than willing to provide to the member the same information that we have provided to the District Education Authorities and the stakeholders regarding the consultation process.
I must also stress the importance of the development of this new act which is not just simply an edit of the old act, though the old act was used as the foundation for the contents and structure of the education act.
So Mr. Speaker, I’m more than prepared to provide to the member the same information we’ve provided to the District Education Authorities thus far.
I will, as I had stated, commit to providing additional information following the request of the Standing Committee for them to do their rounds of consultations.
Mr. Speaker, the minister is then indicating one, that he never received a request for the information that they received from their consultations, and two that he won’t provide it to us.
I did not state that I will not provide the information.
I’m able to provide the information to the member and following the committee’s request, I am able to provide them the information that they are requesting, but only after I’ve received a request from the committee.
Question 134 – 1(6): Community Airstrips - Safety
My question is directed to the Minister responsible for Transportation.
The airstrips in the communities, there are federal policies that the airstrips have to be very safe and updated.
Some of community airports and airstrips are very bad.
The airports are also very small.
Some of the communities don’t have any garages for the airlines.
Qikiqtarjuaq is like that.
There is a very old airport there.
There is no garage near the airstrip.
For those who don’t have proper equipment on the runways in the communities, with the Federal Government policies on transportation, what will your department be doing to rectify this?
There was money put aside called ACAP that is for airports just in case there is an emergency.
This is for emergency use and we have been requesting money from the federal government for the use of other communities.
We are looking into the other communities which don’t have proper airport facilities and we are looking into the runways of the airports.
In the near future my officials will be looking into this to make sure that the community airports are looked into.
There is money available although it’s not for every community.
I will look into this regarding the airport facilities.
Like I said, I will look into this and look for ways to help the communities.
There’s not enough funding for these airport facilities at the moment.
My first question was that in Qikiqtarjuaq the community is lacking airport facilities and if you work well with the Hamlet of Qikiqtarjuaq maybe this would speed up.
Can you work more closely with the Hamlet of Qikiqtarjuaq to gain a better understanding of the situation?
Yes, like I said we are going to review this with the help of the Hamlet Council and I will, if the Hamlet of Qikiqtarjuaq writes a letter to my department regarding their concerns we can certainly work together.
Writing a letter is the proper way to communicate.
I would like to tell the member that I would look into this if the Hamlet Council can write a letter to my department from Qikiqtarjuaq we can work together.
I would like to thank the minister and in Qikiqtarjuaq I can give the minister a written update on that airport facility in Qikiqtarjuaq.
Bill 8 – An Act to Amend the Revolving Fund Act - Notice
Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on May 10, 2002, I shall move that Bill 8, An Act to Amend the Revolving Fund Act, be read for the first time.
Bill 7 – Loan Authorization Act 2002-2003 - Notice
I give notice that on Friday May 10, 2002, I shall move that Bill 8, the Loan Authorization Act 2002/2003, be read for the first time.
Mr. Ng for the record that is Bill 7, not Bill 8, Bill 7.
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters; Bill 2, Bill 3, Bill 4, Bill 5 and Bill 6.
Minister’s Statement 020 - 1(6) and according to the authority vested in me by Motion 002 - 1(6) the Committee of the Whole will stay in session until it reports itself out, with Mr. Irqittuq in the chair.
Before we proceed to the Committee of the Whole, if members would like to join me in the Members' Lounge for a short break.
>>House recessed at 3.27 p.m. and resumed at 3.55 p.m.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you for coming back to the meeting.
In the Committee of the Whole we have the following items to deal with; Bills 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, and Minister’s Statement 020 - 1(6).
I would like to deal with Bill 6 and deal with the Health and Social Services department.
Once that is concluded I would then like to start with the Nunavut Housing Corporation.
Are we in agreement to deal with Bill number 6?
I would like to ask the Minister responsible for Health and Social Services to make his opening remarks.
Good afternoon Mr. Chairman and Honourable Members.
I am very honoured today to present to you the 2002-2003 Main Estimates for the Department of Health and Social Services.
Before I begin I would like to introduce to you members of my staff who are with me today: Mr. Andrew Johnston is the Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services; Mr. Abraham Tagalik is the Assistant Deputy Minister of Corporate Services and Strategic Initiatives; Mr. Keith Best, Assistant Deputy Minister of Operations; and Mr. Don Maychruk, Director of Finance.
The Department of Health and Social Services has the second largest budget of all departments in the Government of Nunavut.
We are very aware of our responsibility to provide a wide range of services and programs while employing responsible fiscal management.
Our department is responsible to promote, protect and enhance the health and social well-being of all Nunavummiut while incorporating Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit or IQ at all levels of service delivery and design.
I am very pleased Mr. Chairman, to tell you that the department has hired a full-time IQ Co-ordinator to guide us in achieving our primary goals and remaining consistent with the Bathurst Mandate.
The total departmental budget for 2002-2003 is 156.9 million dollars.
Mr. Chairman, that includes 151 million dollars for Operations and Maintenance, as well as 5.9 million dollars for Capital Expenditures.
In September 2001, the Financial Management Board approved a 21 million dollar supplementary appropriation for 2001-2002 and 2002-2003.
Mr. Chairman, this increase is related to a historical shortfall in the Main Estimates allocation for the department, and Mr. Chairman it is important to point out, that it does not represent funding for new program delivery.