Nunavut Canada

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF

2nd Session 5th Assembly

HANSARD

Official Report

DAY 35

Monday, February 25, 2019

Pages 2125 – 2189

Iqaluit

Speaker: The Honourable Joe Enook, M.L.A.

Legislative Assembly of Nunavut

Speaker Hon. Joe Enook (Tununiq)

Hon. Mila Kamingoak Emiliano Qirngnuq (Quttiktuq) (Kugluktuk) (Netsilik) Deputy Premier; Minister of Economic Development and Transportation (Uqqummiut) (Aggu) (Gjoa Haven) Hon. Deputy Chair, Committee of the Whole (Rankin Inlet South) (Hudson Bay) Minister of Community and Deputy Chair, Committee of the Whole Government Services; Minister (-Niaqunnguu) of Human Resources Hon. (Arviat South) Hon. Adam Lightstone Premier; Minister of Executive and (Cambridge Bay) (Iqaluit-Manirajak) Intergovernmental Affairs; Minister of Minister of Justice; Minister responsible for Energy; Minister of Environment; Minister Labour; Minister responsible for the Qulliq responsible for Aboriginal Affairs; Energy Corporation (Arviat North-Whale Cove) Minister responsible for Seniors; Minister responsible for the Utility Rates Review Hon. George Hickes Simeon Mikkungwak Council (Iqaluit-Tasiluk) (Baker Lake) Deputy Speaker and Chair of Minister of Finance, Chair of the Financial Hon. Elisapee Sheutiapik Management Board; Minister of Health; the Committee of the Whole (Iqaluit-Sinaa) Minister responsible for Suicide Prevention; Government House Leader; Minister of Minister responsible for the Workers’ Safety (Pangnirtung) Family Services; Minister responsible for and Compensation Commission Homelessness; Minister responsible for Hon. Immigration; Minister responsible for the Hon. (Aivilik) Status of Women (South Baffin) Minister responsible for Minister of Culture and Heritage; Minister of Nunavut Arctic College; Education; Minister of Languages Minister responsible for the (Rankin Inlet North-Chesterfield Inlet) Nunavut Housing Corporation (Amittuq)

Officers Clerk John Quirke

Clerk Assistant Law Clerk Sergeant-at-Arms Hansard Production Stephen Innuksuk Michael Chandler Charlie Audlakiak Innirvik Support Services

Box 1200 Iqaluit, Nunavut, X0A 0H0 Tel (867) 975-5000 Fax (867) 975-5190 Toll-Free (877) 334-7266 Website: www.assembly.nu.ca

Table of Contents

Opening Prayer ...... 2125

Ministers’ Statements ...... 2125

Members’ Statements ...... 2130

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery ...... 2137

Oral Questions ...... 2138

Written Questions ...... 2163

Tabling of Documents ...... 2164

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters ...... 2164

Report of the Committee of the Whole ...... 2188

Orders of the Day ...... 2189

A. Daily References

Monday, February 25, 2019 ...... 2125

B. Ministers’ Statements

153 – 5(2): Minister Absent from the House (Sheutiapik) ...... 2125

154 – 5(2): New President of Nunavut Arctic College (Netser) ...... 2125

155 – 5(2): Nunavut Liquor and Cannabis Commission (Hickes) ...... 2126

156 – 5(2): Appointment of New Chief Coroner (Ehaloak) ...... 2127

157 – 5(2): Certificate in Educational Leadership in Nunavut Training (Joanasie) ...... 2128

158 – 5(2): Sexual and Reproductive Health Awareness Week (Hickes) ...... 2129

C. Members’ Statements

246 – 5(2): Focus on Children (Main) ...... 2130

247 – 5(2): A Better Tomorrow for Our Children (Qirngnuq) ...... 2131

248 – 5(2): Support for Youth Sporting Activities (Keyootak) ...... 2131

249 – 5(2): Feeding Our Children (Akoak) ...... 2132

250 – 5(2): Reflecting on Representing Nunavummiut (Towtongie) ...... 2132

251 – 5(2): Nuna School in Apex (Angnakak) ...... 2134

252 – 5(2): Keeping Our Children Safe (Lightstone) ...... 2135

253 – 5(2): 2019 Canada Winter Games (Akeeagok) ...... 2136

254 – 5(2): New Constituency Assistant (Sheutiapik) ...... 2136

255 – 5(2): Announcing New Grandson (Netser) ...... 2136

D. Oral Questions

326 – 5(2): The Value of Student Assessments (Main) ...... 2138

327 – 5(2): Gjoa Haven Airport (Akoak) ...... 2140

328 – 5(2): Nunavut’s High Birth Rate (Towtongie) ...... 2141

329 – 5(2): Overcrowded Classrooms (Nakashuk) ...... 2144

330 – 5(2): Sexual Education in Nunavut Schools (Lightstone) ...... 2146

331 – 5(2): Territorial Cost of Living (Qirngnuq) ...... 2147

332 – 5(2): Specialized Training for Social Workers (Angnakak) ...... 2150

333 – 5(2): Language Promotion for Children (Kaernerk) ...... 2151

334 – 5(2): The Need for More Foster Parents (Mikkungwak) ...... 2155

335 – 5(2): Establishment and Support for Daycares (Quassa) ...... 2156

336 – 5(2): Busing Services for Students with Disabilities (Rumbolt) ...... 2157

337 – 5(2): Child Apprehension Policies (Keyootak) ...... 2158

338 – 5(2): Status of Kugluktuk High School (Kamingoak) ...... 2160

339 – 5(2): Umingmak Child and Youth Support Centre (Angnakak) ...... 2162

E. Written Questions

023 – 5(2): Child Abuse in Nunavut – Trends (Lightstone) ...... 2163

F. Tabling of Documents

124 – 5(2): 2019-2022 Business Plan of the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer of Nunavut

(Speaker) ...... 2164

125 – 5(2): 2019-2022 Business Plan of the Office of the Languages Commissioner of Nunavut

(Speaker) ...... 2164

126 – 5(2): 2019-2022 Business Plan of the Office of the Representative for Children and Youth

(Speaker) ...... 2164

G. Motions

025 – 5(2): Extension of Question Period (Mikkungwak) ...... 2154

H. Bills

Bill 15 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2019-2020 – Health – Consideration in

Committee ...... 2165

Monday, February 25, 2019 Nunavut Hansard 2125

Iqaluit, Nunavut Minister’s Statement 153 – 5(2): Monday, February 25, 2019 Minister Absent from the House Members Present: (Sheutiapik) Hon. David Akeeagok, Mr. Tony Akoak, Hon. Elisapee Sheutiapik Ms. Pat Angnakak, Hon. Jeannie (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Ehaloak, Hon. Joe Enook, Hon. George Speaker. Good afternoon. Mr. Speaker, I Hickes, Hon. David Joanasie, Mr. Joelie rise to inform the House that the Kaernerk, Ms. Mila Kamingoak, Mr. (interpretation ends) Hon. Joe Pauloosie Keyootak, Hon. Lorne Savikataaq (interpretation) will be absent Kusugak, Mr. Adam Lightstone, Mr. today. (interpretation ends) Premier John Main, Mr. Simeon Mikkungwak, Savikataaq is attending the CanNor Ms. Margaret Nakashuk, Hon. Patterk announcement for the Kivalliq Inuit Netser, Mr. Emiliano Qirngnuq, Mr. Organization’s hydro-fibre link in Paul Quassa, Mr. Allan Rumbolt, Hon. Rankin Inlet and he should be here Elisapee Sheutiapik, Ms. Cathy tomorrow. (interpretation) Thank you, Towtongie. Mr. Speaker.

>>House commenced at 13:30 Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Ministers’ Statements. Minister Item 1: Opening Prayer responsible for Nunavut Arctic College, Minister Netser. Speaker (Hon. Joe Enook) (interpretation): Mr. Keyootak, can you Minister’s Statement 154 – 5(2): New say the opening prayer, please. President of Nunavut Arctic College (Netser) >>Prayer Hon. Patterk Netser (interpretation): Speaker (interpretation): Good Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I say “good afternoon, my colleagues. Nunavummiut afternoon” to the people of Coral who are watching the televised Harbour and Naujaat. proceedings and listening to the radio broadcast, welcome to your Legislative Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Assembly. I believe we were okay this our new president, Pauloosie Suvega, weekend and that our communities were who is sitting behind me. okay. We will now begin our meeting this week and I hope that we will >>Applause proceed smoothly. I had the pleasure of working with Mr. Going to the orders of the day. Suvega as my ADM of Economic Ministers’ Statements. Government Development during my first term in House Leader, Minister Sheutiapik. cabinet. I am very proud that I will be working with him in the coming years. Item 2: Ministers’ Statements (interpretation ends) Mr. Suvega is well known to this Chamber in his previous role as Deputy Minister of the

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departments of Environment, Culture community. and Heritage, and Economic Development and Transportation. Mr. (interpretation) I would like to welcome Speaker, this is his 15th year working for Pauloosie Suvega. Thank you. this great government. >>Applause Mr. Suvega previously held the responsibility of administration, Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. protection and promotion of two of Ministers’ Statements. Minister of pieces of legislation that mark Nunavut Finance, Minister Hickes. unique as a jurisdiction, the Inuit Language Protection Act and the Minister’s Statement 155 – 5(2): Official Languages Act, of which Nunavut Liquor and Cannabis celebrated their 10th anniversary in Commission (Hickes) 2018. Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Mr. Speaker, President Suvega and I Speaker. Today I would like to give my have done a great deal to connect with colleagues an update on the Nunavut the staff and learners across Nunavut Liquor and Cannabis Commission and who work for and are attending our great harm reduction initiatives. college. Mr. Speaker, so far, we have visited all of the campuses in Iqaluit and Mr. Speaker, 18 months after the Rankin Inlet and we are heading to opening of the Iqaluit Beer and Wine Cambridge Bay in May. During these Store as a three-year pilot project, tours, the president and I have listened to statistics show that liberalizing access to the achievements and issues of our staff beer and wine has had a positive impact and learners. In conjunction with the on drinking habits of Iqalummiut. The Nunavut Arctic College Board of quantity of hard alcohol sold to residents Governors, we are committed to and licensees in Iqaluit has dropped addressing these issues through the drastically. The purchase of import creation of a ten-year strategic plan that liquor permits for hard alcohol has also will chart the course of the college over dropped significantly. three successive government mandates. This plan for long-term capacity Mr. Speaker and members, in order to building is intended to develop a robust, monitor the impacts of store, a Beer and culturally responsive institution that is Wine Store Monitoring Working Group able to meet the learning needs of all was recently created, with participants Nunavummiut. from the departments of Finance, Health, Family Services, Justice, the RCMP, the Mr. Speaker, I am committed to raising Nunavut Liquor and Cannabis awareness of the remarkable Commission, the Nunavut Housing achievements of the college’s staff and Corporation, and the City of Iqaluit. learners. Nunavut Arctic College is a remarkable environment of learning and The mandate of the working group is to innovation, and too rarely is that monitor all the impacts of the store, expressed beyond the campus whether they are positive or negative.

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Five sources of data have already been 2018 there have been four liquor identified: internal sales, permit sales, plebiscites in Nunavut. The residents of alcohol-related visits to the emergency Baker Lake and Kugluktuk voted to room, alcohol-related RCMP calls, and move from a restricted to an unrestricted family violence screens. The group has system while the residents of Sanikiluaq identified several additional sources of decided to retain their prohibited status data that can be tracked and which can earlier this month. Kugaaruk residents be used for eventual reporting and will vote on February 25, today, to monitoring purposes. decide whether they will lift prohibition in favour of a restricted quantities Let’s Be Aware system. If the vote passes, Kugaaruk will have the first restricted quantities system Mr. Speaker, the Nunavut Liquor in Nunavut, allowing some access to Commission’s social responsibility beer and wine while continuing to campaign, Let’s Be Aware/Ujjiqsuqta, is prohibit hard alcohol. in its third year and the emphasis is now on reaching out to youth and young Mr. Speaker, residents of other adults in order to promote responsible communities have recently reached out use of alcohol. In the fall, Kivalliq youth to find out how a plebiscite works and were asked to submit drawings depicting what the steps are to request one. Thank responsible approaches to alcohol: how you, Mr. Speaker. responsible use of alcohol or not drinking alcohol can support physical, >>Applause emotional and spiritual well-being; how to cope with life stresses and challenges Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. without using alcohol; and how to Ministers’ Statements. Minister of reduce alcohol-related harm by drinking Justice, Minister Ehaloak. safely and responsibly. Minister’s Statement 156 – 5(2): Mr. Speaker, a total of 114 grade 6 to 8 Appointment of New Chief students from six Kivalliq schools Coroner (Ehaloak) participated in the calendar challenge. Kivalliq MLAs judged the art work Hon. Jeannie Ehaloak (interpretation): according to messaging effectiveness, Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation creativity, and aesthetics. I would like to ends) It is my pleasure to announce take this opportunity to thank my today the appointment of Nunavut’s colleagues who took on the judging Chief Coroner, Ms. Elizabeth Copeland responsibility to choose 12 winning of Arviat. Elizabeth is a Nunavut drawings that were used to illustrate a beneficiary and she has spent 20 years as 2019 calendar. Copies of the calendar a community coroner, including two have been mailed to schools in the years as the chief coroner of Nunavut. Kivalliq. Ms. Copeland is actively involved at the Liquor Systems community and territorial level, notably serving as Justice of the Peace, a Mr. Speaker and members, since January member of the Nunavut Planning

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Commission, Chair of the Nutrition Hon. David Joanasie (interpretation): North Canada Advisory Board, she was Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good day to all elected as Arviat’s first female mayor, Nunavummiut. and she has served as the Chair of the Nunavut Impact Review Board since Mr. Speaker and fellow members, from 2010. February 15 to 23, 41 educators from throughout Nunavut travelled to Mr. Speaker, the role of the chief Resolute Bay for my department’s latest coroner is an essential service in our offering of courses for the Certificate in territory and it is a challenging Educational Leadership in Nunavut. profession. I am proud to welcome Ms. Copeland back to serve in this role. Principals, vice-principals, teachers, and learning coaches learned about I would also like to offer my sincere improving language and literacy appreciation for Mr. Khen Sagadraca’s achievement, building positive and service as chief coroner over the last few inclusive school communities, traditional months. He has served diligently and and contemporary views on leadership, professionally and has contributed and reflective practices in leadership. greatly to upholding the reputation of the coroner’s office. Mr. Speaker, I am proud that 14 of the 41 participants enrolled in these courses Mr. Speaker and colleagues of the were Inuit educators. As with previous legislature, please join me in course offerings for this certificate, I am congratulating Ms. Elizabeth Copeland pleased that a course was taught entirely on her new role as Nunavut’s chief in Inuktitut, focusing on the history and coroner, as well as thanking Mr. Khen worldview of Inuit, with an emphasis on Sagadraca for his service. Thank you, culture and educational history. Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, these >>Applause master’s degree level courses, accredited by the University of Prince Edward Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Island, are designed to provide qualified Before I move on to the next minister, I teachers and educational leaders in wish to remind you that if you have Nunavut with the history, knowledge, brought a cellphone and other electronic and skills to provide culturally-based, devices, please put them on silent mode effective, and responsive leadership in or completely turn them off. the school system.

Ministers’ Statements. Minister of Mr. Speaker, providing high-quality Education, Minister Joanasie. education in Nunavut must go beyond just the classroom. This is why my Minister’s Statement 157 – 5(2): department continues its commitment to Certificate in Educational provide training for Nunavut’s Leadership in Nunavut Training educators, providing them with (Joanasie) opportunity to enhance their instructional and leadership

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development. which took place from February 11 to 15, was “Sexual Health at All Ages.” Mr. Speaker, these courses in educational leadership ensure our school The awareness week kicked off early leaders and educators have strong with the Native Youth Sexual Health leadership skills capable of guiding Network’s Sexy Health Carnival held at students and staff toward a promising Nunavut Arctic College earlier this future. I encourage my fellow MLAs to month. The interactive event provided an encourage our school leaders to opportunity for students from NAC and participate in these leadership Inuksuk High School to learn about opportunities and continue developing many topics surrounding sexual health. their careers. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A few topics that were shared included cultural safety, consent, trauma- >>Applause informed spaces, Nunavut-specific resources, the need for comprehensive, Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. culturally informed sexual health Ministers’ Statements. Minister of information, the need for sexual health Health, Minister Hickes. resources by and for youth, and how nurses can support clients. Minister’s Statement 158 – 5(2): Sexual and Reproductive Health Mr. Speaker and members, Health is Awareness Week (Hickes) committed to improving the sexual and reproductive health of Nunavummiut. Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. We are working to provide age- Speaker. It is important for all appropriate sexual health promotion Nunavummiut to have access to age- messaging in forums like the appropriate and accurate information Inuutsiarniq Literacy Program. Topics about their sexual and reproductive addressed include contraception, STIs, health. puberty, healthy relationships, consent, gender identity, and lesbian, gay, As sexual and reproductive health is part bisexual, transgender and queer of our overall well-being, we must (LGBTQ) identity. support and encourage all community members, no matter their age, to talk Mr. Speaker, I encourage all openly about all aspects of sexual health, Nunavummiut to attend events such as from healthy sexuality and STI testing, these when they take place your to talking with our children about communities. Let’s keep the discussions sexuality, consent, and birth control. We going, addressing all aspects of sexual all have a vital role to play in keeping and reproductive health. Open our communities and children well discussions about this topic promote informed on the topic. Mr. Speaker, well-being and help Nunavummiut stay awareness campaigns are just one way of informed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. opening up the dialogue. >>Applause The theme for this year’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Awareness Week, Speaker (interpretation): Thank you.

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Members’ Statements. Member for >>Applause Arviat North-Whale Cove, Mr. Main. We have a duty, all of us as elected Item 3: Members’ Statements members, to support our children, to teach our children, to listen to our Member’s Statement 246 – 5(2): Focus children, and to protect them from harm. on Children (Main) We also have a duty to make sure that the services and programs that our Mr. Main (interpretation): Thank you, children are accessing or parents are Mr. Speaker. Good day, my colleagues. accessing are culturally relevant and include Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit. Mr. Speaker, as the Chair of the Regular Members’ Caucus, I wish to make a >>Applause statement at this time to inform the House that today many regular members Mr. Speaker, I will be directing my will be asking questions on the same questions to the Minister of Education. topic. This is to showcase our There will be other questions on the cooperative and collaborative work stream of children and depending on which we wish to use as regular how you chose to look at the situation; members especially related to children. we have either cause for optimism or cause for pessimism. Our children are our future, as we all know. It has been brought forward as a (interpretation) Some of our youth are theme for many years, mainly at undergoing stressful situations facing graduation ceremonies throughout hunger, violence in their homes as well Nunavut, “Yes, our children and our as intoxicated people within their homes. youth are the future,” and this theme is Nonetheless, many young people are repeated time and again. bastions of strength, and when you look at these youth, you think that yes, Nonetheless, if you look at Canada as a Nunavut has a bright future in some of whole, Nunavut has the highest number our eyes. of youth and children, comprising a major proportion of the overall (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I population if you look at the total would like to ask for unanimous consent population of Nunavut, as we also lead to conclude my statement. the nation in bearing children. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, if you Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. unpack the statement that children are The member is seeking unanimous the future, I guess you can continue that consent to conclude his statement. Are line of thinking. If you look at the young there any nays? There are no nays. population in Nunavut, the future of Please proceed, Mr. Main. Nunavut is our children. If we are to have a bright future, we need to invest in Mr. Main (interpretation): Thank you, our children today for tomorrow. Mr. Speaker and colleagues.

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(interpretation ends) As I was saying; we properly teaching our youth? Our depending on how you look at the issue children and youth learn not just from of children’s wellbeing in Nunavut, there their school lessons but also what they is either cause for optimism or cause for observe on a daily basis and as parents, pessimism. our children are often observing us daily.

I would like to be optimistic and I would Mr. Speaker, as parents and guardians like at the end of our term as MLAs to today, are we ensuring that we are be even more optimistic because I would providing the proper practices for our like to be able to look back at our terms children to observe and learn from? in this House and say “Yes, we made concrete investments into the future of Mr. Speaker, let us ensure we teach our Nunavut. We made investments that will future generations the proper practices pay dividends for decades in the future by having an open mind, in being and we made Nunavut a better place for dedicated to working with our youth so our children.” they will indeed be our future in the upcoming years. I’ll just end my statement on that note, Mr. Speaker, and I look forward to the Mr. Speaker, I want to conclude by interesting discussions in this House to making this statement: my fellow come. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. residents of Kugaaruk are undertaking a Speaker. vote on whether or not to prohibit alcohol. I urge them to vote by keeping >>Applause our future generations in mind so they can help them to understand their rights. Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members’ Statements. Member for Netsilik, Mr. Qirngnuq. Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Members’ Statements. Member for Member’s Statement 247 – 5(2): A Uqqummiut, Mr. Keyootak. Better Tomorrow for Our Children (Qirngnuq) Member’s Statement 248 – 5(2): Support for Youth Sporting Mr. Qirngnuq (interpretation): Thank Activities (Keyootak) you, Mr. Speaker. I say “good day” to the people of Kugaaruk and Taloyoak, Mr. Keyootak (interpretation): Thank Premier and colleagues. you, Mr. Speaker. We take pride in our youth and children and whichever path Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak to the they take we have to provide support and concerns we hold in Nunavut, and in our be proud of them. Further, our youth communities. We often make the attend many sports tournaments outside statement that our youth are our future. I of their communities, and although it is have this question that is near and dear only sports, it provides a great deal of to our minds and hearts. benefits to our youth and children.

In looking at our future generations, are When they travel to outlying

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communities to play sports, they leave the youth of Nunavut. There are many their families behind and we have to children who suffer from hunger when voice our pride in our youth when they they attend school, so they go to school attend tournaments or other events, so hungry. we should always try to shore up their confidence in whichever event they Both the younger and older classes have participate in that is a source of children who go to school hungry, and enjoyment. they are not the only ones facing that as (interpretation ends) foster children Mr. Speaker, this year our youth came to (interpretation) also require our Iqaluit to partake in a sports tournament, assistance. Please look after them and several youth from my constituency properly, provide support and attended this tournament, and I want to transportation to our schools so that our voice my pride and share with my children don’t get cold. colleagues the names of the youth. All students who wish to take a bus From Qikiqtarjuaq, the athletes who should be able to, but sometimes the bus went to Iqaluit are Louisa Kooneeliusie, isn’t running and I ask our government Karen Kooneeliusie, Jenna Aliqatuqtuq, to lend further support to our children Pasah Kooneeliusie, and Angela and youth. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Kooneeliusie. I am very proud of these youth and I ask my colleagues to share >>Applause in expressing our pride in our youth who attend sports tournaments as it has Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. physical and mental benefits, as well as Members’ Statements. Member for being a healthy activity. Thank you, Mr. Rankin Inlet North-Chesterfield Inlet, Speaker. Ms. Towtongie.

>>Applause Member’s Statement 250 – 5(2): Reflecting on Representing Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Nunavummiut (Towtongie) Members’ Statements. Member for Gjoa Haven, Mr. Akoak. Ms. Towtongie (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Colleagues, I also am Member’s Statement 249 – 5(2): thankful to you. To the residents of Feeding Our Children (Akoak) Rankin Inlet North and Chesterfield Inlet, I say “good afternoon.” Mr. Akoak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker and colleagues. Good Now, in this week as we focus on youth afternoon. Firstly, to my children, and their place in the future of Nunavut, grandchildren and to my wife, I say I was reflecting on various themes to “hello.” I love you all. voice as all members in this House have been elected to represent our I rise today to speak to the matter of our constituents. So firstly, I am proud of all youth and children, and to ask our of my colleagues who are fellow elected government to provide more support to representatives.

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Further, as I thought about this fact, I Thank you. We have time. Thank you, started recalling that all of us are Mr. Speaker. representing our constituents whether they are male, female, elders, youth, Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Inuit and non-Inuit. This is my The member is seeking unanimous reasoning, Mr. Speaker, to try to think consent to conclude her statement today. differently about the options we have in Are there any nays? There are no nays. Nunavut as we have adopted many non- Ms. Towtongie, please proceed. Inuit practices. Ms. Towtongie (interpretation): Thank This government will be a public you, Mr. Speaker. government representing all the citizens, serving them as representatives and As I noted last week in respect to the providing a voice for our communities in issue of caribou harvesting in the the future. Kivalliq, I need no lectures from anyone about the importance of standing up for (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I Inuit rights. remember back in the 1980s when Canada became very much engaged in I’m well aware of the dark elements in supporting the struggle against apartheid our country’s history and I’m well aware in South Africa, a system that was based of the need for government to focus its on the lie that some human beings were efforts on improving the lives of those intricately more valuable than others. who are still struggling with the negative aspects of our colonial past. Mr. Speaker, it saddens me to now hear voices here at home that argue in favour (interpretation ends) However, I strongly of attaching labels to entire categories of believe that the best way forward is people or who argue in favour of together. Messages matter and the worst exclusion. message for all of our children is one to hear which labels and demonizes entire (interpretation) Mr. Speaker, when I groups of people as being less legitimate meet with other elected legislators from because of their race or other inalienable different parts of Canada, I like to point characteristics. out that our democracy is one where an Inuk woman like myself can represent Mr. Speaker, as we approach the 20th my non-Inuit constituents with the same [anniversary] of the creation of our commitment, dedication, strength, and territory, let us support bicultural and passion that every single one of my non- bilingual for our very democratic, public Inuit colleagues in this House bring to and inclusive system of government, and the floor every single day when they I believe that for the future of Nunavut. speak about their communities and Thank you so much, and I ask members constituencies, all of which have a to join me today in doing so for your majority Inuit population. children. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I >>Applause would like to conclude my comments.

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Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. of outdoor kindergarten since 2007 and Members’ Statements. Member for has years of outdoor education Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu, Ms. Angnakak. experience as a teacher and outdoor education specialist. Member’s Statement 251 – 5(2): Nuna School in Apex (Angnakak) Mr. Speaker, the benefits of the land- based program are endless. Since the Ms. Angnakak (interpretation): Thank Nuna School has been up and running, you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon to all Nanook School educators have noticed the people watching the proceedings and that the students are sick less often, they my constituents. I will be making a have improved balance and stamina, and congratulatory statement today and I am they demonstrate excellent teamwork proud of the students at Nanook School. and communication, and have advanced I represent them as well, so I will make a their problem-solving and critical statement as to how they are thinking skills. progressing. Nuna School is an Inuktitut/English (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I rise bilingual program and helps to preserve today to introduce Nuna School, which Inuktitut, providing opportunities for is run out of Nanook School in Apex, as learning advanced vocabulary in both a land-based approach to achieving languages as students are learning with educational curricula where kindergarten the seasons and what the land offers in students are out on the land every each season. morning and older students participate in the afternoon. This place-based approach Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to cultural curriculum provides Inuit to conclude my statement. Qaujimajatuqangit experiences while students are learning through active Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. creative play. The member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude her statement. Are Mr. Speaker, Nuna School provides there any nays? There are no nays. Ms. many opportunities for our younger Angnakak, please proceed. students to learn from elders and from language specialists and school Ms. Angnakak: Thank you, Mr. counsellors Kootoo Alainga, Martha Speaker. Thank you to my colleagues. Peter, and Kalapik Pishuktie. Currently the students are very interested Grade 1/2 teacher Maggie Kuniliusie has in the concept of camouflage. Nuna been taking Nanook School students students can tell you that camouflage outside for snowshoe, tidal, and tundra means to blend in with or become the hikes for years. Time and time again she same colour as the nuna. has seen the benefits of students spending time on the land. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in this House to celebrate and support land- Kindergarten teacher Breanne Card has based and cultural curriculum been studying the concept and practice programming. Please join me and

Monday, February 25, 2019 Nunavut Hansard 2135 applaud the Nuna School program, to sexual abuse. A few basics that all which is inspiring our children to learn. children must know are: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. • Teach children that some body parts >>Applause are private, and by this I mean tell children that their private parts are Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. called private because they’re not for Members’ Statements. Member for everyone to see; Iqaluit-Manirajak, Mr. Lightstone. • Teach children body boundaries. We Member’s Statement 252 – 5(2): must children matter of “factly” that Keeping Our Children Safe no one should touch their private and (Lightstone) that no one should ask them to Mr. Lightstone: Thank you, Mr. someone else’s. We much teach Speaker. I rise again to speak of the children that body secrets are not issue of child abuse in Nunavut. okay.

In my member’s statement on February Mr. Speaker, it’s unfortunate that most 19, I called on the Government of abusers will tell children to keep the Nunavut to create a campaign to raise abuse a secret. We must tell our children awareness of frontline workers as well as that no matter what anyone tells them, parents and children. body secrets are not okay and they should always tell you if someone tries We know the rate of reported child to make them keep a body secret. abuse in Nunavut is ten times the national average. We know that a vast Finally, we must teach children how to majority of abuse goes unreported. I get out of scary and uncomfortable believe we need to work together to situations. Some children are make change. uncomfortable with telling people no, especially older peers or adults. We must I believe we must arm our children with tell children that it’s okay to tell an adult knowledge that might save them from they have to leave if something feels being victimized. We teach our young wrong and we must help give them children all sorts of ways to keep words to get out of uncomfortable themselves safe. We teach them about situations. kitchen safety and about road safety. Unfortunately teaching children to keep Mr. Speaker, we all have a role to play their bodies safe from sexual abuse is in keeping children safe, but we must not taught until much older and also give them the knowledge to keep sometimes too late. themselves safe as well, and I encourage our government to pass this message on Specialists have suggested that children to all parents. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. under 10 are the most at risk of sexual abuse. We must encourage parents to >>Applause teach young children about body safety, to help children become less vulnerable Speaker (interpretation): Thank you.

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Members’ Statements. Member for compete quite hard against the bigger Quttiktuq, Mr. Akeeagok. communities and cities, where they can even win so I tend to take great pride in Member’s Statement 253 – 5(2): 2019 their accomplishments in this regard. Canada Winter Games (Akeeagok) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Hon. David Akeeagok (interpretation): Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My aikuluk, I Members’ Statements. Member for would like you to have a good day. Iqaluit-Sinaa, Ms. Sheutiapik.

(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, today Member’s Statement 254 – 5(2): New is the second week of the 2019 Canada Constituency Assistant Winter Games but it is the first day of a (Sheutiapik) very fine person up from Grise Fiord Hon. Elisapee Sheutiapik that will be competing in the badminton (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. round along with our Sanikiluaq Speaker. I rise today to inform the colleague’s. residents of Iqaluit-Sinaa that Moosie Qaunirq is my constituency assistant Mr. Derek Akeeagok is a very young now. Anyone can call Moosie at my energetic young boy that is down in Red office anytime. Everyone knows her. Deer right now, and I want to wish him She is from Iqaluit. Once we finish our very good luck on all the competitions sitting here, I will be doing house visits. and have lots of fun while you’re It is great that I will be seeing the people playing. It is something that you will of Iqaluit-Sinaa, and I will be cherish for life. recognizing a visitor later on. Thank you. I also wanted to acknowledge this is not the first time an Akeeagok has been in Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. the Canada Winter Games. Previous to Members’ Statements. Member for that, his older brother was down there Aivilik, Mr. Netser. too following his older brother’s footsteps. Member’s Statement 255 – 5(2): Announcing New Grandson (interpretation ends) Lastly, Mr. (Netser) Speaker, I would like to mention the Hon. Patterk Netser (interpretation): mother, Nevee Kakkee, who initiated the Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to program approximately seven years ago inform everyone we have a new offering (interpretation ends) badminton grandchild. He was born 8 lbs., 7 oz. We (interpretation) for local players in Grise have 15 male grandchildren now and 5 Fiord. female grandchildren. There are 20 of them and I’m only 21 years old, Mr. She has accomplished a great deal with Speaker. the formation, and I am very proud of the athletes in Grise Fiord that play the >>Laughter sport of badminton. They do a lot of hard work to be able to attend, and they Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize

Monday, February 25, 2019 Nunavut Hansard 2137 the athletes in Red Deer, Alberta from your Legislative Assembly. Recognition Nunavut. There are three athletes from of Visitors in the Gallery. Coral Harbour. There are two hockey players and their names are Owen An Hon. Member: Oh no! Anguteealok and Chase Herron. Kyshton Kylai is there. I’m not sure how you say >>Laughter table tennis in Inuktitut, but he is there to compete in table tennis. It sounds like he Speaker (interpretation): Member for is winning all of his competitions. We Aggu, Mr. Quassa. are very proud of him. Mr. Quassa (interpretation): Thank you, When Inuit don’t even have a good Mr. Speaker. He was already recognized gymnasium where they can play, they but I would also like to recognize Moses still compete at the top. Imagine if we Atagoyuk, and to add, Atagoyuk’s had good sporting facilities. We would descendants, I have been very welcomed probably be high up there in the world of by the Atagoyuk family and I’m married sports, so I’m very proud of our athletes. into their family, and I would just like to Thank you, Mr. Speaker. say thank you.

Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. I Also, I remember when I was with CBC think we are all very proud of our young he was at CBC as well when he was still people when they go and compete in kind of young. We remember sports. Even though they don’t always Sinnaksautit and we would listen to his have the best facilities up here they are voice sometimes. He still sounds young always some of the most able. We are when he is talking on the radio. very proud of them. I thank him for being here and I thank Members’ Statements. Let us proceed. them again for the warm welcome I get Replies to Oral Questions. Recognition from his family. Thank you very much. of Visitors in the Gallery. Member for He has helped all the people of Nunavut Iqaluit-Sinaa, Ms. Sheutiapik. a great deal through his work at CBC. Thank you very much. Item 5: Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery >>Applause

Hon. Elisapee Sheutiapik Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery. I Speaker. I think everybody would have no more names, and if I can, I recognize him if he was talking now. I’m would also like to welcome Mr. very proud that Moses Atagoyuk is here Atagoyuk. When you are out and around right now. Welcome, Moses. in the community of Iqaluit the Legislative Assembly is a great place to >>Applause come and visit when we are meeting. Come by the legislature. Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Mr. Atagoyuk, please feel welcome in Going back to the orders of the day. Oral

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Questions. Member for Arviat North- there was more than one question in but Chesterfield Inlet, Mr. Main. if would like to respond, Minister Joanasie. Item 6: Oral Questions Hon. David Joanasie (interpretation): Question 326 – 5(2): The Value of Thank you, Mr. Speaker and thank you Student Assessments (Main) for that question. I was quickly trying to calculate the answer. (interpretation Mr. Main (interpretation): Thank you, ends) Part 8 of the Education Act Mr. Speaker. I rise to direct my question authorizes me, as minister, to establish to the Minister of Education. and maintain a program for a Nunavut- wide assessments and our department (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, for has been working on an assessment several years now, concerns have been evaluation and reporting policy and raised regarding the levels of education framework and this will be used to guide that Nunavut students are actually assessment practices in the territory and achieving. strengthen the Nunavut education system from kindergarten through grade 12. The We find young students in elementary assessment handbook in relation to this school struggling with basic literacy and framework is being developed and math, we have young students in grade 7 shortly thereafter it would be rolled out and 8 who have not acquired the skills along with this assessment policy and they will need to take on academic framework this fall in September 2019. subjects when they enter high school, and unfortunately, we have high school (interpretation) Nonetheless, regarding graduates who find themselves without the actual question related to the studies, the necessary competencies to proceed I am not sure if the statistics are in the postsecondary programs either at published and where you could find the the Nunavut Arctic College or data requested. Perhaps if the subject universities elsewhere. relates to (interpretation ends) report cards (interpretation) that are provided to My first question, Mr. Speaker: can the parents are a separate assessment tool minister clearly and briefly describe how that I am aware of. Thank you, Mr. his department measures and assesses Speaker. student competencies, how the information from those assessments is Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. compiled and analysed, and where the Your first supplementary, Mr. Main. results are published so that parents, educators and students themselves can Mr. Main (interpretation): Thank you, be aware of the actual levels of Mr. Speaker. Thank you, minister. competencies they are achieving or not (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, a achieving as the case may be? quick review of the Department of (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Education’s business plans show references to many of the things that the Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. minister just mentioned. It’s clear that Minister of Education, Mr. Joanasie, the department has invested significantly

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in developing Nunavut-specific Nunavut-wide results, we will look into benchmark competencies in such areas what details can be provided and not as language arts, literacy, and math for leaving names and personal information. various grade levels. More resent We will look at that and see if we can business plans show that, as the minister incorporate those into future annual mentions, these are implemented in reports. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. schools Nunavut-wide. Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Under the Education Act, section 126 Your final supplementary, Mr. Main. requires the minister to table an annual report on the education system in Mr. Main (interpretation): Thank you, Nunavut. The most recent report for Mr. Speaker. Thank you, minister. 2015-16 does not contain any (interpretation ends) I thank the minister information on the results of any for being willing to look into, I think, Nunavut-wide student assessments. this matter, but as a regular member, I’m looking for more than that. I would like Just to be clear, Mr. Speaker, I’m not the minister to commit to publishing the asking for the details on each individual results of Nunavut’s student assessments student; I’m asking for information for the most recent academic year. The which pertains to the school system as a minister could answer this with a yes or whole. no. Will the minister commit to publishing the results of the student Can the minister please explain: what is assessments for the most recent the value of these assessment activities if academic year? (interpretation) Thank the results are not made publicly you, Mr. Speaker. available so that parents and students can know whether the relevant benchmark Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. levels are being reached? (interpretation) Minister Joanasie. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Hon. David Joanasie (interpretation): >>Applause Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank him for his third question. As to how this Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. would apply or the design that is Minister Joanasie. something we would have to review first… . (interpretation ends) It’s hard Hon. David Joanasie (interpretation): for me to say yes or no to the member’s Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation question, especially since we will have ends) I thank the member for his to decide or determine what that would question. We’re working on trying to look like essentially, but I’m willing to revamp our student assessment tools and take a look at what that would look like measurement. With that, I think the and report back to the member. Thank annual report that he speaks of, I am you, Mr. Speaker. making motions to table our next one, which will be out hopefully in the very Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. near future, but in terms of getting more Oral Questions. Member for Gjoa information around school-wide, Haven, Mr. Akoak.

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Question 327 – 5(2): Gjoa Haven Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Airport (Akoak) Your first supplementary, Mr. Akoak.

Mr. Akoak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Akoak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of As the minister is aware, Parks Canada Economic Development and recently wrote to the municipality Transportation. recommending that support be requested from either the federal Airports Capital As the minister is aware, the Assistance Program or the National Municipality of Gjoa Haven recently Trade Corridors Fund. prepared and submitted a proposal for upgrades to the Gjoa Haven Airport Last week my colleague from Amittuq which are intended to support the spoke about the close to $10 million that community’s emerging tourism system was recently announced in the federal sector and the discovery of the wrecks of Airports Capital Assistance Program, the Franklin Expedition. funding for upgrades to the Hall Beach Airport. For the record, can the minister In January of this year I wrote in the confirm if Gjoa Haven’s proposal has or strong support of the community’s will be submitted for consideration proposal and the minister has now had under the Airports Capital Assistance the opportunity to review the Program? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. correspondence with care, which I tabled in the House last week for the benefit of Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. all members of the Legislative Minister Akeeagok. Assembly. Mr. Speaker, can the minister confirm when I can expect to receive his Hon. David Akeeagok (interpretation): reply to my letter? Thank you, Mr. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation Speaker. ends) As we all know we have 25 airports and runways throughout the Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. territory, and each of them are graded Minister of Economic Development and and in terms of where its status is. Transportation, Mr. Akeeagok. Further as members might be aware, during the capital sittings here, I Hon. David Akeeagok (interpretation): committed to updating our 20 year needs Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for assessment for our transportation needs, the question. The letter was received at and that’s what I am working towards. In the end of January and Feb 12. It made it terms of putting an actual submission for to my office. We have the Gjoa Haven under the ACAP Program, I correspondence and we are preparing a have not done that or my department has response. We hope to get in contact with not done that to date. There are more the mayor and to meet him as well airstrips that are in dire need compared regarding this letter. I want to prepare a to Gjoa Haven’s current condition, complete response. Right now I cannot which from my department’s perspective tell you when I will be responding, but is fair. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. this is a work in progress. Thank you, Speaker. Mr. Speaker.

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Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. this to my attention and I encourage that. Your final supplementary, Mr. Akoak. It’s going through different programs or Mr. Akoak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I processes that we’ll take a look at, but know he’s answered this question but I under the National Trade Corridors Fund will ask it anyway. Last week my that I want to confirm that Gjoa Haven is colleague from Uqqummiut spoke about not in that consideration under our the proposal for new marine government’s proposals. (interpretation) infrastructure in Qikiqtarjuaq that has Thank you, Mr. Speaker. been submitted to the National Trade Corridors Fund. For the record, can the Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. minister confirm if Gjoa Haven’s Oral Questions. Member for Rankin proposal has or will be submitted for Inlet North-Chesterfield Inlet, Ms. consideration under the National Trade Towtongie. Corridors Fund? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Question 328 – 5(2): Nunavut’s High Birth Rate (Towtongie) Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Akeeagok. Ms. Towtongie (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to direct Hon. David Akeeagok (interpretation): my question to the Minister of Health. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) Under the National Trade First of all, I love children very much Corridors Fund, for the Gjoa Haven and it’s very good when somebody has a airport or marine infrastructure, that has child, but in Nunavut we have the not been taken into consideration by our highest birth rates when we look at it government. Canada-wide. In one year 1,000 new babies are born and there are 365 days in We are looking at more option. I think a year. That would equate to three or for Gjoa Haven there is an excellent four newborns every day. opportunity as the discovery of the Franklin Ships, there are now times As Members of the Legislative where the Inuit organization and Parks Assembly, when our session ends on Canada should be in negotiations in March 13, this means approximately 33 terms of what benefits can come to that newborn babies, somewhere between 33 community. and 35 babies. So, my question to the Minister of Health is: in looking at the I think that is a very good venue to look next 20 upcoming years, what will these at those options. For the marine newborn children be doing? infrastructure side, as I stated last week in my statement, every community will We face a severe housing shortage, be getting a community scoping for our limited employment and career marine infrastructure. I encourage, when opportunities and has the government our department goes to the community, taken these challenges into consideration all of this is mentioned and I want to or incorporated them into existing plans? thank the member for continuing to raise Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. factored into any of the decisions that we Minister of Health, Minister Hickes. make. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Speaker. When we’re talking about our Your first supplementary, Ms. growth in population, as I had mentioned Towtongie. it in my budget address from my finance hat, the other, it’s an exciting time. The Ms. Towtongie: Thank you, Mr. more population we have the more Speaker. Thank you, minister, for economic activity we have. It is going to responding. However, looking at the continue to increase the opportunities for sexual program, it was for only one our communities to diversify any week, February 11 to 15, sexual health revenues or income associated. With of all ages. Looking at it, I was regard to health specifically, when we’re questioning myself where the Inuit IQ looking at the continuation of a very was incorporated. I know in our history, young population, we need to make sure because of lack of resources, if a child we focus our endeavours and our health was born and it was a girl, they would be promotion activities to make sure that left out to freeze. Inuit were always we’re addressing youth. conscious of scarce resources.

There have been a lot of comments Nunavut is seeing more children earlier today about the health and becoming parents without parenting wellbeing of our children and that is skills; children giving birth and raising something I know with the Department children without these skills. Is the of Education, the Department of Family Department of Health educating these Services and the Department of Health, children our parenting skills? Thank you, we work in conjunction with each other Mr. Speaker. on a number of different initiatives to make sure that, again as I mentioned in a Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. statement earlier, the sexual wellbeing, Minister Hickes. respecting yourself. Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. With regard to how we’re going to Speaker. Although that week of continue to provide health care in the recognition of sexual health is from communities with a growing population, February 11 to 15, that’s just one week that is something we’re always taking a of focus from a national perspective. We look at and making sure we have work on that every day, the Sexual sufficient staff and resources in Health Framework for Action, which communities and working with the completed its five-year implementation challenges that we have on recruitment in March of 2017. We’re continuing to and retention. work on promoting sexual health and preventing disease. I’m not sure what information specifically the member is looking for We’ve got Nunavut-specific, and that’s but we are aware of the continued where I believe the member is going, of growth of the territory and it is always training and resources for community

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health representatives and frontline and lesbian/gay, bisexual, transgender health educators across the territory. We and queer (LGBT) identity. want to make sure that we’re continuing to target education and awareness I believe in procreation, don’t get me initiatives with all types of sexual health, wrong, but young mothers giving including the well-being of our children birth…I don’t know what the English and making sure that we have age- word is. After they give birth, their appropriate materials. That was one of mental and physical health is affected. Is the things that I was talking to earlier. there a program in dealing with young mothers so they understand there’s a We want to make sure that we’re not physical and mental change when they introducing some of these concepts to give birth? I come from a long line of children too young. We want to make Inuit midwifery, including the fact that sure that we’re using age-appropriate the hips have to part when they give educational opportunities; the birth and the muscles. irespectmyself.ca website, which is reviewed and updated consistently to My question is: where in the plan is the take advantage of any new resources Inuit IQ with the Inuit young mothers? available in the territory, in partnership Thank you, Mr. Speaker. with the Embrace Life Council and Voice Found, a national non-profit Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. organization working on sexual abuse Minister Hickes. prevention initiatives. Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. We’re developing “Our Children, Our Speaker. Some of the initiatives that I Responsibility” training resource spoke to a little bit earlier are targeting specific to child sexual abuse prevention as children go through puberty and go training that is made for and in Nunavut. through different stages of their Thank you, Mr. Speaker. development and to promote healthy decision-making processes with Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. sexuality. Again, it goes back to the Your final supplementary, Ms. “About Me” portion of the Inuutsiarniq Towtongie. Literacy Program that we partner with the Department of Education to make Ms. Towtongie: Thank you, Mr. sure that there is age appropriate sexual Speaker. I applaud the minister for health promotion. responding to me. However, Inuit children are taught to be innocent. In fact I believe the English word that I each of us remembers that if there were understood from the issue you were serious topics that were going to be talking about is postpartum depression discussed, we used to be told to leave the where not just young mothers but any house or leave the room where adults mother at any age can go through. There were saying. In your statement you said are a lot of hormones and challenges of that topics addressed include being a new mother balancing work and contraception, STIs, puberty, healthy home. It’s very challenging and we want relationships, consent, gender identity, to make sure that anyone who is feeling

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any type of additional stress does seek overcrowded which makes it difficult for out resources that are available through students to focus on their schoolwork our community health representatives in and for teachers to do their job. My first our community. Our staff are trained and question is: can the minister confirm continue to be trained on how to identify whether he is aware of the situation and, different aspects of not feeling well if he is, what plans he has to address it? themselves, different symptoms and how Thank you, Mr. Speaker. to deal with that to work with the young mother on how to deal with this life- Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. changing event that they have just Minister of Education, Mr. Joanasie. experienced. Hon. David Joanasie (interpretation): I hope that answers the member’s Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for question. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. the question. Last year the Pangnirtung DEA invited me to come to their Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. community and I had a meeting with Before we proceed, I would like to them. One of the topics of discussion remind all my colleagues that sometimes was the overcrowding at the school. That when you are asking a question, you is for the elementary school. Right now, tend to speak fast and with the minister’s for 2017-18, we are looking at the eagerness to respond to a question, it utilization rates of the schools. The makes him speak faster. Please keep in student population for Aluki Elementary mind that we do go through the School is at a 74 percent utilization rate, interpreters and because of that and for Attagoyuk School it is at 55 sometimes I am quiet so that we have percent. full participation, so that Nunavummiut can hear and to allow the interpreters to We use this system with the help of the conclude what they’re interpreting. local district education authority and whether we can move some of the Oral Questions. Member for students to the other school in order to Pangnirtung, Ms. Nakashuk. alleviate the overcrowding. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Question 329 – 5(2): Overcrowded Classrooms (Nakashuk) Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Your first supplementary, Ms. Ms. Nakashuk (interpretation): Thank Nakashuk. you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon, people of Pangnirtung and my Ms. Nakashuk (interpretation): Thank colleagues. you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank the minister for his explanation, as well This afternoon I would like to direct my as issues the minister has heard about as question to the Minister of Education. this seems to be a barrier or obstacle.

Mr. Speaker, it has been brought to my Some of the students, based on the attention that the classrooms in information conveyed to me, are using Pangnirtung’s schools are often very the computer room as a classroom and

Monday, February 25, 2019 Nunavut Hansard 2145 some students have to use that room as a Ms. Nakashuk (interpretation): Thank classroom, as they have to divide up the you, Mr. Speaker. To reiterate, classes in order to accommodate all the (interpretation ends) overcrowding in a students due to the overcrowding of the classroom is not a good environment for classrooms. learning and we cannot expect to concentrate when they are being pressed I want to speak to this matter as well, but in from all sides. The more individuals my question will be posed in English. in the same place, the more disruption (interpretation ends) I understand the will occur. Will the minister commit to Education Act specifies a maximum limiting the number of students in a student to educator ratio. Currently this classroom to a safe and comfortable formula states that we must have one number so that our children can learn educator for every 13 or 14 students. and our teachers can teach? Unfortunately this formula does not have (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. any real impact on the number of students that a teacher may have in their >>Applause classroom at any one time. Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Can the minister explain if there are any Minister Joanasie. policies that are in place to ensure that there is a limit on the maximum number Hon. David Joanasie (interpretation): of students in a classroom? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. you for the question. We are still reviewing this (interpretation ends) >>Applause formula (interpretation) and how this formula will be established. Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Joanasie. However, I can state as an example that the numbers of teachers and students are Hon. David Joanasie (interpretation): increasing throughout Nunavut. And Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank further, in light of Nunavut’s population you for the question. (interpretation growth, we have to conduct annual ends) We use the cabinet-approved recruitment drives to hire more teachers formula and as we calculated, it’s well as we face teacher shortages. This is part within the national formula, but in terms of the problem that we are faced with up of if there’s a specific number of to now. students that are limited per one educator, I can’t say whether or not we Nonetheless, I want to encourage our have that, but I could look into that and local DEAs to look for more teachers. report back to the member. Thank you, However, we must also keep the student Mr. Speaker. to teacher ratio in trying to keep up with the student numbers. That is what I can Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. state here, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. Your final supplementary, Ms. Nakashuk. Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Oral Questions. Member for Iqaluit-

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Manirajak, Mr. Lightstone. been strengthening child sexual abuse prevention efforts. One specific way is Question 330 – 5(2): Sexual Education the “Be Safe.” It’s a personal safety in Nunavut Schools (Lightstone) program and it’s geared towards children aged 5 to 9. This is focused on Mr. Lightstone: Thank you, Mr. preventing child sexual abuse and it’s an Speaker. During my member’s statement approved grade 4 curriculum program in I did mention that parents must play a Nunavut schools. Thank you, Mr. role in teaching their children about their Speaker. body parts and how to protect their rights, but it must be reinforced in our Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. schools. Your first supplementary, Mr. Lightstone. Mr. Speaker, all provinces in Canada provide the public with sexual education Mr. Lightstone: Thank you, Mr. curriculum. Unfortunately I was not able Speaker. I’m really glad to hear that to find any details on Nunavut’s about the “Be Safe” program and how it information on sexual education. is included in the grade 4 curriculum.

I would like to ask the minister: what Mr. Speaker, in my member’s statement sexual education curriculum is currently I had also called on the government to in place in Nunavut schools and create a campaign to raise awareness of specifically what is being taught in what child sex abuse to all frontline workers grade? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. as well as parents and children. I also mentioned today about the need for Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. children to have the knowledge that (interpretation ends) Mr. Lightstone, might save them or prevent them from who are your questions to? Mr. becoming victimized. Lightstone. My question to the minister today is: Mr. Lightstone: My apologies, Mr. will he commit to creating an awareness Speaker. As I indicated, my question is campaign for teachers as well as parents for the minister responsible for our and children? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. schools, the Minister of Education. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Joanasie. Speaker: I thank you. (interpretation) Minister of Education, Minister Hon. David Joanasie: Thank you, Mr. Joanasie. Speaker. I applaud the member for his strong advocacy against child sexual Hon. David Joanasie (interpretation): abuse. Our department is committed in Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation providing all school staff the skills, ends) Thank you for the member’s knowledge, and resources that they need question. In line with Turaaqtavut and in order identify to help students develop our priorities to address family violence protective skills. With that, we do and sexual abuse, my department has ongoing campaigns to highlight the “Be

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Safe” kits, which have been translated to heard from other jurisdictions. There is a all official languages. The text has been “Good Touch Bad Touch” program in made into Nunavut-specific content and Nunavik that I’m pretty sure has been distributed to all elementary schools. very successful in terms of getting all of our school staff trained to be able to With that, we have trained all grade 4 identify. I’ll see what that would entail, level teachers as well as Ilinniarvimmi but I think it’s worth pursuing that and I Inuusilirijiit counsellors to deliver this hope to report a good response to my specific program, “Be Safe,” and fellow member. Thank you, Mr. continue to provide ongoing support. I Speaker. think it’s an ongoing campaign and I look forward to working with the Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. member to address this. Thank you, Mr. Oral Questions. Member for Netsilik, Speaker. Mr. Qirngnuq.

Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Question 331 – 5(2): Territorial Cost Your final supplementary, Mr. of Living (Qirngnuq) Lightstone. Mr. Qirngnuq (interpretation): Thank Mr. Lightstone: Thank you, Mr. you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for Speaker. My last question is very the Minister of Finance and they concern specific. I mentioned that it’s very the issue of the high cost of living in important for frontline workers to Nunavut. understand the red flags and symptoms of child sexual abuse. I would like to ask Mr. Speaker, in his Budget Address last the minister specifically if every teacher week, the minister made a number of receives training on how to identify references to the high cost of living in symptoms of child sexual abuse and if our territory. (interpretation ends) The every teacher is given instruction on the minister stated that “We aim to minimize proper procedures of what to do in an the effect of federal carbon pricing on instance where a child does come the cost of living and doing business in forward with allegations of child sexual Nunavut.” abuse. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As one of my colleagues pointed out last >>Applause week, at least one other northern Canadian jurisdiction has announced Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. plans for a carbon tax rebate. Can the Minister Joanasie. minister provide a clear description today of what specific options he is Hon. David Joanasie: Thank you, Mr. looking at to address the impact of Speaker. I thank the member again for carbon tax on Nunavut? Thank you, Mr. his question. Right now I can say the Speaker. grade 4 teachers have been trained with this “Be Safe” program. I stand to be Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. corrected, but I’m pretty sure our Minister for Finance, Minister Hickes. department has also collaborated and

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Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Mr. Qirngnuq (interpretation): Thank Speaker. I believe, in my response last you, Mr. Speaker, and thank the minister week, that I was hesitant to go into too for his response. (interpretation ends) much detail on what types of options we One of the most serious consequences of are considering, just on the basis that I our high cost of living is the impact that could make mention of a program that it has on the rates of child poverty, we’re considering where the naysayers which (interpretation) was brought up and the trolls could be out there this morning, (interpretation ends) in the throwing rocks already before we even territory, which are already unacceptably look at that. high. The minister’s budget speech indicated that 40 percent of Looking at some potential tax rebates, Nunavummiut turn to the government’s looking at maybe programs for people Income Assistance Program at least once looking at putting in other methods of a year. power, whether it be solar or small windmills, looking at potential lowering In a recent article the national Globe and of corporate taxes, looking at Mail newspaper reported that 70 percent homeowner fuel rebates, that has been of Inuit preschoolers are food insecure. done in the past. The main focus that we Can the minister clearly explain whether want to focus on and for the member’s or not his budget includes additional direct response, we want to make sure funding to increase the food allowance that the revenue that we gain from this rates under the government’s income goes back to the people that are most assistance regulations? Thank you, Mr. impacted by it. We want to make sure Speaker. that the people that are most influenced by the increased costs due to the carbon Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. tax implementation get the benefits back. Minister Hickes. We want to make sure that this is as cost-neutral as possible. Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister of Family We also have to take into consideration Services is looking at increased benefits the increased costs to the government; for people on income assistance. I don’t the increased costs to providing public know the details of where those benefits housing, to providing power to our come from. I apologize, Mr. Speaker, public housing units. We want to make and I apologize to the member. I just sure that we balance it as fair as possible don’t have that level of detail. I just and although it’s not in place until July know that they are looking at increased of this year, and I will be coming benefits. Thank you. forward to this House when we have decided on some avenues, that we will Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. look at how this revenue gets back into Your final supplementary, Mr. the pockets of Nunavummiut. Thank Qirngnuq. you. Mr. Qirngnuq (interpretation): Thank Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank the Your first supplementary, Mr. Qirngnuq. minister. I look forward to getting the

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information from him later or hopefully There is a topic I made the other day that soon. communities have opportunities to apply for funding or schools can apply for (interpretation ends) The federal budget funding for lunch programs in their will be coming out in a few weeks, and I schools as well. We don’t have believe that it is always a good idea to dedicated funding for that, but we do remind the federal government that Inuit have project-specific funding that would do not live on reservations and we pay encompass lunch programs in a school. income taxes like other Canadians. We want to make sure that at the end of Can the minister indicate what the day, the food security… . If you look discussions he has had with his federal at the price disparity between counterpart regarding ways to address communities, we have all recognized the high cost of living in Nunavut that the Nutrition North program doesn’t through enhancements to the Canada work for Nunavut. That was one of the Child Benefit and the Northern other things that I brought up with the Residents Deduction? Thank you, Mr. minister. We want to make sure that the Speaker. hard-working Nunavut residents that are going to work every day are getting their Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. just due. We often talk in here about the Minister Hickes. working poor, of people who have the expenses of going to work of having Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. child care and rent and all the associated Speaker. I did have an opportunity in costs of trying to move ahead in life. December to meet with Minister Morneau along with my other finance We have programs through Family minister colleagues from across the Services, soon to come to Human country. There are a number of topics Resources from Executive and that were brought up and one of the Intergovernmental on training programs overall themes that I brought up was the for Nunavut residents and for people high cost of living in Nunavut, who are on income support to get them particularly in relation to the carbon tax, off that reliance and out into the homeowners’ fuel, and the transportation workforce. costs for cargo and for people. Thankfully the federal government did We look at the postings of employment acknowledge with the aviation fuel opportunities across the territory and not being exempt from the carbon tax was a every community, as Mr. Main has positive step. frequently brought up, there’s not always an equal level of opportunities in every With regard to specifically on what community, but where there are different topics I had with the federal opportunities, we need to make sure that minister, there were a number of there are training and educational different things. We want to make sure opportunities so that Nunavummiut can from a food security standpoint, like the access those jobs. member brings up, that we have breakfast programs for our schools. We need to make sure that through our

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school system, we’re preparing our children who have suffered extreme graduates to enter the workforce in a cases of abuse, violence, or trauma. contributing manner and have Thank you, Mr. Speaker. opportunities to work their way up the ladder if they so desire. Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Minister of Family Services, Minister I believe there are a number of different Sheutiapik. ways where we’re looking to address the low-income population and I feel very Hon. Elisapee Sheutiapik strongly, through Turaaqtavut, that this (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. government will continue to focus on Speaker. Thank you for asking that our most vulnerable population. Thank question. Today I can say that I am very you, Mr. Speaker. happy to hear what I am hearing that if we don’t help the children that are going Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. through hardship that it will affect them Oral Questions. Member for Iqaluit- throughout their lives. Niaqunnguu, Ms. Angnakak. (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I can Question 332 – 5(2): Specialized say that our department has mandatory Training for Social Workers training for our frontline workers and (Angnakak) that if they want to work as a social Ms. Angnakak: Thank you, Mr. worker in our territory or as employees Speaker. I would like to direct my of Family Services it is mandatory. questions to the Minister of Family (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Services. Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. I have been listening intently to my Your first supplementary, Ms. colleague, Mr. Lightstone, regarding Angnakak. sexual abuse of children, and it’s a very sad fact that some children across Ms. Angnakak: Thank you, Mr. Nunavut experience severe trauma, Speaker. I am not sure if mandatory including sexual abuse or violence from training meant mandatory to be specially a family member or suicide in the family trained in that area or mandatory that or the violent death of a parent or family they have to be trained all across the member. Being able to provide support board and it is something perhaps she to children and youth who have suffered can clarify, but I understand that some through these kinds of experiences takes service organizations like the RCMP special skills and training to be able to have specialized training and it is do that. available for peace officers to learn to interview, to counsel, to investigate Mr. Speaker, we really depend a lot on allegations of sexual abuse or violence social workers to address so many specifically involving children. I’m pressing issues like sexual abuse. I’m wondering if the minister can confirm wondering if the minister can clarify whether or not similar training is whether any of Nunavut’s social workers available for Nunavut’s social workers are specially trained to work with who may be involved in identifying,

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addressing, and dealing with these kinds a member’s statement of the Umingmak of situations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Child and Youth Support Centre. That’s going to be a one-stop shop for children Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. who have experienced abuse. I also Minister Sheutiapik. know from experience, as we know the high rates, that unfortunately sometimes Hon. Elisapee Sheutiapik they’re interviewed by multiple. This (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. centre is going to be one-stop where all Speaker. (interpretation ends) The the people who provide the service and department, as stated, there is mandatory support for youth and children are in one training for child sexual abuse for our facility. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. social workers. Our department currently Speaker. spends $269,000 each year for child sexual abuse initiatives. (interpretation) Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Oral Questions. Member for Amittuq, Mr. Kaernerk. Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Your final supplementary, Ms. Question 333 – 5(2): Language Angnakak. Promotion for Children (Kaernerk) Ms. Angnakak: Thank you, Mr. Mr. Kaernerk (interpretation): Thank Speaker. Children or youth who have you, Mr. Speaker. Good day, my fellow suffered from sexual abuse, violence, or residents of Amittuq and Nunavummiut. other major traumatic events need help and support outside of the legal systems Mr. Speaker, I would like to direct my which are there to protect them and, question to the Minister of Culture and hopefully wherever possible, to bring Heritage. their attackers to face justice. Mr. Speaker, this is the Year of Can the minister clarify what kinds of Indigenous Languages and in the counselling services are specifically minister’s statement, he invited us to available to children and youth where celebrate International Mother Language they can talk about their experiences or Day. We all know that languages are the effects of their experiences with strongest when we learn them at an early individuals who have the appropriate age and continue to use them as we grow skills to work with the younger age older. groups? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the minister describe what programs Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. his department offers specifically for Minister Sheutiapik. children to promote their Inuit language use? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Hon. Elisapee Sheutiapik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Speaker. (interpretation ends) Thank you Minister of Culture and Heritage, for that question. I am very excited. The Minister Joanasie. minister responsible the other day made

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Hon. David Joanasie (interpretation): programs that can be accessed for Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank mothers and children, as well as elders you for that question. The Department of and youth. You responded to the Culture and Heritage has various question I was going to ask. funding programs available, and residents of Nunavut apply for funding Now, with regard to the Department of through the (interpretation ends) grants Education, they also produce or actually and contributions (interpretation) they are responsible for the delivery of programs. Inuktitut language programming in our schools. However, when students return Within the department there are different home from school, our children and here programs specifically for funding I will use smaller communities as an cultural events or categories specific to example. (interpretation ends) Inuit societal values, (interpretation) as well as Has this matter been considered to look specific to Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit or at optional studies that could help our for specific language programming, or children encourage usage of the even programs designed for our elders or language, such as different books or youth. materials that can be created using our traditional Inuit practices? With these types of funding programs, there is an annual RFP sent out asking Can the minister describe what future for proposals and to keep residents investments they are contemplating in informed about the funding programs looking at our options such as they can apply to for funding their developing Inuit linguistic programs programs. Additionally, our employees using this example of reading materials, at the Department of Culture and through films and other audiovisual Heritage now travel to communities that materials like cartoons or short films? rarely apply for funding to explain the process so that they can receive funding. Has the Department of Culture and Heritage taken these types of mediums As well, they identify the different into consideration to preserve our programs that organizations can apply language and to strengthen the Inuktitut to, and I want to also reaffirm the toll- language? We all know that our children free number, 1-866-934-2035, our love to watch cartoons, and they are residents can call into or send out an causing them to learn only English. I am email information request to not saying that I am against cartoons, but [email protected]. Thank you, Mr. rather how we can strengthen our Speaker. language and cultural pride in our youth. I wonder if the Department of Culture Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. and Heritage has looked at these ideas to Your first supplementary, Mr. Kaernerk. try to strengthen our Inuktitut language and to show the language. Thank you, Mr. Kaernerk (interpretation): Thank Mr. Speaker. you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank you, minister, for clearly identifying the Speaker (interpretation): Thank you.

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Minister Joanasie. Furthermore, we are also preparing to host a languages conference in March on Hon. David Joanasie (interpretation): various linguistic topics, where we will Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for welcome all topics related to language. asking that question about language. Now, I wish to respond again by stating To reiterate, we must use our language “use your language,” as this is the best daily, and as our colleague stated way to preserve one’s language and previously, where he encouraged both ensuring the language is heard on a daily the department and Nunavummiut, to go basis to our fellow Nunavummiut and ahead and use our language, so we too additionally, to have the Department of must encourage our residents to continue Culture and Heritage focus on language using Inuktitut in their homes as this is matters. the best way to teach children our language. If they hear it and listen to it We have a languages plan that we are daily, then this will encourage them to trying to implement in collaboration speak it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. with several departments within this government along with outside agencies. Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. This can include private businesses, Your final supplementary, Mr. Kaernerk. where we can provide up to $5,000 to local businesses on an annual basis, and Mr. Kaernerk (interpretation): Thank I am happy to say that we must also you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for that speak our language at home as parents, response. That is a good response; one as grandfathers and grandmothers. that I can take pride in as he clearly outlined the details. Although we can’t force anyone to speak their language within their homes, the Indeed, we have to take pride and work is done in the departments and honour our traditions, our culture and schools. Let’s use our language every language which has no equivalents as day. As well, some of the work is spent our culture is quite different from other producing reading materials, such as the cultures in the globe. I, too, in having principals to guide healthy living. We grown up amongst elders, kept my have collaborated with the Department language as I spoke it every day and this of Health to produce some of these is why I want to keep Inuktitut visible books, and by April 2019, the production for Nunavummiut. run will start and it has different levels and reading comprehension >>Applause requirements. We want to publish more books to promote our language and to Now, in saying that we must not forget ensure it is highly visible. our elders as well, and the person sitting behind me is now an elder. In looking at This is just a portion of the overall plan, our youth, we are now living in a but there are many categories we can use manner totally alien to our past cultural to prop up our language or to practices as they are growing up disseminate new ideas that we want Inuit differently. to hear about using our own language.

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We, as the older generations, want to legislation is one area. keep our Inuit culture and language, but with the reality we face, this is why I am However, Nunavummiut have to enforce adamant about voicing this fact. The their personal rules in the home related young people today are now having to language, and to use Inuktitut daily at children at such a young age, so we must home, and this can become a good prioritize the availability of parenting starting point to retain the language. The courses or proper child-rearing practices government isn’t the sole arbiter of to teach these young parents. I believe language provision and teaching. that we should be doing that. However, the government can provide Now, this is an ongoing concern held by assistance, yes, especially related to many people, and as I mentioned earlier, funding requests, but even with these the young people are now the main funding programs, nonetheless, due to contributors to Nunavut’s birth rate, the immensity of the challenge, we which was stated to be the highest in the cannot do it unilaterally. However, what country. Now, in stating that fact, I now I can reiterate here is that we require ask the minister: can the programs that everyone’s cooperation in Nunavut in are specific to our youth linguistic order to accomplish this and if we are programming be restructured within the going to make it successful for our department, to use this example, through children. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. artistic programs or social interaction courses or even physical activities such Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. as sports? Please note that the time for question period has expired. Mr. Mikkungwak. We must search for all avenues that assist us in preserving Inuktitut for the Motion 025 – 5(2): Extension of residents of Nunavut whom we Question Period (Mikkungwak) represent, to ensure our children are using their language properly and to Mr. Mikkungwak: Mr. Speaker, retain their language, as the culture is pursuant to Rule 39(7), I move, stronger with its language. How do we seconded by the Member for Hudson ensure these are restarted through the Bay, that the time allotted for oral Department of Culture and Heritage? questions be extended. Thank you, Mr. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker (interpretation): Thank >>Laughter you. Minister Joanasie. Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Hon. David Joanasie (interpretation): The motion is in order and it is not Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This language debatable. All those in favour of the debate encompasses the breadth of motion, please raise your hand. Thank linguistic challenges as it relates to you. Opposed. The motion is carried and Nunavut, and to its residents and with the time allotted for oral questions is legislation to protect the Inuktitut extended by 30 minutes starting now. language, this government foundation of

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Oral Questions. Member for Baker Lake, Mr. Mikkungwak: Mr. Speaker, I am Mr. Mikkungwak. sorry to note that ever since Baker Lake became an unrestricted community with Question 334 – 5(2): The Need for respect to the purchase of alcohol, More Foster Parents domestic problems seem to be on the (Mikkungwak) rise with more and more children and Mr. Mikkungwak: Thank you, Mr. youth suffering the consequences. Speaker. I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Family Can the minister describe how alcohol Services. use within a family situation is assessed to determine whether children or youth First, I would like to extend my thanks need to be removed from their home and and appreciation to the staff of the placed in foster care? Thank you, Mr. Department of Family Services and Speaker. especially to the social workers who face many difficult and challenging Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. situations. They need our support. One Minister Sheutiapik. way to support them is by becoming a foster parent to provide a temporary Hon. Elisapee Sheutiapik home for a child or youth in need. (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) There are Can the minister clarify what steps her many ways for where the Department of department is taking to recruit more Family Services looks at apprehension. foster parents in the foster care system to There are several criteria. Is the child at provide safe homes for children and risk? Has there been a report to a Family youth who need them? Thank you, Mr. Services’ social worker? Of course, Speaker. which children have been apprehended and how do we deal with that child? Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Minister of Family Services, Minister Sheutiapik. Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Your final supplementary, Mr. Hon. Elisapee Sheutiapik Mikkungwak. (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) Family Mr. Mikkungwak: Mr. Speaker, when Services annually does a call out to there is no extended family or no foster encourage individuals to become foster parent available within a community, parents, but also we have now foster children and youth who have been parents coordinators who I am sure will removed from a family situation for their also be doing additional call out for own safety have to travel away from foster parents. (interpretation) Thank their hometown. This simply adds to you, Mr. Speaker. their trauma.

Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Will the minister commit to launching a Your first supplementary, Mr. new campaign to recruit more foster Mikkungwak. parents in all of our Nunavut

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communities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. through the Department of Education, and they assist the communities to hire Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. employees and to provide training Minister Sheutiapik. programs or provide assistance with daycare regulations or operational issues Hon. Elisapee Sheutiapik such as financial management or daycare (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. operations. However, to clarify, Nunavut Speaker. (interpretation ends) I certainly Arctic College is another facility that can will. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. be used to offer more daycare provider Speaker. training locally. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Oral Questions. Member for Aggu, Mr. Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Quassa. Your first supplementary, Mr. Quassa.

Question 335 – 5(2): Establishment Mr. Quassa (interpretation): Thank you, and Support for Daycares Mr. Speaker. Now, as an example, in (Quassa) looking at the daycare facilities here in Mr. Quassa (interpretation): Thank you, Iqaluit, as quite a number of people go to Mr. Speaker. I say “good day” to my Iqaluit to move here, to start fellow community members in Igloolik employment and not just specific to and my colleagues. Iqaluit, it becomes noticeable in looking at our daycares in Iqaluit that the Today I would like to direct my question majority of positions are grabbed by to the Minister of Education. transient workers from outside Nunavut.

In Nunavut we have daycares and many Now, you mentioned that the daycare communities have been trying to get providers must receive the proper daycares for many years. It takes a long training prior to working in daycares. time to open them. Trying to set up There are requirements that must be met daycares is good. It really helps the to ensure proper care of our children. economy. Along these lines I would like Now, from what I understand about to ask: when you’re trying to set up a daycares, they can hire anyone who is daycare in a community, what support qualified. Can they be hired even if they services are there and what rules are in never took any daycare training courses place? What legal requirements exist in at Nunavut Arctic College? Thank you, order to have children at a daycare? Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Joanasie. Minister of Education, Minister Joanasie. Hon. David Joanasie (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker and for the Hon. David Joanasie (interpretation): question. The daycares in all of Nunavut, Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for actually all daycares are regulated by the question. The daycare program is run territorial legislation. For example, they

Monday, February 25, 2019 Nunavut Hansard 2157 are not employees of the government Department of Education conducted its even when working inside a school, as consultations in the communities, the the daycares create a society that is Child Care Act was discussed, with a specific to the daycare. They have their prepared outline and to ensure that we own local boards, their own managers, would have the plans to immediately and hire their own daycare providers begin this work. Nonetheless, at this through that program. Thank you, Mr. time we have been faced with shortages Speaker. in staff that can perform this review, including the associated (interpretation Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. ends) regulations (interpretation) and Your final supplementary, Mr. Quassa. legal requirements that are going to be reviewed in the future. Mr. Quassa (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As we are all aware, Further, the employees of the daycares children who attend daycare facilities are will also be part of the review; including usually more skilled when it comes to the (interpretation ends) certificates schooling since they are introduced to (interpretation) are up to date. This schooling earlier, as an example, they includes checking their proficiencies as become quick studies. They become well as qualifications. We also look at quite observant and learn very quickly linguistic or cultural aspects that may be on issues they are hearing and observing. needed, and this includes the financial The children become quite skilful when reports and statements we require. We they attend daycares prior to attending have requested this previously, but the kindergarten. review of the legislation specific to daycares will have to be deferred to a Now, it’s obvious that future daycare later date. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. providers will have to know about child care, about the need for daycares in Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Nunavut to teach Inuktitut and not just Oral Questions. Member for Hudson English. Due to these reasons, the Bay, Mr. Rumbolt. legislation, (interpretation ends) the Child Care Act (interpretation) was Question 336 – 5(2): Busing Services developed to regulate daycares operating for Students with Disabilities in Nunavut. I would like to ask: will this (Rumbolt) legislation be reviewed in the immediate Mr. Rumbolt: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. future? The Child Care Act was My questions are directed towards the developed in 2011. Will the minister or Minister of Education. his department review this legislation in the short term? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Education provides busing services for Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. students in those communities where Minister Joanasie. they are needed, either through contracts or the purchase of buses. However, it is Hon. David Joanasie (interpretation): not clear to me how the department Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank my makes arrangements to provide colleague for his question. Yes, when the specialized transportation for students

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with disabilities. Minister Joanasie.

Can the minister clarify how Hon. David Joanasie: Thank you, Mr. communities can access specialized Speaker. I thank the member for his busing services for students with question. It normally depends on disabilities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. demonstrated need. As well, we take other factors into account, whether Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. there’s ample storage and maintenance Minister of Education, Minister and drivers available for a special needs Joanasie. bus. We take those into account, but first we need a letter to initiate the process, Hon. David Joanasie (interpretation): but again, every year we have a budget Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation for busing services and depending on ends) Thank you for the member for his how many requests we get, we can try to question. Our department, every year we assign a new bus to whichever budget $280,000 for busing services in community needs it the most. Thank the territory and we seek requests from you, Mr. Speaker. DEAs whether they would like specialized busing services made Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. available to their community. Case by Oral Questions. Member for case we will work with the DEA if they Uqqummiut, Mr. Keyootak. need it or request it through a letter to my office and we will consider that. Question 337 – 5(2): Child Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Apprehension Policies (Keyootak)

Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Mr. Keyootak (interpretation): Thank Your first supplementary, Mr. Rumbolt. you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon to the people of Qikiqtarjuaq and Clyde River Mr. Rumbolt: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. and my colleagues. I apologize for speaking too fast in my previous question. Mr. Speaker, I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Family Services. Mr. Speaker, for some disabilities, the use of a wheelchair is necessary. I believe we are all aware of this fact, as Specialized vehicles which can transport members have brought up this matter wheelchairs are not available in every during our statements about our children community. and our youth as being both the future and to brighten their future options. We Can the minister explain what criteria have spoken to this matter, and further, must be met for his department to we all know that each person as adults authorize the purchase of a vehicle have different levels of understanding specialized for the transport of and capabilities as Inuit. Some people wheelchairs? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. can’t quite grasp the points while some Inuit can recall episodes of when they Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. were newborns and have photographic

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memories. parents. Are the relatives, for example, of the parent that will have their child Perhaps we are all aware of my maternal apprehended, if any, consulted firstly if uncle, as he has conducted numerous they can place them with their interviews with elders. He is my grandparents or their mother’s sisters or maternal uncle and he works at the CBC relatives? Is any priority given to radio, and it is obvious that many of the relatives when a child is subjected to elders he interviewed could recall events apprehension by Family Services prior when they were just newborns or as to being sent out to be placed in a foster young children and their recollections home? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. stem way back into their childhood. Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. This has always been part of the Inuit Minister of Family Services, Ms. life, as some children even as very tiny Sheutiapik. babies can recall events and their memory retention is much larger. They Hon. Elisapee Sheutiapik can tell stories about when they recalled (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Speaker. certain events while they were still I would like to thank the member for his carried or when they recall their first question. Yes, as I have announced memory. previously, the relatives of the parents are usually consulted as to which family Mr. Speaker, my question to the Minister members will house the apprehended of Family Services is specific to children to be fostered. Thank you, Mr. situations where very young children Speaker. have to be apprehended from their families, and this has positive Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. connotations as children should not be in Your first supplementary, Mr. Keyootak. dangerous situations, especially newborns or very young children who Mr. Keyootak (interpretation): Thank must be in a safe place. you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank the minister for her response. Mr. Alternatively, it can also be problematic Speaker, I have another question I want because they now face a foreign to ask. Prior to a child apprehension environment that can be quite traumatic from their parents, is there an age limit when they find strangers facing them, it for this? We are aware that it can be can cause additional mental trauma due used to apprehend a tiny baby, but what to being placed in a different family is the cut-off age for when children can’t obviously, as they are placed with be apprehended from their homes by guardians who are not their parents. social workers? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When a young child is suddenly thrust into a new family, it can cause mental Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. trauma to the child. Minister Sheutiapik.

Mr. Speaker, I wonder if these types of Hon. Elisapee Sheutiapik scenarios are played out prior to (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Speaker. apprehension of the children from the The agreements themselves are also

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quite different, but what I can state here agreement where parents of children is that in looking at the legislation and under the age of 16 who are not in need regulations, it appears to allow of protection but require some form of apprehension from the time of newborns support (interpretation) is one. up to becoming an adult that can be dealt (interpretation ends) Support service with by our social workers. Thank you, agreement, an agreement with youth Mr. Speaker. between the ages of 16 and 19 who cannot remain safely in their parents’ Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. home and are making efforts to care for Your final supplementary, Mr. themselves and live independently Keyootak. (interpretation) is another one. The third agreement is (interpretation ends) Mr. Keyootak (interpretation): Thank extended support agreement, an you, Mr. Speaker. What age are they agreement that allows the Children and considered of age? There’s a big Family Services Division to continue to difference between the Qallunaat provide supports to children and young concept and the Inuit concept. A child adults between the ages of 19 and 26 may be of age but can be kept at the (interpretation) is another one. With parents’ home. People of age, to us are respect to the member’s question of still children. whether the child or youth is informed of who their parents are, they are informed Mr. Speaker, if a child has been in a and some of them are provided annual foster home until the age of 14, 15, or visits to their family. Thank you, Mr. 16, they tend to forget who their Speaker. relatives and family are. Again, that has a traumatic effect on the child. When a Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. child is fostered or adopted outside of Oral Questions. Member for Kugluktuk, the Inuit community, they are not told of Ms. Kamingoak. their family, but in the Inuit culture, the child is told where he or she was adopted Question 338 – 5(2): Status of from. Kugluktuk High School (Kamingoak) Mr. Speaker, do you tell the child or Ms. Kamingoak: Koana, Mr. Speaker. youth who their parents are at the end of My questions are for the Minister of their apprehension? Thank you, Mr. Education. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when I last asked the Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. minister about future plans to replace the Minister Sheutiapik. high school, it was not clear when decisions would be made to proceed Hon. Elisapee Sheutiapik with this project in the capital plan. (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are different agreements Can the minister provide an update on following the circumstances in the the current plan to replace the Kugluktuk community. (interpretation ends) High School? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Volunteer support agreement, an

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Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. the 2017-18 school year, Kugluktuk had Minister of Education, Minister the highest, I think, out of the entire Joanasie. territory, utilization at 109 percent. With that, as I had said, we are right now Hon. David Joanasie: Thank you, Mr. proceeding on the Sakku School major Speaker. I thank the member for her renovation. That is the biggest one right question. My department, for this 2019- now to date. However, also with the 2020 fiscal year, had submitted six major construction happening in projects for preplanning consideration, Kugaaruk, the Igloolik high school is including the Kugluktuk High School, near completion. As we finish off new but at this point we have not much schools in construction, it opens up further plans on…there’s such a great opportunity for others. I can’t say right need across the territory, whether it’s now when that would happen, but as we major renovations that we’re proceeding complete our capital plans, it opens up with at Sakku School in Coral Harbour, the door for other major construction. there are five others, but at this time we Thank you, Mr. Speaker. will have to see where the Kugluktuk High School situation might fall in, in Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. future planning cycles. Thank you, Mr. Your final supplementary, Ms. Speaker. Kamingoak.

Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Ms. Kamingoak: Koana, Mr. Speaker. Your first supplementary, Ms. Overcrowding at the elementary school Kamingoak. led to the grade 6 class being moved into the high school. However, I recently Ms. Kamingoak: Koana, Mr. Speaker. heard that overcrowding at the high It is important that our children have school will now require the grade 6 good environments in which to grow and students to be moved back to the full-to- learn. The Kugluktuk High School is one capacity elementary school. Can the of the oldest schools in Nunavut and has minister provide an update on this consistently been well over the 85 situation? Koana, Mr. Speaker. percent utilization rate, the rate which determines whether a new school should Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. be built. Kugluktuk needs a new high Minister Joanasie. school. Can the minister, for the record, tell us today when the community of Hon. David Joanasie: Thank you, Mr. Kugluktuk will get its new high school? Speaker. I thank the member for her Thank you. question. I’ll have to check for an update. I don’t have an update for the Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. member at this time, but given the Minister Joanasie. situation, if there is overcrowding in one school, and we do try to work with the Hon. David Joanasie (interpretation): DEA on catchment areas whether a Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation grade can be moved between, then as the ends) I thank the member for her member stated, they have been doing question. According to the data I have, that. In the meantime I think we do try to

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consider if there are other potential ends) Yes, I was very pleased with my options available for additional space. statement last week regarding our We’ve had to do it in some other Umingmak Centre. The Umingmak communities where a portable is Centre will be located here in Iqaluit. If installed based on the need and our anyone or members want to get a hold of capital capacity. Thank you, Mr. this centre, they could do so through the Speaker. Arctic Child Youth Foundation, the RCMP, our Department of Justice, Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Health, Education, and Family Services. Oral Questions. Member for Iqaluit- Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Niaqunnguu, Ms. Angnakak. Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Question 339 – 5(2): Umingmak Child Your first supplementary, Ms. and Youth Support Centre Angnakak. (Angnakak) Ms. Angnakak: Thank you, Mr. Ms. Angnakak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to direct my Speaker. I think the name threw me off a question to the Minister of Justice. bit. Umingmak, I thought maybe that would be in the west somewhere because Mr. Speaker, I was very pleased to hear we don’t have umingmaks here. the minister’s statement on Friday regarding the upcoming opening of the Mr. Speaker, having a child-friendly Umingmak Child and Youth Support centre where the needs of child victims Centre that will provide a safe and or children who have witnessed a crime comfortable space for children, their can be addressed in a culturally families and service providers to come appropriate and compassionate manner, together and address difficult and and that’s I think a right step or a step in traumatic situations. the right direction, I should say.

Mr. Speaker, I was also glad to see that My second question is: can the minister some of the key individuals involved in confirm that services at the centre will the initiative were here in our gallery on be delivered by bilingual staff who speak Friday and I would like to apologize for Inuktut? (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. not recognizing them at the time. Chairman.

My first question is: can the minister Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. clarify where this office will be located Minister Ehaloak. and how the office can be contacted by individuals who may need its services? Hon. Jeannie Ehaloak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) Thank you, member, for this Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. question. I can assure you that all our Minister of Justice, Minister Ehaloak. staff within this Umingmak Centre must be bilingual. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Hon. Jeannie Ehaloak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation Speaker (interpretation): Thank you.

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Your final supplementary, Ms. Written Question 023 – 5(2): Child Angnakak. Abuse in Nunavut – Trends (Lightstone) Ms. Angnakak: Thank you, Mr. Mr. Lightstone: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In many cases, children and Speaker. My written question is for the their families need ongoing support Minister of Justice and it is regarding while addressing a traumatic situation. trends in child sexual abuse in Nunavut. Can the minister describe how children and their families will be supported both As I have stated before, sexual violations during and after an investigation has against children and youth in Nunavut is been initiated, especially if a family an ongoing issue. In response to my member has been identified as being question regarding trends and relating to involved in the traumatic incident? investigations of alleged sexual Thank you, Mr. Speaker. violations against children in Nunavut, the minister stated, “The increase in Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. violations against children in Nunavut is Minister Ehaloak. troubling. The number of increased violations went from 49 to 103 within Hon. Jeannie Ehaloak (interpretation): the last few years.” Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) Once a child has been in the I believe that it is in the best interest to Umingmak Centre, follow-up with this make statistical information and trends child or the parent or guardians will related to child sexual abuse public. We continue until the family feels safe that must ensure that parents and children are the child or the parent or guardian feels fully aware of the amount of abuse in that they no longer need the support. their communities and encourage them That support will be there and will be to adjust to a level of alertness reviewed by all members of the appropriately. Umingmak Centre with the individual, with the child, with the parents, with the My questions are detailed and I request guardian until they feel that they have that they be entered into the Hansard as their problem, their issues, their mental read. help has been addressed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. 1. Since April 1, 1999, how many allegations of child abuse have been Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. investigated? Please provide Members, please note that the extended information by year and community. time for question period has expired and cannot be extended it again. Thank you. 2. Since April 1, 1999, how many Let’s proceed. Written Questions. allegations of child abuse have led to Member for Iqaluit-Manirajak, Mr. a conviction? Please provide Lightstone. information by year and community.

Item 7: Written Questions Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker (interpretation): Thank you.

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The member is seeking unanimous Business Plan of the Office of the consent to have his questions entered Representative for Children and Youth. into the record as read. Do you agree? (interpretation) Thank you.

Some Members: Agreed. Notices of Motions. Notices of Motions for First Reading of Bills. Motions. First Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. Reading of Bills. Second Reading of They will be entered into the record as Bills. Consideration in Committee of the read. Whole of Bills and Other Matters. Bills 13, 15, 16, 17, and 18 with Mr. Rumbolt Written Questions. Returns to Written in the Chair. Questions. Replies to Opening Address. Replies to Budget Address. Petitions. Before we proceed to the Committee of Responses to Petitions. Reports of the Whole, we will take a 20-minute Standing and Special Committees on break. Bills and Other Matters. Tabling of Documents. Sergeant-at-Arms.

Item 14: Tabling of Documents >>House recessed at 15:58 and Committee resumed at 16:22 Tabled Document 124 – 5(2): 2019- 2022 Business Plan of the Office of Item 20: Consideration in Committee the Chief Electoral Officer of of the Whole of Bills and Other Nunavut (Speaker) Matters

Tabled Document 125 – 5(2): 2019- Chairman (Mr. Rumbolt): Good 2022 Business Plan of the Office of afternoon, members. Welcome back. I the Languages Commissioner of would like to call the committee meeting Nunavut (Speaker) to order. In Committee of the Whole we have the following to deal with: Bills 13, Tabled Document 126 – 5(2): 2019- 15, 16, 17, 18, and 21. What is the wish 2022 Business Plan of the Office of of the committee? Mr. Main. the Representative for Children and Youth (Speaker) Mr. Main (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) We Thank you, my colleagues. I have three wish to continue with the review of Bill documents to table today. (interpretation 15 and the 2019-2020 Main Estimates of ends) The first document is the 2019- the Department of Health, followed by 2022 Business Plan of the Office of the the Department of Education. Chief Electoral Officer of Nunavut. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The second document is the 2019-2022 Business Plan of the Office of the Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Main. Are Languages Commissioner of Nunavut. we in agreement that we first deal with Bill 15? The third document is the 2019-2022

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Some Members: Agreed. talking about Embassy West on the first day, I made a comment that physician Bill 15 – Appropriation (Operations & services for dental and eye care are Maintenance) Act, 2019-2020 – provided outside. There are some Health – Consideration in services that are provided on site as well. Committee There are physicians available on call 24 hours per day. Chairman: Thank you. I would now like to ask Minister Hickes: do you have I just wanted to update members that officials that you would like to appear since our last discussion, the menu and before the committee? Minister Hickes. the recreation calendar at Embassy West have been translated into Inuktitut and Hon. George Hickes: Yes, please. we are looking at additional signage. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Chairman: Thank you. Does the >>Applause committee agree to let the minister’s officials go to the witness table? Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Hickes. We left off on Friday. We were doing to the Some Members: Agreed. Department of Health and we were on page H-5, Branch Summary for Public Chairman: Thank you. Sergeant-at- Health, and the next name I had on my Arms, could you please escort the list was Mr. Main. Mr. Main, do you witnesses in. want to ask questions at this moment? Mr. Main. Thank you. I know by now that your witnesses don’t need any introductions, Mr. Main (interpretation): Thank you, but for the record, Mr. Hickes, if you Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) Yes, could please introduce your witnesses I do. Okay? (interpretation) Thank you. and then I understand you want to make (interpretation ends) When it comes to some clarifications from previous immunizations in Nunavut, is this under meetings, so you can go into that as well. public health? Just a clarification. Minister Hickes. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’m glad you made a Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Main. comment on it. I was going to say Minister Hickes. something similar. Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. With me to my right is Acting Deputy Chairman. Yes. Thank you. Minister Linnea Ingebrigtson and to my left, Greg Babstock, the Executive Chairman: Thank you. Mr. Main, Director of Corporate Services with the please go ahead with your questions. Department of Health. Mr. Main (interpretation): Thank you, I just wanted to touch on, when we were Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) Are

Monday, February 25, 2019 Nunavut Hansard 2166 there any specific actions planned under Mr. Mikkungwak: Thank you, Mr. this fiscal year to address concerns Chairman and minister. Under Public across the country tied to measles and Health, I just had several questions here. other lack of immunization issues in the One of the first questions I have is I country? (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. understand that the Department of Chairman. Health is, as the minister indicated, using the MEDITECH system. When we look Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Main. Mr. at Nunavut, we are cloned off by Hickes. regions, Baffin going to Ottawa and Kivalliq going down to Winnipeg for Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. medical services and Kitikmeot going to Chairman. Nothing specific, although I Alberta. With that MEDITECH system will say that the recent coverage, and when we go by Nunavummiut going especially with the measles coverage on to these particular hospitals, is that the immunization, has kind of drawn a conforming and/or are there any barriers light to the issue of immunizations in the in providing efficient, relevant health territory. I will be working with my information? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. public health team to make sure that we’re following immunization schedules Chairman: Thank you, Mr. and working with community health Mikkungwak. Minister Hickes. centres to do so. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. With regard to MEDITECH Chairman: Thank you, Minister Hickes. and our southern partners with the Mr. Main. Ottawa Health Services Network, it has been implemented as well as at the Mr. Main (interpretation): Thank you, Kivalliq Inuit Services in Winnipeg. Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) Just Thank you, Mr. Chairman. a confirmation that the minister or the department will be liaising with the Chairman: Thank you, Minister Hickes. Department of Education when it comes Mr. Mikkungwak. to immunizations and school children. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Mr. Mikkungwak: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman. Are we moving in that direction with all the community health Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Main. centres or are we still utilizing data Minister Hickes. systems that are currently being used within our community health centres, Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. relaying information to southern Chairman. Yes, we will continue to do facilities? That’s my question. Thank so. you, Mr. Chairman.

Chairman: Thank you, Minister Hickes. Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Mr. Mikkungwak, you had questions? Mikkungwak. Minister Hickes. Please go ahead. Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr.

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Chairman. We have rolled MEDITECH every year with increased medevacs, out across the territory of Nunavut to all increased medical travel, increased communities now. The latest one was service demands on our health centres. I just in January of last year. There have highly recommend people take been a few since. The latest one that was advantage of all immunizations that are done would have been in the summer, available, but we have to take a look at June of 2018. There were some delays in whether we make it mandatory or not. some of the communities just building That is still up for review. Thank you, up the infrastructure with Community Mr. Chairman. and Government Services to make sure that technology is available. Where Chairman: Thank you, Minister Hickes. appropriate, we will continue to explore Mr. Mikkungwak. how and when we interact with other jurisdictions on how to integrate that Mr. Mikkungwak (interpretation): system, but with our health services in Thank you very much. The reason I am Winnipeg and Ottawa, we do have that asking questions about this is because link right now. Thank you, Mr. last fall in national news, I am not sure Chairman. which province it was in, but they were in a critical situation where they found Chairman: Thank you, Minister Hickes. something wrong with the flu vaccine Mr. Mikkungwak. and they had to stop immunizations in the south, and we were told not to use Mr. Mikkungwak: Thank you, Mr. certain medications. Before problems Chairman. I had one other question here like that come into Nunavut, how does moving on to a different subject that my the Department of Health monitor it? colleague was talking about, Thank you, Mr. Chairman. immunization. Is that still an option for Nunavummiut? For example, the flu Chairman: Thank you, Mr. immunization, is that an option to the Mikkungwak. Minister Hickes. family or will that also be mandatory when we are talking about immunization Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. for people coming into our territory? Chairman. I am not aware of any Thank you, Mr. Chairman. examples last year with the flu vaccine. There were some anecdotal discussions Chairman: Thank you, Mr. on the effectiveness of it and whether Mikkungwak. Minister Hickes. they got the right strains. They typically pick six to eight flu strains that they Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. anticipate being an impact, and that’s Chairman. I was asked some questions what they base the vaccine on. This year, on this the other day where we have to as an example, it has shown to be very take a look at what the medical and the effective, especially with the H1N1 clinical impacts are of not having strain of the flu, which impacts children immunizations, how each individual one especially. has different… . A flu vaccine, as an example that the member used, we have Again, I can’t recommend enough for a very poor uptake of it and we pay for it parents and guardians to make sure that

Monday, February 25, 2019 Nunavut Hansard 2168 their children and themselves are In your business plan on page 152, we vaccinated. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. talked about this last year when we were looking at cannabis legislation. You state Chairman: Thank you, Minister Hickes. her that you will “Implement and Mr. Mikkungwak. monitor programming to address the impacts of the legalization of cannabis.” Mr. Mikkungwak (interpretation): Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. At the Legislative Assembly we usually My other question relates to the time I get a response saying that it’s under travelled down to Ottawa and I received review or there is a pilot project a call from the Department of Fisheries happening in a particular community, about addictions. I will be asking about but what I would really like to know is: these matters here, if possible. if you’re going to be doing another pilot project, is it just going to be for all To use an example, when people wish to Nunavummiut or only a few quit smoking cigarettes, I was informed communities? Thank you, Mr. about treatment options in Ottawa that Chairman. are available, such as (interpretation ends) omega laser therapy Chairman: Thank you, Mr. (interpretation) that was available and Mikkungwak. Minister Hickes. the other medicine called Champix. Are these two treatments available for people Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. of Nunavut or is it impossible for them Chairman. I’m not exactly sure I to get them? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. understand. I was looking up page 152 of the business plan and it’s got the Chairman: Thank you, Mr. “Begin the legislative process to Mikkungwak. Minister Hickes. propose amendments [to] the Tobacco Control and Smoke Free Places Act,” Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. but I don’t see anything in particular Chairman. We don’t have laser therapy with regard to implementation across the here. I would have to look in to see how territory or pilot projects. Maybe if the that would be covered if you are member could clarify. traveling and happen to go to a jurisdiction where it was available on Chairman: Thank you, Minister Hickes. how to pay for it, but with smoking Mr. Mikkungwak. cessation products here in the territory, we do cover those expenses. Thank you, Mr. Mikkungwak: Thank you, Mr. Mr. Chairman. Chairman. On page 152, the question I’m asking is, in 2018-19 your Chairman: Thank you, Minister Hickes. department plans to “Implement and Mr. Mikkungwak. monitor programming to address the impacts of the legalization of cannabis,” Mr. Mikkungwak (interpretation): which is now legal in Canada. Thank you very much. It would be good if the minister could look into that for My question here is: when you’re going further clarification. to try to monitor the impacts of legalized

Monday, February 25, 2019 Nunavut Hansard 2169 cannabis in our territory now, are you Mr. Mikkungwak: Thank you, Mr. going to start off with a select few Chairman. I thank the minister for his communities or is that going to be across response. When I’m asking in that all the communities in Nunavut to aspect, I understand your department’s monitor the impacts of legalized focus is on professionals and cannabis? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. paraprofessionals across the territory. My question here on that particular Chairman: Thank you, Mr. concern for me would be, as we all Mikkungwak. Minister Hickes. know, there are some patients within our territory who have been medically Hon. George Hickes: Thank you to the prescribed cannabis use for medical member for clarifying. I misunderstood reasons. As a department, are you guys that it was tobacco that he was talking also going to or already collecting data about, but it was cannabis. information from those particular patients who are medically prescribed We have worked on some basic health cannabis? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. information that is rolled out across the territory. They were mailed out to all Chairman: Thank you, Mr. community health reps last August and Mikkungwak. Minister Hickes. all mental health staff in November of last year. There was also a national mail- Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. out with Health Canada where we have Chairman. Because Nunavut is a small collaborated with them to design a jurisdiction, from what I understand, the nationwide mail-out to provide some federal department of health tracks that basic facts and talk about cannabis information. Thank you. legalization, the effects, distribution, etcetera. This was mailed out the first Chairman: Thank you, Minister Hickes. week of October of last year. Mr. Mikkungwak.

There have been some training events Mr. Mikkungwak: Thank you, Mr. that were completed in the fall and we Chairman. Thank you to the minister for have been following that up with his response. With that information, does telehealth sessions held in November, as your department work with the federal well as working with the Department of health department? With that Family Services’ supervisors and the information, I guess my question here supervisor of community health would be we want a better system for programs in October and November of Nunavut patients who are getting the last year as well too. Included in that health system. Are you guys making there were some radio scripts to be headway or is that a learning process at developed and distributed to all the current situation? Thank you, Mr. community health reps to play on Chairman. community radios. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Mikkungwak. Minister Hickes. Chairman: Thank you, Minister Hickes. Mr. Mikkungwak.

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Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. With the legislation that we passed here Chairman. With any prescription that’s last year, we want to make sure that we provided by a physician or a health care put in fairly stringent controls on professional, there are always ongoing accessibility in certain homes that have education opportunities from that daycares and such in it. We want to profession on the applicable prescribing make sure that it’s very publicly known of medicines, including cannabis. I that the formation of our brain isn’t would have to say that it’s a work in developed until we’re close to our mid- progress. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 20s. We want to really emphasize on restricting use of cannabis up until that Chairman: Thank you, Minister Hickes. point at the very least. Thank you, Mr. Mr. Mikkungwak. Chairman.

Mr. Mikkungwak: Thank you, Mr. Chairman: Thank you, Minister Hickes. Chairman. I guess my last question is on Mr. Lightstone. the same topic, but on your business plan again, I’m referring to page 153 on your Mr. Lightstone: Thank you, Mr. priorities for 2019-2020. On the Chairman. The first thing that I would particular priorities the very last bullet like to bring up is environmental health indicates, “Develop cannabis officers and their role in health programming that informs risk reduction protection. Last year I brought this up strategies for target populations.” Can and it’s regarding a CBC article that was the minister elaborate a little bit more on released a number of years ago about an that? Are you targeting a certain age establishment failing multiple health group in reference to risk reduction? inspections and the public didn’t hear Thank you, Mr. Chairman. about it for a number of years afterward.

Chairman: Thank you, Mr. When I brought this up last year, I was Mikkungwak. Minister Hickes. informed by the previous minister that “The Department of Health is in the Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. process of adapting the Hedgehog Chairman. I thank the member for that. software for all environmental health It gives the opportunity. Through the programs to support digital health different posts and training opportunities inspections and reporting by that I explained a little bit earlier, there environmental health officers. It’s is a mass media campaign, if you want anticipated that by the end of 2018, this to call it that, across the territory, which will be completed for the adaption for there’s an environmental scan of what the food safety, rabies, and drinking type of surroundings, the literature water safety…” review, and some research involved in it as well. We will be coming out with a I would like to request an update on the full public campaign in the fall, but just issue of health inspections and digital for early indicators, absolutely the reporting conducted by health demographic that we’re targeting to inspectors. Were they completed by the make sure have limited exposure to it is anticipated end date of 2018? Thank youth. you, Mr. Chairman.

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Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Lightstone. Chairman: Thank you, Minister Hickes. Minister Hickes. Mr. Lightstone.

Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Mr. Lightstone: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Very close. The software has Chairman. I would just like to reiterate been adapted for that purpose, but it was why I’m raising this concern because I completed in January of this year. Thank am concerned for the safety of the you, Mr. Chairman. individuals who are consuming the foods in these establishments. Right now I and Chairman: Thank you, Minister Hickes. the public have no idea what the results Mr. Lightstone, before you start, just if of health inspections are in our you could slow down a little, please, for restaurants. the interpreters. Thank you. Mr. Lightstone. I would like to ask the minister today: are there any other establishments in Mr. Lightstone: Thank you, Mr. Nunavut that are continuously failing Chairman. Last year I also brought up health inspection reports and, if so, can the idea of the Department of Health you please tell us more about it? Thank enforcing restaurants to openly display you, Mr. Chairman. their most recent health inspection results. At that time I was told that it was Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Lightstone. something that the department can Minister Hickes. consider in the regulations. I would also like to request an update on that. Thank Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman. I will preface my response in saying that there are a number of Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Lightstone. different factors or categories that could Minister Hickes. be deemed as failing an inspection and not necessarily all are attributed to Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. unhealthy habits; it’s just making sure Chairman. As of right now, those reports the rules are followed, that things are are handwritten. The software, like I stored at proper temperature, that there’s said, has been customized for food no cross-contamination, as examples. inspections and there’s a working group that’s working together to look at I’m not aware right now of any facilities adapting it to that full role. We will have that are repeatedly failing the to see how readily it can spit out that environmental health inspection, but I type of a document to be able to give a will say that if there is such a case where rating or that type of thing. I have seen it’s a very serious matter, it’s not a places where they will have a score out matter of it going to a report somewhere of a hundred and give a couple of and finding its way up to me at some different itemized categories. It’s a work point. The environmental health officer in progress. There’s a working group has the ability to shut that facility down that’s developed right now that I’ll make if it’s deemed unhealthy. Thank you. sure that that’s the topic of discussion. Thanks. Chairman: Thank you, Minister Hickes.

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Mr. Lightstone. Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Lightstone. Minister Hickes. Mr. Lightstone: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’m glad to know that health Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. inspectors do have the authority to shut Chairman. Those environmental health down an establishment that is non- officers report to the chief medical compliant and is causing a health risk, officer of health. Thank you. but I would like to ask if, within the last year, any establishments have faced Chairman: Thank you. Mr. Lightstone. major infractions that could have caused major health issues and in those Mr. Lightstone: Thank you, Mr. instances, what did the health inspectors Chairman. I would just like to say that I do. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. think it’s in the public’s best interest that those reports are made public and done Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Lightstone. so immediately and, if not, in the most Minister Hickes. expedited manner, whether it’s on the Department of Health’s website or Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. restaurants are enforced to publicly Chairman. I am not aware of any and display the results of those inspections. I with this software partnership, I guess if think the public needs to know that you want to call it, of being able to information and I request the minister implement the food safety data into the commit to do something immediately. software, it makes it easier for us to Thank you, Mr. Chairman. follow that type of information. Right now I’m not aware of any cases that Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Lightstone. came to that level, but there’s ongoing Minister Hickes. education and training with businesses that do provide food services on a Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. continual basis. Inspections go in and if Chairman. Again, I will preface my there are any issues that are raised, response in that it is with this software, they’re highlighted, and our with making sure that the inspections are environmental health officers work with done and reported in a consistent fashion those owners and workers to make sure where right now every environmental that they are following the parameters. health officer has their own handwriting, Thank you. we will say for one, to make it to be able to grab all that information out of those Chairman: Thank you, Minister Hickes. reports. Again, this software is going to Mr. Lightstone. help.

Mr. Lightstone: Thank you, Mr. Within our Public Health Act there are Chairman. My next question is: who regulations that are being developed and does the environmental health officer that will help guide the direction of report to? Does someone else review the where we’re doing from a reporting reports and does any of that information standpoint, so I can’t say immediately. go up to the higher levels? Thank you, We don’t have the ability to implement Mr. Chairman. something like that immediately, but it is

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something that I can assure the member are working with our EHOs and hunters is on the radar and as we’re going and trappers organizations. Those through with the development of those guidelines were completed in the fall of regulations, we will look at what is able 2016, but we are implementing to be implemented. Thank you, Mr. guidelines for serving country food in Chairman. government-funded facilities and programs. Chairman: Thank you, Minister Hickes. Mr. Lightstone. As part of the community consultations, food skills resources were one of the Mr. Lightstone: Thank you, Mr. avenues that were highlighted. We are Chairman. I hope that I won’t have to looking at school food programming put forward this request again this time itself. I know it’s a topic that’s near and next year. I really hope that the dear to the member’s heart. We department will get this software up and contribute approximately $2 million to running fairly soon. In the meantime I those programs annually and we do guess we will just have to leave it up to provide funding to each school. There the media to request ATIPP or use their has been a lot of work with the food ATIPP abilities to get the results of those security coalition that was also health inspections made public. established in 2012, working with NTI and other partners there. I’ll move on to my next topic. On page 152 of the business plan, in the 2018-19 I’m not sure how much level of detail priorities, the department has indicated the member wants me to get into. Thank that it will “Continue to support the you. Coalition in the renewal of the Strategy and development of the Food Security Chairman: Thank you, Minister Hickes. Action Plan.” It indicates in the status, Mr. Lightstone. “Health continues to work collaboratively with the Nunavut Food Mr. Lightstone: Thank you, Mr. Security Coalition co-chairs.” Chairman. My next question is: how much funding does the department I would like to request an update on the receive with the Nunavut Wellness development of the Food Security Agreement? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Action Plan. To date, what are the department’s roles in the strategy? Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Lightstone. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Minister Hickes.

Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Lightstone. Hon. George Hickes: If the Chair can Minister Hickes. indulge me for a moment, I will get the exact number instead of using my Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. memory, which is usually pretty Chairman. Just at a cursory level, there accurate, but I just want to make sure, are a number of different actions being which is a good thing I did, Mr. implemented under the strategy and Chairman. Thank you. It’s action plan. Country food guidelines, we approximately $19 million per year.

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Thank you. Chairman: Thank you, Minister Hickes. Mr. Lightstone. Chairman: Thank you, Minister Hickes. Mr. Lightstone. Mr. Lightstone: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’m pretty sure that currently Mr. Lightstone: Thank you, Mr. there are no standardized school food Chairman. I’m assuming this is where programs in Nunavut schools, so I think the $2 million school food program is it is safe to say that $2 million is coming from. What else is this funding insufficient when it comes to feeding used for? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. children in schools.

Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Lightstone. I don’t know what other types of Minister Hickes. evidence that the minister needs. I highly recommend that the $2 million be Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. increased in order for more to be done to Chairman. We could be here for a while, feed hungry children in our schools. I but I will just give you the topics: believe that the $2 million that is different community wellness programs, allocated to our schools equates to community capacity development, thousands of dollars per school and it’s territorial health promotion initiatives, no way near enough what is needed. program management, home and community care, Aboriginal Health I would like to request that the minister Human Resources Initiative, children’s do a thorough review of the school oral health promotion program, public funding programs and identify what the health nursing and tuberculosis true need is to have a universal breakfast prevention, as well as Quality of Life program in every single school, as well receives funding under there. Thank you. as if the program were to be expanded, how much it would cost to have a Chairman: Thank you, Minister Hickes. universal lunch program in every school Mr. Lightstone. in the territory. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Lightstone: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That is a long list of Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Lightstone. programs. My next question is: how did Minister Hickes. the Department of Health determine that $2 million was sufficient to fund school Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. food programs? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I can talk with my colleague, Chairman. the Minister of Education, and see how much analysis goes into the Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Lightstone. measurement of how effective that Minister Hickes. program is.

Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. I will say that we’re just one partner. It’s Chairman. I’m not aware of any just one funding stream for breakfast feedback from any of the schools to say programs across the territory. There are it wasn’t sufficient. Thank you. also proposals available through the

Monday, February 25, 2019 Nunavut Hansard 2175 community wellness program dollars please. I don’t think we understood what available which we have nearly $7 you were talking about. Mr. Qirngnuq. million a year available if communities decide that that is an avenue they wish to Mr. Qirngnuq (interpretation): Mr. explore. Some schools do use the Chairman, I was referencing an earlier breakfast program funding to provide question that a colleague raised during lunch services as well currently. the health and safety inspection debate about restaurant safety issues. In cases like that, again, I can commit to talking to my colleague, the Minister of For example, if someone was served Education, to see how much need there contaminated food or got food is or how to go about doing an analysis poisoning, they could identify the to measure whether it’s meeting all the facility that was the subject of their needs. There are a number of different concern. They can identify a restaurant factors that could be taken into for food and safety inspections after a consideration on that. I would have to person suffers food poisoning after discuss with my colleague on how to eating a meal at the restaurant. implement something like that. Thank you. In thinking of this inspection requirement, I wonder if inspections can Chairman: Thank you, Minister Hickes. be done at other establishments and not Mr. Quassa. just restaurants. I imagine that safety inspections could be earmarked for other Mr. Quassa (interpretation): Thank you, facilities. I wanted to know if other Mr. Chairman. I’ll ask a few questions. establishments or buildings can be Are we on page H-6 now? Mr. earmarked for inspections, especially Chairman, let me ask that. 5? Okay. office buildings that house many When we get to page H-6, I’ll ask employees under this health inspection questions. I’m sorry. Thank you, Mr. requirement. Chairman. Maybe I can be understood now as to Chairman: Thank you. Mr. Qirngnuq, what I am asking. Thank you, Mr. please go ahead. Chairman.

Mr. Qirngnuq (interpretation): Thank Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Qirngnuq. you, Mr. Chairman. I want to return to Minister Hickes, if you understood the this question if possible, although it was question, please go ahead. already asked. With respect to the food inspections or facilities that require Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. inspections, whose buildings can be Chairman. If I understood the member identified for this level of inspection? I correctly, where there could be a case of hope I was understandable, Mr. food poisoning or some type of a health Chairman. Thank you. impact from a food server facility or restaurant of some sort, it would depend Chairman: Thank you. Mr. Qirngnuq, on the circumstances. Sometimes it could I get you to repeat your question, could be the source of food. The product

Monday, February 25, 2019 Nunavut Hansard 2176 itself that’s purchased could be Mr. Qirngnuq (interpretation): Thank contaminated or whether it be storage or you, Mr. Chairman. I also thank the handling processes that created the issue, minister for his response. Let me move but if anyone ever has any concerns on to another question as earlier my the quality of food or somebody getting colleague from Baker Lake raised an sick from a restaurant or food service, issue related to (interpretation ends) they would have to let us know and we cannabis (interpretation) information could investigate the circumstances. being made available to inform residents Thank you, Mr. Chairman. and if the information is forthcoming from the department to our community Chairman: Thank you, Minister Hickes. health centres. It would mostly apply to Mr. Qirngnuq. our health centres.

Mr. Qirngnuq (interpretation): Thank I wonder how it will be made available you, Mr. Chairman. I was thinking of as information to Inuit and in what this matter when I brought up the format. Will it be some sort of question as it isn’t really food poisoning information sheet or will pamphlets be specifically, as the minister responded distributed? How will you deal with with, as well as the rules used to inspect this? Some of the smaller communities buildings, hotels, or even beds. I wonder don’t always receive the information that how many times in a year an does get sent out to the larger centres, establishment is inspected or what the especially on this topic that Inuit want to upper limit is of inspections that can be know about. Mr. Chairman, hopefully I done on any type of building. Hopefully was understandable with my query. I was clear. Thank you. Thank you.

Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Qirngnuq. Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Qirngnuq. Minister Hickes. Minister Hickes.

Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Every community has gotten Chairman. Two community health inspected. There are a standard number representatives all have received and as of inspections; twice per year. That well as all mental health staff have being said, when I look through my list, received a foldable information card on the majority of communities were cannabis use and harm reduction. In inspected four to five times, six times in addition, there are different training some cases. If there is ever a new facility events and a national mail-out, including opening up, they would have to be radio scripts that community health inspected before they could open, if that representatives can read out on local answers the member’s question. Thank radio. Those have been provided you. already. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Chairman: Thank you, Minister Hickes. Chairman: Thank you, Minister Hickes. Mr. Qirngnuq. Public Health. Total Operations and Maintenance, to be Voted. $23,089,000. Agreed?

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Some Members: Agreed the services was to provide Inuktut services to the patient relations office. Chairman: Thank you. Moving on. We’re continuing to look at improving Page H-6. Health Care Service Delivery. the capacity and the outreach by taking Mr. Quassa, you had a question on this on actually more operational activities. one? Please go ahead. We have done a survey that was done in Mr. Quassa (interpretation): Thank the Qikiqtaaluk region and we are you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for looking at bringing that out again to the allowing me to ask further questions. other regions in the upcoming year, I Within the draft 2019-2022 business believe. I would have to look into the plan, one of the priorities of the actual dates on when those other surveys Department of Health for 2018-19 are going to be coming out, but the includes one issue that keeps popping Tammaativvik Boarding Home was done up, which is specific to the in June and then there was also client (interpretation ends) Office of Patient awareness. With the information that Relations. (interpretation) Can the they received from that, we’re looking at minister provide further details on again doing a satisfaction survey. what’s happening with that office? We keep repeatedly hearing from the The patient relations staff are actually minister that you can just call that office visiting facilities that Nunavummiut use, if you have any concerns or problems, including boarding homes, so they can which seem to be the rote answer of the get hands-on, so they can see the department. What is happening with that services that they’re in charge of office and have you done any investigating or helping people navigate improvements on the services that are through the system, as well as looking at provided through that office? Thank you, engaging and learning from clients from Mr. Chairman. the community-wide tuberculosis screening clinics. Thank you, Mr. Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Quassa. Chairman. Minister Hickes. Chairman: Thank you, Minister Hickes. Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Mr. Quassa. Chairman. I thank the member for raising the patient relations office. I Mr. Quassa (interpretation): Thank you, know my office itself relies very heavily Mr. Chairman. I am very pleased that upon the great work that they’re doing. I you’re integrating the Inuktut portion of know a number of different members it. It has been 20 years since Nunavut now are just reporting any issues directly was created and we’re finally putting to them and just copying me on and Inuktitut services in those types of they’re getting immediate responses facilities and offices. It is a requirement back. I have been very pleased with the so that people out there who want to use turnaround time. the Inuktut language can do so, but I am very pleased that it’s finally being With regard to specific, one of the things implemented. that we have done recently to improve

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I’ll go to another subject and I’ll speak 2020 business plan it speaks to the English. (interpretation ends) Funding ongoing challenges facing our elders, for the Long-term Care Division of the specifically an elders’ facility. I Health Care Service Delivery Branch is practically could not say that term. What projected to remain stable in 2019-2020. is the status of this facility now? It Will additional funds be required when continues to be a hot topic with the need the Baker Lake Elders’ Home is to return our elders back to Nunavut. reopened or if the continuing care What is the status of this facility now? centres in Gjoa Haven or Igloolik are You have alluded to it previously, but I expanded? (interpretation) Thank you, wanted more information on where this Mr. Chairman. facility now stands for the elders. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Quassa. Minister Hickes. Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Quassa. Minister Hickes. Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. There were some monies a Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. couple of years ago that the member is Chairman. This is one of those times talking about on a feasibility study for where I’m glad we’re nearing the end of taking a look at Igloolik and Gjoa Haven the review with Partnership BC that we as they’re the same footprint building. I had doing a review on our continuing haven’t seen any results on that study yet care/elder care in-territory. That report is that we did partner with CGS on. I’ll nearly done so that we can take a look at have to follow up with that to see exactly some hands-on options that are available where it’s at. with some meat to them instead of just a hypothesis or estimating. With regard to any additional, we did request additional monies more from the Just some preliminary information that out-of-territory care. There was an has come out of that, we are looking at investment in last year’s budget of regional opportunities. There was an $800,000 some odd for in-territory announcement and I believe it was a part through the Igloolik, Baker Lake and of the Budget Address on looking at Arviat offices as an example. We’re still having elder care facilities in each region unclear on how Baker Lake is going to and increasing the capacity, one, so that pan out from the fuel spill that they had we can start bringing people home by there last year, so I’m not sure what providing the level of care needed here direction we’re going to be taking with in the territory and limiting having to that facility right now. I’ll have to keep send people out period. members updated with that one. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We are looking in the west in Kugluktuk of taking a look at, as has been talked Chairman: Thank you, Minister Hickes. about here in the House many times, the Mr. Quassa. unsolicited proposal that we received from them. We are looking at trying to Mr. Quassa (interpretation): Thank you, find a way to make that happen. I know Mr. Chairman. Also, within the 2017- I’m going to keep getting questions on

Monday, February 25, 2019 Nunavut Hansard 2179 this, so I’m going to be keeping on top to go, but I too am now an elder. I am of it. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. kidding of course. I am just asking: (interpretation ends) is there a waiting Chairman: Thank you, Minister Hickes. list? (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Mr. Quassa. Chairman.

Mr. Quassa (interpretation): Thank you, Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Quassa. Mr. Chairman. Yes, this is good to hear. Minister Hickes. Now, we all know that in the Baffin region many of the Inuit organizations Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. have attempted to propose such a Chairman. When we went out for the facility. I imagine these various ideas RFP a few years back on providing care have been contemplated, especially in outside of Nunavut, Embassy West was light of the announcement by the the only proponent, so we only use that minister. Are the ideas or plans from the facility right now. All other beds that are Inuit organizations included in this in the territory are utilized for the elders review? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. that we can meet the care of. If we can’t meet the needs of anyone in-territory, Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Quassa. then we use the Embassy West facility. Minister Hickes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Chairman: Thank you, Minister Hickes. Chairman. That’s one of the things that Mr. Quassa. this Partnerships BC report will help tell us of exactly what types of facilities are Mr. Quassa (interpretation): Thank you. needed to meet today’s and tomorrow’s Yes, we are aware of this fact, but the needs. I hate saying this, but we are reasoning for my question was whether a waiting for that report to be done so that waiting list exists with names of elders we can make educated decisions on our who are on the list to be housed at path forward instead of knee-jerk facilities other than Embassy West that reactions. Thank you. our government uses currently. Are any elders waiting to be housed in a facility Chairman: Thank you, Minister Hickes. or does a waiting list exist? Thank you, Mr. Quassa. Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Quassa (interpretation): Thank you, Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Quassa. Mr. Chairman. I believe this will be my Minister Hickes. last question. I think in Ottawa there are many elders that are housed at Embassy Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. West. To date, do you have any elders Chairman. The information I have is on the waiting list to enter this elder care fairly recent and there was nobody on facility or to another elder care centre the waiting list. Thank you, Mr. aside from Embassy West? Do you have Chairman. any elders on the waiting list for being housed at different elder care centres Chairman: Thank you, Minister Hickes. such as that one? I personally don’t need Mr. Quassa.

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Mr. Quassa (interpretation): Thank you, are they going to do when there’s a fire? Mr. Chairman. I am aware that in It made me think and I asked one of the Nunavut, our elders only form a small staff how often they have a fire drill. It portion population as the majority of our had been over a year. Is this something population is comprised of young people that you would discuss with the and eventually they will all get old, and management? then the elders will become more numerous. For example, many of us who Let me tell you I have my parents there are sitting in this House can expect that. and it worries me and it worries me for everyone there. What’s going to happen Perhaps to ask my last question, as I tend if there’s a fire and there’s only one to have many last questions… . I’m just elevator that works because the other kidding. elevator breaks down quite a bit? I’ll do a personal example. My mother is in a >>Laughter wheelchair like a lot of them there. There’s no way my dad could carry Now, with respect to this request for down my mom down those stairs and proposals, when do you anticipate the I’m sure a lot of others would be in that government releasing this RFP? Thank same predicament. It is a worry of mine you, Mr. Chairman. and I’m wondering if you’ve had any kind of conversations. Has that ever Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Quassa. come up? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Minister Hickes. Chairman: Thank you, Ms. Angnakak. Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Minister Hickes. Chairman. We are looking at this summer of having it completed and Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. coming forward with options to the Chairman. This is a new one to me. I’ll legislature probably by the fall. Thank have to look into it. Thank you, Mr. you. Chairman.

Chairman: Thank you, Minister Hickes. Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Hickes. Ms. Ms. Angnakak. Angnakak.

Ms. Angnakak: Thank you. Welcome. Ms. Angnakak: Thank you, Mr. Good afternoon. Chairman. Will the minister commit to getting back to us too so that we know? Just keeping in line with the same Thank you, Mr. Chairman. subject matter, Embassy West, I’m wondering if the minister can tell us, and Chairman: Thank you, Ms. Angnakak. it might be too detailed perhaps, but one Minister Hickes. thing that kind of concerned me when I was there was the number of times that Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. the elevator breaks down. When you Chairman. Yes and I’ll have our staff have an elevator that’s broken down so reach out to the Ontario Retirement you only have one, I was thinking: what Homes Regulatory Authority as well too

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to see how often this issue has been coincidence, so I don’t know, but it just raised with them. Thank you. got me thinking.

Chairman: Thank you, Minister Hickes. When they went into the side effects of Ms. Angnakak. these drugs in this, one of them is that you can’t swallow. It affects your ability Ms. Angnakak: Thank you. I’ve had a to swallow. I often eat at the Embassy letter recently from a constituent of mine with my parents and when I’m there, I that has a family member at the Embassy see so many people with that mushed up. and he was very upset because he has I speak with everybody there. I sit down power of attorney over this family with some of the patients and one of member and the family member was their complaints and I voiced this to the falling down a lot. How do you report kitchen staff and that is that they had the back if somebody has fallen or some same thing every day because it has to kind of accident has taken place? He be mushed up and they don’t like it. found out that this family member was When I saw that the side effects of one given antipsychotic drugs and sedatives of these drugs is that they can’t swallow on a daily basis. He says that he doesn’t properly, I wondered, was this the cause understand why he was given that of the antipsychotic drugs or not, only medication. Because of the medication, because somebody wrote to me and said he felt that that was why his family that their relative was on one without member was falling down a lot. them knowing.

With that letter, I decided to look at I’m just putting them out there and I what’s the trend across Canada and there certainly don’t want to start any rumours are a number of articles I came across or anything. I raise it as a concern and here in my research. There are three at we should all be asking questions when the least here. Maybe there are more. It we have concerns, I think. I’m raising it seems to be a trend across Canada where as a concern to you and ask if you can there’s a lot… . Well, one in five is put look into that just to make sure that if on antipsychotic drugs. The trend across they are on such drugs, they have the Canada now is for nursing homes to take permission. I would like to speak with residents off antipsychotic drugs. you confidentially about this other case here so that you can look into that one as Don’t get me wrong. I go to the well, so if you have any thoughts or Embassy quite often and you have some comments on that. Thank you. really good staff there. I’m very thankful. I just want to get a better Chairman: Thank you, Ms. Angnakak. understanding about some of this, Minister Hickes. especially when this concern has been brought up to me. I wanted to do a bit of Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. research just to see myself and I found Chairman. One of the benefits we have out that like CBC has something, of being Canadian is that we partner “Hundreds of nursing home residents with other jurisdictions, we share best taken off anti-psychotic drugs.” This was practices, we learn from each other, and February 5. This could just be health care itself is an evolving

Monday, February 25, 2019 Nunavut Hansard 2182 profession where the medications that patient relations but with our Continuing were deemed necessary ten years ago Care Division. They talk to family aren’t being used today or different members regularly on the level of care treating techniques are used. that’s being provided. If there are any concerns, I would be more than happy to This concern was just raised to me speak to the member or any members or recently as well too and I haven’t had a any member of the public out there, but I lot of free time in the last week, but it is don’t have stats on how many residents something that I’m going to be looking of Embassy West are under public into. I can assure the member that for guardianship. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. one, I have been recently made aware of this issue and the practice in other Chairman: Thank you, Minister Hickes. jurisdictions, and we will be checking Ms. Angnakak. into it, myself along with my officials, and two, I would welcome the Ms. Angnakak: Thank you, Mr. opportunity to sit down and discuss your Chairman. I would like to also ask in constituent’s circumstances. Thank you. regard to the business plan. There is a decrease of $860,000 for the Community Chairman: Thank you, Minister Hickes. Health Centres Division. Given the Ms. Angnakak. concerns raised by MLAs and their constituents regarding reduced levels of Ms. Angnakak: Thank you, Mr. service at the centres due to staffing Chairman and the minister. Just to talk a shortages and other issues, why is the little bit about something different, the level of funding for health care and power of attorney, I know there have public health services at the community been some cases where the government level being decreased? has taken power of attorney over some of the patients from Embassy West. Can Chairman: Thank you, Ms. Angnakak. the minister give us how…do you know Minister Hickes. how often that’s happening? Is that something that’s being raised as a Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. concern by family members? Thank you, Chairman. The bulk of the decrease in Mr. Chairman. budget is due to leases expiring. Finance and CGS have implemented a direction Chairman: Thank you, Ms. Angnakak. that budget adjustments for Minister Hickes. supplementary leases required over and above, so it just takes away that lease Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. obligation under this budget line. Thank Chairman. In general we don’t take you. power of attorney. It is public guardianship that’s done through the Chairman: Thank you, Minister Hickes. Department of Family Services. To my Ms. Angnakak. knowledge, it’s always done with the family involved. There are many Ms. Angnakak: Thank you, Mr. opportunities for the family to Chairman. Can the minister just communicate, again, not just with our elaborate on which leases just to clarify

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that, please? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’m really pleased the Chairman: Thank you, Ms. Angnakak. member actually raised this. I believe it Minister Hickes. was just last month or the month before we had a forum here in Iqaluit where Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. health care professionals came together Chairman. Various spaces in various to help work out our palliative care communities; Arctic Bay, Chesterfield training and work on making the Inlet, Churchill, Iqaluit, Winnipeg, programming more available. It was a Whale Cove, Kugluktuk, just to name big step and I’m looking forward to those. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. further progress, which I’ll be happy to update the House as that program Chairman: Thank you, Minister Hickes. develops. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Ms. Angnakak. Chairman: Thank you, Minister Hickes. Ms. Angnakak: Thank you, Mr. Ms. Angnakak. Chairman. Can the minister tell us if the health care centres are operating at a Ms. Angnakak: Thank you. I’ve got a deficit? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. minute left, so I want to ask more on that, but I think I’m going to go to home Chairman: Thank you, Ms. Angnakak. and community care. I’m wondering Minister Hickes. how the department is helping elders stay at home. What new initiatives have Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. you come out with so that elders don’t Chairman. I’m not really sure. There are have to leave their homes? Thank you, a number of different services provided Mr. Chairman. out of every health centre. Some programs are not in deficit, some are in Chairman: Thank you, Ms. Angnakak. deficit. I think everyone saw the bill that Minister Hickes. we put forward here the other day of supplementary appropriation, so I would Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. say probably in a deficit. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Not so much new initiatives. Chairman. There has been more investment in our home care division, with some help Chairman: Thank you, Minister Hickes. under the wellness agreement. When we Ms. Angnakak. look at home and community care, it’s kind of going on nationwide. There is Ms. Angnakak: Thank you, Mr. case management, homemaking, Chairman. I wonder if the minister can personal care, nursing care, respite care, tell us what the department’s palliative palliative care, rehabilitation services, and respite care strategy is. Thank you, foot care, and personal care. I know the Mr. Chairman. member is very familiar with a lot of these services. Chairman: Thank you, Ms. Angnakak. Minister Hickes. One of the benefits that we have had is some assistance from the federal

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standpoint in our Territorial Health narrow so you can’t get a wheelchair or Investment Fund invested in additional walker through, it’s very hard to keep an supports for home care, so making those elder at home. I pose that as my services more available to people in the question. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. communities, again, like you just said yourself, to make sure that people can Chairman: Thank you, Ms. Angnakak. stay home longer to increase the visits, Minister Hickes. that type of thing, increase staffing where that’s available. I thank the Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. federal government for that investment Chairman. I would have to again refresh that they are putting. It’s not a large my memory with the Minister for the amount of money. It’s about $1.1 million Nunavut Housing Corporation, but I do a year. A number of different factors, but know in the past there has been elder- one of them is including home care. specific builds where the doorways are Where we are able to use that money to wider and where there are ramps. There beef up the program, we do so. Thank were fourplexes that were done in a you. number of communities, I believe, about eight or ten years ago where they’re built Chairman: Thank you, Minister Hickes. specifically for elders. I’m not aware. I Ms. Angnakak. would have to have a conversation with my colleague. I am not aware of any Ms. Angnakak: Thank you, Mr. circumstances where any requests for Chairman. Another question I have, renovations to make mobility a factor when we want to keep elders at home, being denied that it was raised up to my one of the challenges I see right away is level within Health anyway. Thank you. overcrowding in our public housing units and a lot of these housing units are Chairman: Thank you, Minister Hickes. not built to accommodate maybe like an Ms. Angnakak. elder who might be in a wheelchair because you need wider everything for a Ms. Angnakak: Thank you, Mr. wheelchair to go through. Chairman. Talking about disabled and housing and how Health is involved, I What kind of discussions, if any, have was speaking to somebody at Embassy you had with the housing minister over West who is not an elder. He is a young some of these, I’ll call them man, really, in a wheelchair. One of the opportunities, where you can make a reasons, I understand, that he’s not at home or a house, where you can home is because there is no ramp or renovate it according to health standards something to accommodate him to get of meeting the needs of somebody like into his home. He has been there for an elder who might be at home but quite a while now and there might be requiring the design to be different as other reasons why, but that’s what he part of your strategy to try to keep elders told me. Is this something that you are at home? aware of and, if you are aware of it, what’s being done so that we can get this If the elder can’t move because one, it’s young man home? Thank you, Mr. overcrowded, two, the hallways are too Chairman.

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Chairman: Thank you, Ms. Angnakak. community were to feel that they would Minister Hickes. want to attend an on-the-land programming in Cambridge Bay, as the Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. case would be in this circumstance, they Chairman. I’m not going to publicly would work with their mental health discuss a client’s needs. Thank you. professional in the community to substantiate the need and to make sure Chairman: Thank you. Ms. Kamingoak. that that is the appropriate level of care. Again, just going forward, we want to Ms. Kamingoak: Thank you, Mr. make sure that the communities have the Chairman. The Addictions and Trauma say and the individual has the say in Treatment in Nunavut document tabled what level of care that they need and by the minister on November 8, 2018 desire, but it also has to be clinically proposes three interrelated options for responsible as well too. developing a Nunavut-based addictions and trauma treatment system. There’s a lot of talk of treatment centres and sending people out for treatment. The Mental Health and Addictions Not everyone needs that. Not everyone Division of the Health Care Services wants that. There are different levels of Delivery Branch will see an increase of addictions counselling. It starts in the $532,000 in 2019-2020 while the community and that’s where we need to Quality of Life Branch will be allocated ramp up our services, ramp up the new funds of $4.6 million for addictions availability of resources, and work with and trauma treatment. our partners in the regional hubs for on- the-land programming, and then Can the minister describe how the hopefully someday have a treatment current mental health and addictions facility in-territory developed by program services will be provided in Nunavummiut to be able to treat at that collaboration with the new community- level. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. based services and Nunavut recovery development team? Thank you, Mr. Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Hickes. Chairman. Somebody’s phone to the right of me is dinging from time to time. If you could Chairman: Thank you, Ms. Kamingoak. correct your phone, whoever’s phone is Minister Hickes. pinging, much appreciated, please.

Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. >>Laughter Chairman. We’re still fleshing some of the details out, but in general the mental Ms. Kamingoak. and addictions staff in the community would be working very closely with the Ms. Kamingoak: Thank you, Mr. on-the-land based program. It’s still Chairman. For the on-the-land program, through a referral basis. We are looking for the record, if people were interested at just regionally right now. in Kugluktuk to run one, how would they go about doing that? Thank you, As an example, if somebody in your Mr. Chairman.

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Chairman: Thank you. Minister Hickes. itself, we are working with Indigenous Services on that. Thank you, Mr. Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman. It is possible. We are looking at right now of building upon the success Chairman: Thank you, Minister Hickes. that Cambridge Bay has had with their Ms. Towtongie. program and to establish some costing factors, we are looking at regionally. If a Ms. Towtongie (interpretation): Thank community had the desire and were able you, Mr. Chairman. The medical to build the capacity, they would simply transportation budget for 2018-19 was just submit proposal through either the increased by $14.5 million from 2017- Embrace Life Council or through our 18. Now, according to the business plan Quality of Life Division. Thank you. for 2019-2022, that budget will again increase by $14 million in 2019-2020. Chairman: Thank you, Minister Hickes. Ms. Kamingoak. (interpretation ends) Given the ongoing need for supplementary appropriations to Ms. Kamingoak: Thank you, Mr. address budget shortfalls for medical Chairman. Thanks for that response. travel, do you, the minister, feel that the What plans are currently under proposed funding is a realistic estimate consideration for the establishment of a of what it will cost to provide medical residential treatment facility in Nunavut? transportation this year, 2019-2020? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Chairman: Thank you, Ms. Kamingoak. Chairman: Thank you, Ms. Towtongie. Minister Hickes. Minister Hickes.

Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We have been working very Chairman. It’s one of the challenges closely with a number of partners on this with medical travel, and I was up here and I have recently gotten before and previous ministers have been correspondence from NTI, as an up here addressing budgetary shortfalls. example, of their support for this project. One of my common responses was that We have been working with Health until there is a real correction in the Canada and every opportunity we get we budgetary process, I’m going to be stress the fact that Nunavut is the last continuing to come up for jurisdiction in Canada to not have a supplementary appropriations. Whether residential treatment facility, even so far this is enough is yet to be determined, as our Premier brought it up recently but with the forecast that we have made with the Prime Minister. We do need right now and with efficiencies that partners to get this off the ground. we’re hoping to implement over the next year, my hope is yes. I’m not going to There are a number of different costs stand here and say that I’m not going to that we’re investing in with on-the-land be coming forward with a potential for a programming and transitional housing, supplementary appropriation, but this but with regard to the treatment facility investment in medical travel is long

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overdue and I’m very happy we were We’re looking at rolling that out to, as able to add this to the existing budget. an example, in Rankin Inlet in the Thank you. upcoming near future to take advantage of bringing the specialists in like that Chairman: Thank you, Minister Hickes. instead of sending so many people out, Ms. Towtongie. especially for surgical consults because you go down, you’re in there for 20 Ms. Towtongie (interpretation): Thank minutes and “Yup, you need surgery. you, Mr. Chairman. If this continues for Come back in a few months.” Do we medical travel next year, you will reach really need to do that all the time? a total of over $100 million. What factors most influence the cost of Where we can find those efficiencies, medical transportation and what one of the things that are a pressure on initiatives have been considered to our budget has been physician services. address them? That’s my final question. We have been going over our budget in Thank you, Mr. Chairman. that area. One of the reasons for that is we have been extending the stays of Chairman: Thank you, Ms. Towtongie. physicians in some communities to Minister Hickes. provide that level of care in the community versus travelling out. It saves Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. in one area, but it costs a little bit more Chairman. MEDITECH is one of the in another. It’s still saving money things that we looked at, making sure overall, so just some factors. Thank you, that appointments are corresponding Mr. Chairman. with the travel needs. I have recently spoken to the director of medical travel Chairman: Thank you, Minister Hickes. and more consistent training across the Mr. Qirngnuq. territory to medical travel coordinators in the health centres, making sure that Mr. Qirngnuq (interpretation): Thank they’ve got the resources to be able to do you, Mr. Chairman. I have one question their job properly. here. I wonder how better understanding can develop between the patient and the We have taken one of the exciting steps I medical professional. It is due to this mentioned in the last session of we had reason that I am bringing up this matter, one community farther north from us as I believe understanding one another here, I won’t specify the community alleviates the stress on the medical right now, not that it’s a secret or patient and it allows the health anything, but the example there was professional to deal with the patient. there were 35 people on a surgical wait- list to come down for consultation. Sometimes they are told that they don’t Instead of sending those 35 people here, require a medical escort from their home we sent the surgeon there and it was only community, but upon travel, they find determined that six people actually that an escort is needed, especially when needed to come down for surgery, so the patient is scheduled for surgery. that was hundreds of thousands of Now, what happens when the patient dollars in savings. wants to submit a complaint? To use this

Monday, February 25, 2019 Nunavut Hansard 2188 example, from our home community, supposed to follow in terms of handling medical patients travel to or medical patients and the need for when they are scheduled to escorts? Can the minister provide an have surgery. When health officials in explanation on that? Thank you, Mr. either Yellowknife or Edmonton are Chairman. required to communicate with our local health centres, how can this Chairman: Thank you. Minister Hickes. communication be used to allow for medical escorts when a patient is Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. scheduled for surgery? Chairman. If I understood the question with regard to medical travel Some patients require an escort while coordinators, they are trained, but it has others don’t, and it can get confusing. I been recognized for consistency and to wonder if the minister can explain how make sure that everyone gets the same decisions are made in these cases and level of service, we are looking at what is needed. Thank you, Mr. standardizing our training more. Thank Chairman. you.

Chairman: Thank you. Minister Hickes. Chairman: Thank you, Minister Hickes. Mr. Mikkungwak. Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Anyone who has had to travel Mr. Mikkungwak (interpretation): for medical purposes or knows Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I somebody who has knows circumstances move a motion to report progress. Thank can change quite quickly on some you, Mr. Chairman. occasions. There is an appeal process or if circumstances change, they can Chairman: Thank you, Mr. request an escort even after the fact. If Mikkungwak. We have a motion on the you know somebody who is going in for floor to report progress and the motion is a surgery that wasn’t planned to go into not debatable. All those in favour of the surgery when they first left town, you motion. Thank you. Opposed. Thank you can still ask for an escort and we will too. The motion is carried. send somebody down right away on the next available flight when it is Sergeant-at-Arms, could you please determined an escort is needed. We escort the witnesses out, and I will now realize circumstances can change and we rise to report progress to the Speaker. do our best to remain flexible to meet the Thank you. needs. Thank you. Speaker (interpretation): Moving on Chairman: Thank you, Minister Hickes. with the orders of the day. Report of the Mr. Qirngnuq. Committee of the Whole. Mr. Rumbolt.

Mr. Qirngnuq (interpretation): Thank Item 21: Report of the Committee of you, Mr. Chairman. Now, is there a the Whole training component for our local health staff in that area specific to what they are Mr. Rumbolt: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Your committee has been considering 13. Reports of Standing and Special Bill 15 and would like to report progress. Committees on Bills and Other Mr. Speaker, I move that the Report of the Committee of the Whole be agreed Matters to. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. 14. Tabling of Documents

Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. 15. Notices of Motions The motion is in order. Is there a 16. Notices of Motions for First seconder? Thank you, Mr. Netser. The motion is in order. All those in favour of Reading of Bills the motion, please raise your hand. 17. Motions Thank you. All those opposed. The motion is carried. 18. First Reading of Bills

19. Second Reading of Bills Third Reading of Bills. Orders of the Day. Mr. Clerk. 20. Consideration in Committee of

the Whole of Bills and Other Item 23: Orders of the Day Matters Clerk (Mr. Quirke): Thank you, Mr. • Speaker. Just a reminder that there’s a Bill 13 meeting of the Regular Members’ • Bill 15 Caucus tomorrow at ten o’clock in the Nanuq Boardroom. • Bill 16 • Bill 17 Orders of the Day for February 26: • Bill 18 1. Prayer 21. Report of the Committee of the 2. Ministers’ Statements Whole 3. Members’ Statements 22. Third Reading of Bills 4. Returns to Oral Questions 23. Orders of the Day 5. Recognition of Visitors in the Thank you. Gallery >>Applause 6. Oral Questions 7. Written Questions Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. This House stands adjourned until 8. Returns to Written Questions Tuesday, February 26, at 1:30 p.m. 9. Replies to Opening Address Sergeant-at-Arms. 10. Replies to Budget Address 11. Petitions >>House adjourned at 17:58 12. Responses to Petitions