Nunavut Canada LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF NUNAVUT 2nd Session 6th Assembly HANSARD Official Report DAY 58 Tuesday, October 31, 2023 Pages 3600 – 3660 Iqaluit Speaker: The Honourable Tony Akoak, MLA

Legislative Assembly of Nunavut Speaker Hon. Tony Akoak (Gjoa Haven) Officers Clerk John Quirke Clerk Assistant Stephen Innuksuk Law Clerk Michael Chandler Sergeant-at-Arms Michel Albert Hansard Production 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 Hon. David Akeeagok (Quttiktuq) Minister of Economic Development and Transportation; Minister of Justice; Minister responsible for Labour Hon. P.J.

Akeeagok (Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu) Premier; Minister of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs; Minister responsible for Immigration; Minister responsible for Indigenous Affairs Bobby Anavilok (Kugluktuk) Janet Brewster (Iqaluit-Sinaa) Hon. Pamela Gross (Cambridge Bay) Deputy Premier; Minister of Education; Minister responsible for Seniors George Hickes (Iqaluit-Tasiluk) Deputy Speaker and Chair of the Committee of the Whole Hon. David Joanasie (South Baffin) Government House Leader; Minister of Community and Government Services; Minister responsible for the Utility Rates Review Council Hon.

Joelie Kaernerk (Amittuq) Minister of Culture and Heritage; Minister of Languages; Minister responsible for the Qulliq Energy Corporation Mary Killiktee (Uqqummiut) Hon. Lorne Kusugak (Rankin Inlet South) Minister of Finance, Chair of the Financial Management Board; Minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation Adam Lightstone (Iqaluit-Manirajak) Hon. John Main (Arviat North-Whale Cove) Minister of Health; Minister responsible for Suicide Prevention Solomon Malliki (Aivilik) Deputy Chair, Committee of the Whole Hon.

Margaret Nakashuk (Pangnirtung) Minister of Family Services; Minister responsible for Homelessness; Minister of Human Resources; Minister responsible for the Status of Women; Minister responsible for the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission Karen Nutarak (Tununiq) Hon. Daniel Qavvik (Hudson Bay) Minister of Environment; Minister of Energy; Minister responsible for Nunavut Arctic College Joanna Quassa (Aggu) Inagayuk Quqqiaq (Netsilik) Alexander Sammurtok (Rankin Inlet North- Chesterfield Inlet) Joe Savikataaq (Arviat South) Deputy Chair, Committee of the Whole Craig Simailak (Baker Lake)

Table of Contents Opening Prayer ...........................................................................................................................3600 Ministers’ Statements .................................................................................................................3600 Members’ Statements .................................................................................................................3603 Returns to Oral Questions ..........................................................................................................3608 Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery ........................................................................................3608 Oral Questions ............................................................................................................................3609 Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters ......................................3636 Report of the Committee of the Whole ......................................................................................3659 Orders of the Day .......................................................................................................................3659

A. Daily References Tuesday, October 31, 2023 .........................................................................................................3600 B.

Ministers’ Statements 317 – 6(2): Increased Capacity at Boarding Homes (Main) .......................................................3600 318 – 6(2): Nunavut 3000 (Kusugak) .........................................................................................3601 319 – 6(2): Celebrating Nunavut’s Research and Education Network (Qavvik) .......................3602 320 – 6(2): RV Nuliajuk 2023 Sailing Season (Akeeagok, D)...................................................3602 C.

Members’ Statements 425 – 6(2): Hockey Equipment Donations in Igloolik (Quassa) ................................................3603 426 – 6(2): Happy Birthday to Namesake (Sammurtok) ............................................................3604 427 – 6(2): Recognizing Martha Kyak (Nutarak) ......................................................................3604 428 – 6(2): Sanikiluaq’s New Mayor (Qavvik) ..........................................................................3604 429 – 6(2): Recognizing Mialiralaaq Ottokie (Joanasie) ............................................................3605 430 – 6(2): Recognizing Charlie Evalik and Julia Ogina (Gross) ..............................................3605 431 – 6(2): Recognizing Albert Issigaitok and Kim Morgan (Kaernerk) ..................................3606 432 – 6(2): Trick-or-Treating with Polar Bears (Akeeagok, D) .................................................3607 433 – 6(2): Child Sexual Abuse in Nunavut (Lightstone) ..........................................................3607 D.

Returns to Oral Questions Return to Oral Question 563 – 6(2): Insurance Issue after Fire in Gjoa Haven (Joanasie) ........3608

E.

Oral Questions 612 – 6(2): Mandatory School Hours (Malliki)..........................................................................3609 613 – 6(2): Addressing Child Abuse (Lightstone) .....................................................................3611 614 – 6(2): Solid Waste Management (Killiktee) ......................................................................3614 615 – 6(2): Departmental Positions (Anavilok) .........................................................................3616 616 – 6(2): Family Abuse Intervention Act (Quassa) ................................................................3617 617 – 6(2): Medical Escorts for Cancer Patients (Quqqiaq).......................................................3619 618 – 6(2): New Territorial Parks Act (Brewster) ......................................................................3621 619 – 6(2): Water and Sewer Subsidies (Hickes) .......................................................................3622 620 – 6(2): Chesterfield Inlet Water Infrastructure (Sammurtok) ..............................................3623 621 – 6(2): Critical Minerals and the Council of the Federation (Simailak) ..............................3625 622 – 6(2): Departmental Positions (Nutarak) ...........................................................................3628 623 – 6(2): Boarding Home for Rankin Inlet (Savikataaq) ........................................................3630 624 – 6(2): Child Sexual Abuse (Brewster) ...............................................................................3632 625 – 6(2): Diseased Wildlife Monitoring (Simailak) ................................................................3635 F.

Bills Bill 31 – Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2024-2025 – Health – Consideration in Committee .....3637

Tuesday, October 31, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 3600 Iqaluit, Nunavut Tuesday, October 31, 2023 Members Present: Hon. David Akeeagok, Hon. P.J. Akeeagok, Hon. Tony Akoak, Mr. Bobby Anavilok, Ms. Janet Brewster, Hon. Pamela Gross, Mr. George Hickes, Hon. David Joanasie, Hon. Joelie Kaernerk, Ms. Mary Killiktee, Hon. Lorne Kusugak, Mr. Adam Lightstone, Mr. Solomon Malliki, Hon. John Main, Hon. Margaret Nakashuk, Ms. Karen Nutarak, Hon. Daniel Qavvik, Ms. Joanna Quassa, Mr. Inagayuk Quqqiaq, Mr. Alexander Sammurtok, Mr. Joe Savikataaq, Mr. Craig Simailak. >>House commenced at 13:30 Item 1: Opening Prayer Speaker (Hon.

Tony Akoak) (interpretation): Good day. Let us pray. >>Prayer Speaker (interpretation): Good day, my colleagues and those who are watching the televised proceedings and listening to the radio broadcast. Welcome to the House. (interpretation ends) Ministers’ Statements. Hon. Minister of Health, Mr. Main. Item 2: Ministers’ Statements Minister’s Statement 317 – 6(2): Increased Capacity at Boarding Homes (Main) Hon. John Main (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Good day, my colleagues and Nunavummiut. (interpretation ends) Uqaqtitsijii, the Department of Health is committed to providing safe, secure and service- oriented boarding home facilities for Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) eligible clients and escorts during medical travel. Uqaqtitsijii, we currently have six boarding homes which host these medical travellers, located in Winnipeg, Iqaluit, Ottawa, Yellowknife, Edmonton, and Churchill. All facilities except one are operated by third party contractors. The Department of Health has seen a steady increase in medical travel over the years as Nunavut grows.

We have seen a sharper increase in the last two years, as we work through post- pandemic recovery and address wait-lists for specialized services. Fortunately, the opening of new boarding home facilities in Iqaluit, Edmonton, and Winnipeg has significantly increased the number of available beds. Previously, clients would often be displaced to an overflow hotel room once the boarding home was full. With the increased bed capacity, the need for overflow hotel rooms has been significantly reduced and, in most cases, eliminated completely.

The newer facilities also offer more space for cultural programming, larger dining areas, and some larger client rooms for those on longer stays. Uqaqtitsijii, the Department of Health works closely and collaboratively with the boarding home operators to find ways of improving the care journey for medical travel clients. We acknowledge the difficulties patients face having to leave home for medical services and

Tuesday, October 31, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 3601 continue to be committed to improving care access and improved boarding home facilities and space. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. >>Applause Speaker: Before I go to the next name, members, please note that we do not have any pages for today. Ministers’ Statements. Hon. Minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation, Mr. Kusugak. Minister’s Statement 318 – 6(2): Nunavut 3000 (Kusugak) Hon. Lorne Kusugak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Happy Halloween to all Nunavummiut and safe door-to-dooring wherever you may be.

Some of the costumes here are pretty frightening themselves, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in October 2022 I was proud to be in my hometown of Rankin Inlet, where I’m always proud to be, in this case, to announce the Nunavut Housing Corporation’s plan to build 3,000 new homes across the territory by 2030. Today I am pleased to provide an overview of some successes from the past year, starting with our most significant accomplishment so far: the transformational 10-year Partnership Agreement between the NHC and NCC Development (NCCD) that is at the heart of the Nunavut 3000 strategy.

In 2023 this ground-breaking partnership between the territorial government and Inuit-owned construction firm resulted in 150 new public houses in eight communities. This partnership is already demonstrating significant value for money, with reductions in the cost per square foot for NCC-constructed units. In addition to reducing the cost of building, NCCD’s focus on training will help to increase local employment and develop a sustainable local housing sector over the long term.

Another highlight from the first year of Igluliuqatigiingniq is the partnership between the corporation and the Community Housing Transformation Centre (CHTC) to develop and administer the new $1.3 million Nunalingni Piruqpaalirut Fund. This fund will be an important source of support and funding for the community housing sector, providing up to $50,000 to move their ideas, projects, and initiatives forward. Interested individuals and organizations may contact the housing corporation now to start discussing their ideas. Mr.

Speaker, as we move into year two of the Nunavut 3000 strategy, I am confident that our government will meet its commitment to add 1,000 units of all types of housing and expand the continuum of housing options within our term. I would like to thank the corporation’s board of directors and hard-working staff for all that they have accomplished so far. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. >>Applause Speaker: Ministers’ Statements. Hon. Minister responsible for Nunavut Arctic College, Mr. Qavvik.

Tuesday, October 31, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 3602 Minister’s Statement 319 – 6(2): Celebrating Nunavut’s Research and Education Network (Qavvik) Hon. Daniel Qavvik: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On August 22, 2023 Nunavut Arctic College hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony at its Nunatta Campus here in Iqaluit. This ceremony signalled the going live of Nunavut’s own research and education network. Mr. Speaker, to appreciate the importance of this event, some context is necessary.

While staff at Nunavut Arctic College have access to the Government of Nunavut network, including government Internet, Intranet and telephone services, Nunavut Arctic College students do not. This means college operations require separate and dedicated Internet to support its students and the programs they are enrolled in and the services they rely on. Mr. Speaker, as Nunavut’s only designated post-secondary institute, Nunavut Arctic College joined the CANARIE network in 2022.

C-A-N-A- R-I-E is not an acronym; CANARIE is a Canada-wide, internationally connected network of institutes involved in research, innovation, and education. This network includes a wide range of benefits, notably, access to research data and information. The CANARIE network is made up of provincial and territorial hosts. As a member of CANARIE, the college had an opportunity to launch and host a Nunavut-specific research and education network.

This Nunavut-specific network is open to private, public, and not-for- profit organizations in the territory that are involved in research and education and wish to become members of this territory-specific network. To host Nunavut’s research and education network, Nunavut Arctic College entered a partnership with Galaxy Broadband and InukNET, who is providing the college and its member organizations with dedicated Internet via access to new high-speed, low earth orbiting satellites.

This Internet supports the network, which sits outside the Government of Nunavut system and is supported by CANARIE’s cybersecurity program and Galaxy’s managed services. Mr. Speaker, this work was supported by many players, most notably the college’s own information technology team. The college is relying on third party funding and some Government of Nunavut funding to support this network. Mr. Speaker, in conclusion, the college remains committed to strengthening its presence within the territory and beyond.

A Nunavut-specific research and education network is one way to secure that presence and ensures the territory also benefits from dedicated and secure broadband access. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. >>Applause Speaker: Ministers’ Statements. Hon. Minister of Economic Development and Transportation, Mr. David Akeeagok. Minister’s Statement 320 – 6(2): RV Nuliajuk 2023 Sailing Season (Akeeagok,

D) Hon. David Akeeagok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I hope that our children get lots of candy when they’re

Tuesday, October 31, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 3603 out trick-or-treating tonight. I am dressed up as an angry politician, so I hope you’re scared of me in my costume. (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to report that our Research Vessel Nuliajuk has had another successful season of work in Nunavut waters. This year, [Nuliajuk] supported research on Greenland halibut, bottom mapping in Nain, and conducted fisheries tracking and research in Pond Inlet, Qikiqtarjuaq, and Pangnirtung. The research promotes marine safety and extends our knowledge of sustainable marine development. Mr.

Speaker, in addition to research, RV Nuliajuk also had a great outreach season. The crew welcomed onboard many community members in Pond Inlet and Qikiqtarjuaq. They also met with students in the communities to promote the marine sector as a viable career path. There are many opportunities for our youth to have rewarding and active careers in the marine research industry. Nuliajuk will be in Iqaluit from October 26 to November 1. The crew will be welcoming the public on board the vessel. Please visit the Department of Economic Development and Transportation’s website for the latest

schedule and updates. I encourage our students, elders, and Iqalummiut to take the tour, meet with the crew, and talk about the important research we are doing. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to thank the crew for yet another successful season. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. >>Applause Speaker: Item 3. Members’ Statements. Member for Aggu, Ms. Quassa. Item 3: Members’ Statements Member’s Statement 425 – 6(2): Hockey Equipment Donations in Igloolik (Quassa) Ms. Quassa (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also say “good day” to Nunavummiut, the people of Igloolik, and my colleagues. Mr.

Speaker, I rise today to extend my appreciation. As we are aware, skates are very expensive nowadays and many parents can’t afford skates. Skates are very good for children to practise skating, especially for hockey and other sports. On October 27, 2023 at the Igloolik RCMP detachment, the children went to go get free skates there. Even though this individual has retired and lives in Vancouver, Barry Headman, although he is not listening to the session, had collected skates and sent the skates to Igloolik so that the children can get skates.

I would like to ask you to join me in thanking the individual for providing support to the children. Because of their love, they provide equipment to the children. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. >>Applause

Tuesday, October 31, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 3604 Speaker: Members’ Statements. Member for Rankin Inlet North- Chesterfield Inlet, Mr. Sammurtok. Member’s Statement 426 – 6(2): Happy Birthday to Namesake (Sammurtok) Mr. Sammurtok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today because it is my namesake’s birthday in Pond Inlet. (interpretation ends) I would like to send very warm birthday greetings to my namesake, Chantal Aapak Koonoo. Happy birthday, not happy Halloween. (interpretation) Thank you. >>Laughter >>Applause Speaker: Members’ Statements. Member for Tununiq, Ms. Nutarak.

Member’s Statement 427 – 6(2): Recognizing Martha Kyak (Nutarak) Ms. Nutarak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I say “good day” to the people of Pond Inlet and Nunavummiut, and please practise safety when you’re going around to the homes and make sure that the parents thoroughly check all the candy. I would like to extend baby a very happy birthday. Mr. Speaker, it is very important to note some notable people. I would like to recognize Martha Kyak, who is a designer and an illustrator. She has set up a business called InukChic, where she takes traditional designs and puts them into contemporary use.

We have also seen some of her paintings and ornaments that are enjoyed all over Canada. She has also written children’s books and she has been working for a very long time as a teacher. Martha just recently became the Director of Nunavut Sivuniksavut, a program that teaches young Inuit. On September 10, 2023, InukChic owner Martha Kyak went to New York City for a fashion show and she showed her fashion designs. It was an international event and I would like to extend my gratitude to Martha for showcasing the Inuit culture and clothing. I’m very proud of her today. Thank you, Mr.

Speaker. >>Applause Speaker: Members’ Statements. Member for Hudson Bay, Mr. Qavvik. Member’s Statement 428 – 6(2): Sanikiluaq’s New Mayor (Qavvik) Hon. Daniel Qavvik: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last week, all across the territory, there were elections for mayor, council, and district education authorities, and last week, I committed to stand up and congratulate for our new mayor in Sanikiluaq. Yesterday, elections took place in my home community of Sanikiluaq. Mr. Speaker, our new mayor just might be the youngest mayor nationally and perhaps the territory as well.

I look forward to working with the new mayor and council for the betterment of our community and how I am proud to have youth have a voice in the political realm anywhere in our territory. For that, I wanted to congratulate the new Mayor for Sanikiluaq, Masako Kittosuk. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Tuesday, October 31, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 3605 >>Applause Speaker: Members’ Statements. Member for South Baffin, Mr. Joanasie. Member’s Statement 429 – 6(2): Recognizing Mialiralaaq Ottokie (Joanasie) Hon. David Joanasie (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good day, Nunavummiut and the people of South Baffin. Please practise safety when you’re going around trick-or-treating. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate Mialiralaaq Ottokie, who is a woman from my home community of Kinngait. Mr. Speaker, Mialiralaaq trained at Iqaluit’s Nunavut Fisheries and Marine Training Consortium. Mr.

Speaker, after completing this training, she now works at a ship called the Polar Prince, where they spent some time this summer charting the depths of the ocean for safety and future use. Mr. Speaker, the Polar Prince was in Kinngait in August and Mialiralaaq landed on the shores of Kinngait on August 23, passing by the community where she was welcomed and greeted by her extended family and it was such a proud moment on her journey. Mr. Speaker, after Kinngait, they went to Coral Harbour and to Iqaluit, and she has returned to her home in Ottawa. Mr.

Speaker, if you would give me the time, on behalf of Mialiralaaq, I would like to extend my gratitude and thank the Nunavut Fisheries and Marine Training Consortium, Mayuriaq Quvianaqtuliaq, Kirt Ejetsiak, and the community of Kinngait for being so welcoming and the crew she worked with on the Polar Prince. We are very proud of you and we wish you success in the future. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. >>Applause Speaker: Members’ Statements. Member for Cambridge Bay, Ms. Gross. Member’s Statement 430 – 6(2): Recognizing Charlie Evalik and Julia Ogina (Gross) Hon. Pamela Gross: Quana, Mr. Speaker.

Happy Halloween, Nunavummiut. In the spirit of Halloween, I hope everyone has a spook-tacular day. To all our trick-or- treaters, please dress warm, stay safe, and remember to have your parent check your candies for safety while also avoiding candy tax. Mr. Speaker, with great pride, today I want to acknowledge two constituents who were recently awarded medals from the Governor General. These two community members are well known not just in Cambridge Bay but also across our entire territory for their hard work, dedication, and relentless advocacy. Mr.

Speaker, on National Indigenous People’s Day, Her Excellency, the Right Honourable Mary Simon handed out medals to two indigenous recipients to honour outstanding work and achievement. Mr. Charlie Evalik received a medal and was named a Member of the Order of Canada. Her Excellency noted that Charlie Evalik has played a leading role in the social and economic development of Nunavut.

Tuesday, October 31, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 3606 Mr. Speaker, we admire him as one of the chief negotiators of the Tunngavik Federation. He collaborated on the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement settlement and later helped fulfill its terms as president of the Kitikmeot Inuit Association. Charlie is a founding member of the Nunavut Resources Corporation, which helps diversify our economy and attract much-needed capital investment to our region. Mr. Evalik’s leadership will continue to inspire future generations of business leaders across Nunavut. Mr. Speaker, Ms.

Julia Ogina received a meritorious service medal for her work to protect and promote Inuit culture and traditions within northern communities and in Canada and beyond. As a program coordinator with the Kitikmeot Inuit Association, Julia is always working to promote and revitalize Inuit language. She organized the Stories Told through Drum Dance project, which has amplified the importance of traditional drum dancing and singing in our community. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask for unanimous consent to conclude my statement. Speaker: The member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude her statement.

Are there any nays? There are none. Please continue, Ms. Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Quana, Mr. Speaker. Let’s all join our very own Inuk Governor General, Mary Simon, in honouring and congratulating Charlie Evalik and Julia Ogina for their tireless work and impressive achievements on behalf of our territory. Quana, Mr. Speaker. >>Applause Speaker: Members’ Statements. Member for Amittuq, Mr. Kaernerk. Member’s Statement 431 – 6(2): Recognizing Albert Issigaitok and Kim Morgan (Kaernerk) Hon. Joelie Kaernerk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon, colleagues, people of Amittuq, and Nunavummiut.

Today I would also like to recognize and congratulate this individual from Igloolik, Albert Issigaitok. He had gatherings with boys and men and since he doesn’t have anywhere to go, he usually gathers up the men and gives them qamutik-making classes and small boats. He also uses his own tools. I’m very proud of Albert Issigaitok from Igloolik. Please contribute to your communities in helping the youth. I would also like to recognize Kim Morgan, who also gathers the youth and since he works, he usually gets the boys and men together in the evenings at the youth centre.

I would like to thank them both and I am very proud of Albert Issigaitok and Kim Morgan from Sanirajak for their contributions to our communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. >>Applause Speaker: Members’ Statements. Member for Quttiktuq, Mr. David Akeeagok.

Tuesday, October 31, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 3607 Member’s Statement 432 – 6(2): Trick-or-Treating with Polar Bears (Akeeagok,

D) Hon. David Akeeagok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today is the last day that the community of Grise Fiord sees the sun. There will be sunrise and we won’t see it for quite some time. In Resolute Bay it’s a shorter dark season, but it will be happening. Since children are going to be trick-or- treating in the communities, it’s a little different in the communities where we have bear monitors because of bears roaming around. I think there are approximately 15 polar bears roaming around Resolute Bay right now, but there is a bear monitor present for the safety of the children. Please practise safety.

In Grise Fiord, the sun will be rising again in February. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. >>Applause Speaker: Members’ Statements. Member for Iqaluit-Manirajak, Mr. Lightstone. Member’s Statement 433 – 6(2): Child Sexual Abuse in Nunavut (Lightstone) Mr. Lightstone: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Before I begin, I would like to warn members and the public that I will be raising a sensitive issue that may be triggering for far too many Nunavummiut. It is a difficult topic for anyone to discuss, including myself, but I believe we must be the voice for the most vulnerable. Mr.

Speaker, I rise today to discuss the very sensitive issue of child sexual abuse. Mr. Speaker, protecting the welfare of Nunavut’s children and youth is an important responsibility of our government and I have been calling on our government to do more to protect those individuals. Far too often, children are victimized and we hear about it in the media and we know it’s going on. It has been documented that Nunavut children experience rates of abuse 10 times higher than the national average, and I believe that this is in fact a crisis. Mr.

Speaker, during the Fifth Assembly, we held a televised hearing with the Representative for Children and Youth in 2019. At that time, I expressed my concern that the Department of Family Services’ annual report did not include information or adequately addressed the rates of child sexual abuse in the territory. Mr. Speaker, since then, I have been trying to drag that information out of the Department of Family Services and the Department of Justice to no avail. Both of the departments had indicated that they were unable to provide that information.

To my surprise, the Department of Family Services’ 2021-22 annual report on family wellness did include a breakdown of the types of referrals that community social service workers received in that fiscal year. Mr. Speaker, to my shock, the report indicates that over 500 brave children

Tuesday, October 31, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 3608 came forward to report that they have been victims of child sexual abuse. All studies in this area indicate that only a fraction of victims come forward, therefore the actual numbers are likely several times higher. Mr. Speaker, the government must do more to fulfill its obligations to ensure the safety of all children and youth through prevention, intervention, and postvention. I will be asking questions on this matter at the appropriate time to the appropriate minister. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. >>Applause Speaker: Item 4. Returns to Oral Questions. Hon.

Minister of Community and Government Services, Mr. Joanasie. Item 4: Returns to Oral Questions Return to Oral Question 563 – 6(2): Insurance Issue after Fire in Gjoa Haven (Joanasie) Hon. David Joanasie: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to provide clarification to a question during oral question period on Tuesday, October 24, 2023, No. 563 – 6(2), asking if there was a change in the value of the lease with NCC Properties Ltd. after a lease amendment was made March 24, 2023. Mr. Speaker, there was no change in the lease value.

We continue paying basic rent for the NCC lease-to-own building because it forms part of the lease contract and the payments go against the outstanding principal to purchase the building by March 31, 2030. The outstanding principal and the amortization period remain the same. For greater clarity, the Government of Nunavut will have paid for the new replacement building by March 31, 2030. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Item 5. Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery. Member for Iqaluit- Niaqunnguu, Mr. Pauloosie Akeeagok. Item 5: Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery Hon. P.J.

Akeeagok (interpretation): Good afternoon and thank you, Mr. Speaker. I say “good afternoon” to Nunavummiut and fellow members. (interpretation ends) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize some very special visitors we have in the gallery. Today we have two representatives from the Public Affairs

Section of the United States Embassy in Ottawa, both Shannon Hill and Becky Haggard; if you could please rise up. >>Applause Mr. Speaker, the United States has a strong interest in reinforcing its relationship with various stakeholders in the Canadian Arctic, including the Government of Nunavut, and building on the two visits to the territory of Nunavut this year by the United States Ambassador, a very good friend, David Cohen.

The objective of their visit is to meet with government officials, Inuit organizations, and other stakeholders in Nunavut and to learn about Nunavut priorities, opportunities, and challenges. I would like to welcome both members to our House here. (interpretation) Welcome. (interpretation ends) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Tuesday, October 31, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 3609 >>Applause Speaker: Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery. Item 6. Oral Questions. Member for Aivilik, Mr. Malliki. Item 6: Oral Questions Question 612 – 6(2): Mandatory School Hours (Malliki) Mr. Malliki (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good day, fellow members and my constituents in Coral Harbour and Naujaat. Mr. Speaker, I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Education. (interpretation ends) Mr.

Speaker, parents in my constituency have raised concerns regarding the number of times schools are closed for early dismissal due to staff meetings or professional development. Can the minister clarify how her department determines whether the legally mandated number of instructional hours for students are delivered in each school and what steps are taken when a school does not deliver the hours of instruction that are required by law? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Hon. Minister of Education, Ms. Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the member for the question.

We are getting into the time when our schools are closed for unforeseen circumstances due to bad weather and that really can affect our schools in closure times. We do have indicators if the school is closed. There are often factors. Otherwise, if they are closed for mechanical issues or environmental hazards as well, our schools may close and, if there are any school closures for the latter reason, it is usually for the safety of our students. There are times when our district education authorities also have to make hard decisions to close our schools.

For example, due to weather, that is an example where the schools may close. We also advise the public that there is a school calendar which does take into account that we live and work in a harsh climate. The district education authorities are asked to build additional hours into their calendar to create a buffer for those days. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Your first supplementary, Mr. Malliki. Mr. Malliki (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. She didn’t answer my question. (interpretation ends) I asked of staff meetings and early dismissals. Those were not answered. Mr. Speaker,

Part 10 of the Education Act provides for instructional hours and school calendars.

Section 85 of the Act provides that a district education authority has the responsibility to amend school calendars to make up for lost instructional hours. Can the minister clarify how her department works with the individual district education authorities to ensure that the appropriate amount of instructional hours are delivered in a

Tuesday, October 31, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 3610 given school year? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Minister of Education, Ms. Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the member for that question and clarifying the first question. Mr. Speaker, our schools have school regulations and we have a number of instructional days that we have to go by. Our schools use the school calendar and have designated days for instructional days as well as professional development days, as indicated. We also have a letter that is sent for those days that are off for our students.

If there are additional days due to unforeseen circumstances, due to mechanical issues, for example, if our schools have to close and they have to make up additional time, then the district education authorities have the ability to build in additional time for our students. As said earlier, Mr. Speaker, our school calendars are built in a flexible way that we do build in additional time into our calendars for unforeseen circumstances like weather because we know that that is always going to be affecting our communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Your second and final supplementary, Mr. Malliki. Mr.

Malliki (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I recognize that situations may arise where school staff need to take time for specialized training. A good example of this is the department’s response to the recent violent incident at the Tuugaalik High School in Naujaat. I would like to thank the Department of Education for providing additional support to school staff and the district education authority to address this issue. The current school calendar indicates that professional development days for the schools in my constituency are scheduled for February 12 to 16, 2024.

Can the minister clarify what steps are taken to make up for lost instructional time when schools close for teacher professional development activities outside of the designated professional development week? (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Minister of Education, Ms. Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the member for that question. In terms of professional development, we do have professional development that our educators partake in throughout the year. This is to promote equality and standardization across Nunavut.

There is also a focus on increasing access to a high-quality education program. We have for professional development, the framework that was created in partnership with the Nunavut Teachers Association. I hear the member’s concern about professional development happening in February and that is something that we have started discussions with the Nunavut Teachers Association to see if we can change the date to an earlier time in the year when school first starts, to see if those accommodations for professional development can either

Tuesday, October 31, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 3611 happen when the school year first starts or when the school year ends and not right in the middle of the school year in February. We do hear that as a concern, but it is built into the Acts and regulations for that time to be included. I thank the member for raising that as a concern and I will definitely, when I next speak to the Nunavut Teachers Association, ensure that we talk about this again. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Oral Questions. Member for Iqaluit-Manirajak, Mr. Lightstone. Question 613 – 6(2): Addressing Child Abuse (Lightstone) Mr.

Lightstone: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of the Department of Family Services. As I indicated in my member’s statement, over 500 brave children have come forward to disclose to our community social workers that they were victims of child sexual abuse, as was indicated in the department’s annual report. I would like to ask: can the minister provide a clear explanation of how these numbers published in the report are determined?

Given that what we know of the department’s past difficulties in recording and managing this data, how can we be assured that these numbers are accurate when it seems entirely possible that they may be much higher? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Hon. Minister of Family Services, Ms. Nakashuk. Hon. Margaret Nakashuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank you for that question. (interpretation ends) I’m happy you asked that question and I, too, like a lot of us, don’t like to see numbers like this, very high, especially when it comes to our children in the communities.

It’s unfortunate when we look at this report, 518 in all, with South Baffin having the highest numbers. I don’t want to put any excuses why we have not been able to provide the support our community needs, but I have to say that I have mentioned from the very beginning that the Department of Family Services has had the issue of having not enough staff and not enough social workers in our communities. When we’re also talking about standing committee reviews about the case management system, it has been another issue that we have not been able to provide the accurate data.

It was clearly stated in the OAG report that those are the flaws that the department has. I have to acknowledge how well the staff works. The social workers deal with a lot of stress, they deal with the most vulnerable population, and they are the voice for these children. In our policies, they have to follow what is in place. If they see a child in danger or who has been abused, they have to follow protocols and those are continued. The issue that we’ve had at times is that they’ve had no support or very little support.

After the OAG report came out, it is something we are able to use to say, “This is what we need. This is what we have been trying to say. We need more support from the government, within the

Tuesday, October 31, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 3612 government, and from our communities.” Since the OAG report, a lot has come out and I’m happy to say that we are going to see more supports come into place because, when we’re talking about the lack of social workers, we are really starting to gear towards hiring more staff in that area. The caseworkers and the social workers really do work hard, but the department is 10 years old. It hasn’t had the support it has needed from the very beginning, so it’s unfortunate that we have to see our youth suffer. We’ve had to see that. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: Your first supplementary, Mr. Lightstone. Mr. Lightstone: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank the minister for a very sincere response. The minister had indicated that the South Baffin region has been identified to have the highest rates of reports being made to our social workers. Mr. Speaker, the report indicates that 716 children came forward to disclose instances of physical harm, 687 of whom were here in South Baffin. That’s 95 percent. Of the 518 children that came forward to report child sexual abuse, 458 were from South Baffin. That’s 88 percent. Mr.

Speaker, I have been trying to emphasize the importance of prevention, that our government needs to do more to protect youth before they become victimized. One matter that I have been indicating is that children are safe at school, but in the evenings and weekends, that is when they’re most at risk. I have been asking our government to do more to open child emergency shelters to ensure that children have a safe place to go at any hour of the day.

I would like to ask: can the minister describe what options have been explored by her department to establish youth shelters in any South Baffin communities, including any initiatives being explored for the community of Iqaluit? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Minister of Family Services, Ms. Nakashuk. Hon. Margaret Nakashuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank you for that question. (interpretation ends) When we’re talking about Iqaluit itself, we see a lot more issues in the city, unfortunately.

Just when we were getting out of COVID in the last couple of years, the Department of Family Services’ office here was really struggling with staff and we saw a lot of issues because of the lack of staff in that office right after COVID. In the recent times, like I had mentioned, when we’re talking about issues or reports that are coming in, the social workers do have to follow a protocol in terms of who they have to contact. We work very closely with the RCMP. We work closely with Justice. We work closely with Education in terms of what more educational supports we can provide in the schools and safe homes.

We also have to work closely with the foster parents because they have to be educated and know the signs as well. The teachers know a lot more than we do.

Tuesday, October 31, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 3613 I know there have been issues, especially in Iqaluit, like I had mentioned, but those are the things that we’ve had to lean towards. I have to say that it is not just the Department of Family Services that could solve this problem. It takes all of us. It takes parents. It takes community members. It takes grandparents. It is not just Family Services that could solve this.

When I’m saying what supports can we provide more with youth, like I had mentioned, we work with different departments to ensure there are more programs in place and especially with what programs our department could provide for foster parents or children in place. Those are the things I could think of off the top of my head. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Your second and final supplementary, Mr. Lightstone. Mr. Lightstone: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I agree with the minister that it is a whole-of-government approach that is required to ensure the safety, protection, and proactive measures to protect our children. I hope the minister will one day commit to this House to create child emergency shelters in our communities that have higher rates to ensure that children have a safe place any time of day. Mr. Speaker, the Umingmak Centre is a child advocacy centre in Iqaluit. It is a safe location for services such as the RCMP, social workers, and health care professionals to coordinate support and provide care to children and youth who have experienced abuse.

I do recognize that the Umingmak facility is not operated or owned by the Government of Nunavut, but we are very fortunate to have such an institution in our community providing a level of support and healing, given the high rates of abuse in this community. I would like to ask the minister: can the minister tell the House whether there are any plans in place to build or assist in the creation of other child advocacy centres or assist the current Umingmak faculty to expand to other communities which also experience high rates of child abuse? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Minister of Family Services, Ms.

Nakashuk. Hon. Margaret Nakashuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank you for asking that question. The member talked about the Umingmak Centre, which is for younger children that need help and we heavily utilize it. You stated that we work with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police through the Department of Family Services and that includes the Department of Health. It would be good if we could have something like that in the communities.

We have had children come in from other communities to go to the Umingmak Centre, but there are not enough supports available for children and youth to try to keep them safe. We need to provide more safety education to children and youth in the communities, especially within the schools. As parents, we have to teach our children more about safety and keep an eye on them.

Tuesday, October 31, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 3614 However, I have stated that the Department of Family Services always has funding available for community wellness programs. We will always be open for that, but we have to work with others to bring the assistance to the communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Oral Questions. Member for Uqqummiut, Ms. Killiktee. Question 614 – 6(2): Solid Waste Management (Killiktee) Ms. Killiktee (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise today to ask questions to the Minister of Community and Government Services, and they concern the issue of solid waste management and metal dump management, which are part of the responsibilities in communities. Mr. Speaker, as the minister is well aware, many of our territory’s smaller communities, perhaps all of the communities, suffer from outdated and inadequate solid waste management facilities and systems for both garbage and sewage because they’re not set up correctly right now. With that being the case, Mr.

Speaker, (interpretation ends) in March 2022 the minister’s department issued a request for proposals to develop a business case for solid waste facilities in a number of communities and that includes Clyde River. The contract for this work was awarded to the company Dillon Consulting. Can the minister provide an update today on the status of developing a business case for a new or upgraded solid waste facility in Clyde River? (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Hon. Minister of Community and Government Services, Mr. Joanasie. Hon. David Joanasie: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank the member for the question. Mr. Speaker, the solid waste funding that my department is funnelling from the federal government, we have three bundles for solid waste that we have put into a package. Mr. Speaker, Clyde River is among bundle 1. Included with that is Arviat, Grise Fiord, and Resolute Bay.

My department has received some approval on an amended scope of work for this federal funding source and based on that, it has allowed our department to undertake some site-specific upgrades and encompassing site management, reduce risks of leachate due to offsite runoff, and prolong the useful life of existing sites by applying different waste diversion methods. Mr. Speaker, this work is ongoing and we hope to continue our work with the hamlets to address their solid waste and their needs around this. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Your first supplementary, Ms. Killiktee. Ms.

Killiktee (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank you for explaining that. That’s good to hear. I would like to ask further so that we’re all informed about the process. (interpretation ends) Uqaqtittijii, during my recent visit to Clyde River, I heard a number of concerns about this issue. The

Tuesday, October 31, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 3615 municipality is in need of adequate waste management infrastructure and equipment, including fencing, crushers, and shredders. Mr. Speaker, can the minister clarify the approximate cost of fully replacing and/or upgrading Clyde River’s current solid waste facility? (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Minister of Community and Government Services, Mr. Joanasie. Hon. David Joanasie: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

My department also will be working with the Department of Environment, with Environment leading the agency around a solid waste management strategy and looking at the capital as well as operational aspects associated with building and maintaining solid waste facilities. Mr. Speaker, in terms of cost estimation based on planning studies, cost estimates per site have ranged between $7 million and $79 million, and there are different components to this too.

Given that some are much larger, depending on the scope, the costs were estimated at an early stage to be between those amounts, but of course those figures could be different as we go through the capital planning process. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Your second and final supplementary, Ms. Killiktee. Ms. Killiktee (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank you for explaining that further and for your response. We tell the truth here. The system in Clyde River really needs to be worked on.

The dump is really close to the community and it is because of the development of the community that it’s gotten real close, which is why they need help now. (interpretation ends) Uqaqtittijii, the five-year capital plan of the Department of Community and Government Services includes for what are referred to as “solid waste bundles.” In order to help our growing communities with issues like land development, we need to make progress on solid waste management. Mr.

Speaker, can the minister indicate what support is being provided by the federal Department of Infrastructure to address this issue? (interpretation) I know the minister answered part of the question already, but I would really like to hear more of the details. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Minister of Community and Government Services, Mr. Joanasie. Hon. David Joanasie: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the member for that. Mr.

Speaker, when we’re talking about our infrastructure needs as well as our solid waste and having to deal with that, I think practically every community has many different pressing issues around infrastructure. This is an area that my department has tried to work very closely with Infrastructure Canada around how we are proceeding given our realities. Based on that, we are continuing on a path to address Nunavut’s needs. Mr.

Speaker, this is something that we’re continuing to bring forward and it has been helpful to get support from other political leaders such as yourself, Inuit organizations, and even our MP around our capital needs. I think this is an area

Tuesday, October 31, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 3616 that is seriously lacking, so I encourage my colleagues and Nunavummiut to push that message home to the federal government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Oral Questions. Member for Kugluktuk, Mr. Anavilok. Question 615 – 6(2): Departmental Positions (Anavilok) Mr. Anavilok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are regarding government offices and staff in Kugluktuk. (interpretation ends) My questions are for the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation.

As the minister is aware, his department has a number of positions located in Kugluktuk. As the minister will recall, I asked him a number of questions concerning vacant departmental positions in Kugluktuk during our winter sitting. At that time, I noted that the majority of the department’s positions in the community were vacant. Can the minister update me today on which positions in the community are currently filled and which positions are currently vacant? (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Hon. Minister of Economic Development and Transportation, Mr. David Akeeagok. Hon.

David Akeeagok: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Currently we have ten positions in Kugluktuk for Economic Development and Transportation. Five of them are filled as indeterminate, two of them are filled through casual staffing action, and the remainder are vacant. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Your first supplementary, Mr. Anavilok. Mr. Anavilok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for the response. (interpretation ends) When I previously raised this issue, the minister indicated that vacant positions would be going out to competition.

Can the minister tell me today how many competitions for vacant positions in Kugluktuk have been held within the past six months? (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Minister of Economic Development and Transportation, Mr. David Akeeagok. Hon. David Akeeagok: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The two vacant positions that are listed on my notes here are mentioned that they are in progress for competition. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Your second and final supplementary, Mr. Anavilok. Mr. Anavilok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you for the response. (interpretation ends) When I last raised this issue, the minister indicated that one of the barriers to filling the vacant positions was a lack of housing. Last week, the Minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation confirmed that a number of new staff housing units are planned for Kugluktuk.

Tuesday, October 31, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 3617 Can the minister indicate how many units will be allocated to his department’s positions? (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Minister of Economic Development and Transportation, Mr. David Akeeagok. Hon. David Akeeagok: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the minister, I would want all of them to be under Economic Development and Transportation, but the process that does work is through our Department of Human Resources. They have staff housing allocation committees and they look at all the departments and their needs within each community.

It would go through that function to determine whether the position warrants a staff house or not. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Oral Questions. Member for Aggu, Ms. Quassa. Question 616 – 6(2): Family Abuse Intervention Act (Quassa) Ms. Quassa (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Nunavut was created in order to serve all Nunavummiut. (interpretation ends) Therefore, Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Justice and they concern the issue of the Family Abuse Intervention Act. Mr.

Speaker, I recognize, understand, and appreciate the purpose of the Family Abuse Intervention Act and how it provides Nunavummiut with tools to intervene and prevent the occurrence of family and intimate partner violence. Mr. Speaker, last year, the minister’s department held community consultations in Cambridge Bay and Gjoa Haven concerning the Family Abuse Intervention Act. Can the minister indicate when he will table the completed report from these consultations in the House? (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Minister of Justice, Mr. David Akeeagok. Hon. David Akeeagok: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I don’t have a timeline when I would be tabling it, but that report is being done. The purpose of those consultations is whether or not to amend the Family Abuse Intervention Act. All that work is being done through our department. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Your first supplementary, Ms. Quassa. Ms. Quassa (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, minister, for your response. I wish it to be that Inuit traditional knowledge is included and incorporated. (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, on May 25, 2023 the minister tabled the 2021-22 Family Abuse Intervention Act Annual Report in the House.

The annual report describes tools to assist in intervening and preventing abuse, including the use of community intervention orders. Mr. Speaker, the purpose of community intervention orders is to “address the root causes of abuse and undergo counselling. Both the applicant and respondent will see their chosen respective counsellor…both can choose

Tuesday, October 31, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 3618 a traditional counsellor, an Elder, a professional counsellor, or a Justice Committee Member.” Not all the communities have all these counsellors, so therefore it would be good to know which communities don’t have them. Also, a number of my constituents have expressed their concerns to me about the underutilization of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit when mediating family issues. What specific actions is his department undertaking to enhance the use of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit with respect to family dispute resolution? (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker (interpretation): Minister of Justice, Mr. David Akeeagok. Hon. David Akeeagok: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Our department does a lot of work in this area and is very active. The majority of the community justice outreach workers are employed in each of the hamlets, and a lot of what our Community Justice Division is constantly doing is looking for resources for assistance. I think that one of the great examples that have been done is restorative justice, which is not on the courts; it is more on restoring. We constantly look for different methods and ways.

We have our annual conferences with all of our workers and look at best practices. Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit has always been paramount in any of these conversations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Your second and final supplementary, Ms. Quassa. Ms. Quassa (interpretation): That’s great and I’m very pleased that you are working on these issues and that you look further into it. (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I recognize the important need for trauma- informed and culturally relevant support programs to be made available for victims of domestic and intimate partner abuse.

I also recognize the need for appropriate treatment for abusers in order to stop the cycle of violence and to assist in preventing the likelihood of reoffending. Can the minister clearly explain how his department assists in the rehabilitation of individuals who have been served with restraining orders under the Family Abuse Intervention Act? (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Minister of Justice, Mr. David Akeeagok. Hon. David Akeeagok: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Our wonderful community justice outreach workers do a lot of the work up front for both the victim and the accusers and those that have restraining orders. They go through and offer what kinds of resources are available and what ways they can use them. A fine example with restraining orders is often that they’re not supposed to see each other. In a smaller community, it’s almost next to impossible and oftentimes, with overcrowding, you can’t necessarily exercise that restraining order. Some of the work that our Justice has developed is a short-term stay away from the house.

If they have other places to stay or another building, then we can house them in the short term. If there are shelters, we provide for that. If at last

Tuesday, October 31, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 3619 straw, if hotels are needed, hotels would be provided for the individual and our justice department pays to help for that accommodation for those that are on a restraining order. That’s just one example of many resources that our department provides to both the one that is in restraining order and the victim. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Oral Questions. Member for Netsilik, Mr. Quqqiaq. Question 617 – 6(2): Medical Escorts for Cancer Patients (Quqqiaq) Mr. Quqqiaq: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to direct my questions to the Minister of Health. Mr.

Speaker, I received correspondence from a constituent who lost their spouse to cancer. They described the difficulties and loneliness faced by their spouse when travelling out for medical care, and also the tremendous stress on the single escort that accompanied them. Mr. Speaker, can the minister advise this House of what specific policies are in place to permit second escorts for medical clients and especially those who suffer from a terminal illness and are facing the final days in a health facility far from home? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Hon. Minister of Health, Mr. Main. Hon.

John Main (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank the member for that question. (interpretation ends) First of all, when it comes to medical travel, we do understand that it can be stressful; it can be draining on Nunavummiut. The Department of Health makes efforts to make sure that medical travellers are taken care of from when they leave their home community to where they travel to their destination and then on the way back.

We understand that for medical travellers who are on longer-term stays, let’s say, for example, cancer treatment, there are additional supports that are needed and we do provide supports in terms of, for example, assisting with finding apartments for longer stays. In terms of second escorts, there is a policy in place. The Medical Travel Policy applies, so there is a process in place for requesting a second escort. There’s a connection to the Non-Insured Health Benefits program through the policies and procedures we have in place.

The Non-Insured Health Benefits guidelines tend to be more restrictive around provision of escorts than the Department of Health would like to be. There are some cases where we will approve additional escorts, even though, strictly speaking, they are not funded under the Non-Insured Health Benefits program. There’s a process in place to request the second escort and we consider all requests seriously. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Your first supplementary, Mr. Quqqiaq. Mr. Quqqiaq: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It is very clear that our community health centres are not equipped to deal with providing the appropriate levels of support for a medical patient who is going through the final stages of a terminal illness. It is a sad reality of living in the north that for more serious

Tuesday, October 31, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 3620 health concerns, we are often thrown out of our community to a regional centre or even out of territory. For clarification, can the minister clarify whether the Department of Health has a process whereby family members of terminally ill medical clients can appeal the departmental escort policy to permit more than one escort to accompany them and be with them in their final days? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Minister of Health, Mr. Main. Hon. John Main (interpretation): Thank you, Mr.

Speaker. (interpretation ends) In terms of the appeal process, there is an appeal process in place. Let’s say if a second escort in this case is requested and the request is denied, there is an appeal process there that clients, guardians, and escorts themselves can file. There is a form that’s involved. It’s available on the Department of Health’s website. It’s also available at our health centres. All appeals must be submitted in writing. This is a process that is in place and our medical travel clerks or other medical travel staff do make sure that our clients know that the right to appeal is in place.

We target to get a decision back within 10 business days of receiving an appeal. I realize that when clients are facing end-of-life situations or a very serious illness, 10 days can be a long time. We aim to respond to all requests as quickly as we can. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Your second and final supplementary, Mr. Quqqiaq. Mr. Quqqiaq: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am sure we can all appreciate how difficult it is to be the only escort to provide support and comfort for a terminally ill patient.

It is important that escorts remain physically and mentally healthy to be able to provide that support. Sometimes escorts also need support and respite. Mr. Speaker, will the minister commit to reviewing the Medical Client Escort Policy to permit more than one escort on compassionate grounds and especially for terminally ill medical clients? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Minister of Health, Mr. Main. Hon. John Main (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank the member for that question.

Yes, I can commit and we will have a review on this policy, (interpretation ends) the Medical Travel Policy. (interpretation) It is currently being reviewed to determine which areas require further revisions or amendments. At this time, we have tasked staff to undertake this review with an empathetic approach.

We have provided a directive towards, for example, mental health or elders’ hospice care, which I spoke to earlier. (interpretation ends) In terms of the appeal process, we do take into consideration compassionate reasons, including end-of-life scenarios for clients, and those are given high priority within the department. We do anticipate finding more opportunities to improve supports going forward as we review the Medical Travel Policy. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Tuesday, October 31, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 3621 Speaker: Oral Questions. Member for Iqaluit-Sinaa, Ms. Brewster. Question 618 – 6(2): New Territorial Parks Act (Brewster) Ms. Brewster: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Environment. Mr. Speaker, our territorial park system in Nunavut is truly a treasure. When I have the opportunity to be on the land or water, like many, I feel a sense of serenity and peace, and I am grateful for everything that our environment provides for Nunavummiut. Mr.

Speaker, information published by the minister’s department indicates that community consultations are beginning this week on the development of new territorial parks legislation. The first meeting was scheduled for October 30 in Baker Lake and the Iqaluit meeting is scheduled for November 22. I’ll certainly make every effort to be there. Can the minister confirm that an invitation to participate in the Iqaluit consultation has been extended to the Amaruq Hunters and Trappers Association? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Hon. Minister of Environment, Mr. Qavvik. Hon. Daniel Qavvik: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank the member for that question. The Territorial Parks Act consultation will be going to every community. To answer the member’s question, yes, the Department of Environment will commit to informing the stakeholders within the communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Your first supplementary, Ms. Brewster. Ms. Brewster: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate that commitment from the minister. Mr. Speaker, the minister’s department has recently published a detailed discussion paper concerning the process for developing new territorial parks legislation.

For the benefit of our constituents who are following our proceedings today, could the minister highlight the most important changes that his department is planning to make? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Minister of Environment, Mr. Qavvik. Hon. Daniel Qavvik: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Our Territorial Parks Act has been operating under the Northwest Territories’ Territorial Parks Act, which is no longer relevant to Nunavut because it does not reflect the Nunavut Agreement or the Inuit Impact and Benefit Agreement.

That is an area that we need to change so that we can be aligned with our mandate, objectives, and goals within our Territorial Parks Act. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Your second and final supplementary, Ms. Brewster. Ms. Brewster: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A number of Members of the Legislative Assembly have recently been making reference to the current review process for the proposed new Nunavut Land Use Plan. As the minister will recall, that is an issue that I have addressed on a number of occasions.

Tuesday, October 31, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 3622 Can the minister clarify the extent to which the approval process for the proposed new Nunavut Land Use Plan will be impacted by his department’s work to develop new territorial parks legislation? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Minister of Environment, Mr. Qavvik. Hon. Daniel Qavvik: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The draft 2023 recommended Nunavut Land Use Plan will play a key role in responsible development and sustaining our pristine environment within the territory.

I will get back to the member with more details in that area, as the details are not in front of me at this time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Oral Questions. Member for Iqaluit-Tasiluk, Mr. Hickes. Question 619 – 6(2): Water and Sewer Subsidies (Hickes) Mr. Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to direct my questions to the Minister of Community and Government Services today. Mr.

Speaker, in the water and sewage subsidy program, it stated that a municipal corporation may receive a maximum of $2 million a year, depending upon available funding, and funding cannot exceed the total approved water and sewage subsidy budget of approximately $8 million. Mr. Speaker, the amounts are based on the cost of providing a minimum amount of water specified to each community resident. Other than one blip in Sanikiluaq in 2021-22, where it looks like they got exactly $150,000 more than normal, numbers haven’t changed since at least 2020-21. Mr.

Speaker, with community populations changing, how can that be? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Hon. Minister of Community and Government Services, Mr. Joanasie. Hon. David Joanasie: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My department continues to provide funding for hamlets on an annual basis, including the city, through the block funding agreement for these municipalities to provide services. Mr.

Speaker, this is something that my department will have to take a closer look at around what things are at play, and through the water and sewage subsidy, I think it has been quite a constant funding level throughout the years, from what I can recall. Mr. Speaker, like I said, it’s an area that we will have to factor in what are the changing environments and factors at play. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Your first supplementary, Mr. Hickes. Mr. Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Those changes in those funding amounts are exactly where I am getting at.

It hasn’t changed for a while and, according to the documents, it doesn’t look like it’s going to change for the foreseeable future. Mr. Speaker, water and sewer services are to be operated on a cost recovery basis, and municipalities are responsible and accountable for how this subsidy is administered.

Tuesday, October 31, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 3623 How did Community and Government Services determine that $8,018,000 is sufficient to maintain affordable water and sewer services to Nunavummiut, taking into consideration the recent tabling of Government of Nunavut’s Drinking Water Strategic Framework, where it states that cost per community could look at increases of approximately $600,000 to $1.2 million? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Minister of Community and Government Services, Mr. Joanasie. Hon. David Joanasie: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Again, I think the water and sewer subsidy that my department provides for municipalities is a cost recovery model. Mr. Speaker, when that subsidy was put in place, I think there were a few things that my department looked at, but again, given that there are emerging things that have come to play, I can discuss this with my officials and see where we can take this. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Your second and final supplementary, Mr. Hickes. Mr. Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Iqaluit currently receives just over $1.25 million, the same as the previous two years, or exactly 15.69 percent of the fund, while population numbers tell me that Iqaluit should be getting well over 20 percent of the fund. Mr. Speaker, an example of this disparity shows that another, much smaller community receives nearly $100,000 more than Iqaluit. Can the minister explain why this policy isn’t following its own formula based on providing minimum amount of water to each community resident? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Minister of Community and Government Services, Mr. Joanasie. Hon.

David Joanasie: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My department has a number of programs and block funding programs that we provide for municipalities, and we do try to make sure that there are equitable funding levels, not just based on population but other factors. We do know that Iqaluit has an utilidor system as well. Not every community is different, but this is an area my department continues to work to make sure that our funding programs to the municipalities as well as things such as water/sewer subsidies are equitable across the board. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Oral Questions.

Member for Rankin Inlet North-Chesterfield Inlet, Mr. Sammurtok. Question 620 – 6(2): Chesterfield Inlet Water Infrastructure (Sammurtok) Mr. Sammurtok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) My questions today are for the Minister of Community and Government Services, and they concern the issue of Chesterfield Inlet’s water infrastructure. As the minister will recall, he tabled the Government of Nunavut’s new Drinking Water Strategic Framework at the beginning of our fall sitting.

Page 15 of the document includes a photograph of Chesterfield Inlet’s water reservoir, which is the subject of my first question. Concerns have been brought to my attention that structural damage to the

Tuesday, October 31, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 3624 current reservoir is preventing it from being filled to capacity. Can the minister confirm that his department is aware of this issue and is working with the municipality to repair the reservoir? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Hon. Minister of Community and Government Services, Mr. Joanasie. Hon. David Joanasie: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the member for the question. Mr. Speaker, if my department doesn’t know about it, they will know. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Your first supplementary, Mr. Sammurtok. Mr. Sammurtok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr.

Speaker. (interpretation ends) I guess they’re aware of it now and will do some repairs. >>Laughter Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding that the municipality wants to fill water trucks from a nearby lake and keep the road to town open on a year-round basis. Can the minister indicate if his department is working with the municipality to install the necessary pumping infrastructure? (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Minister of Community and Government Services, Mr. Joanasie. Hon. David Joanasie: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Municipality of Chesterfield Inlet is experiencing some difficulties around their water infrastructure. My department does have prioritization where we’re trying to mitigate risks, looking at which community has the highest risk. If Chesterfield Inlet is around the highest risk, then we will try to address it based on the priorities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Your second and final supplementary, Mr. Sammurtok. Mr. Sammurtok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) As I noted in the

preamble to my first question, the minister recently tabled the Government of Nunavut’s new Drinking Water Strategic Framework. This document indicates that it will cost over $600 million to “rectify the infrastructure deficit” in Nunavut. Can the minister clarify what funding commitments have been provided from the federal government to address the water infrastructure needs of the smaller communities, including Chesterfield Inlet? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Minister of Community and Government Services, Mr. Joanasie. Hon. David Joanasie: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Infrastructure needs across the territory continue to come up on a daily basis. Mr. Speaker, my department works, again, very closely with Infrastructure Canada. Through the green stream funding, we have been able to address many infrastructure deficiencies and issues that we have been dealing with the aging infrastructure. We discussed my department’s capital estimates earlier this sitting, which included a number of at least seven communities that have projects on the go

Tuesday, October 31, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 3625 this and last fiscal year, and we are again looking at addressing some of the small and large communities, both included. Mr. Speaker, this is an area that we will continue to push forward and I hope to get the members’ and this Assembly’s support in continuing forward on that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Oral Questions. Member for Baker Lake, Mr. Simailak. Question 621 – 6(2): Critical Minerals and the Council of the Federation (Simailak) Mr. Simailak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon, Baker Lake.

I hope you’re having a wonderful day and I hope you won’t be too scared tonight during the trick-or-treaters and their masks. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Premier and they concern his recent minister’s statement concerning the meeting of the Council of the Federation that took place this summer. Mr. Speaker, I was very pleased to read the official announcement from this meeting, which included a detailed discussion about the importance of critical minerals to our territory’s future and our nation’s future. Mr.

Speaker, the announcement indicated that: “Premiers are also focused on promoting Canada’s potential as a global powerhouse in the reliable sourcing and supply of critical minerals and rare earth elements. Critical minerals extraction and processing will continue to generate economic prosperity, and create potential to support high value activities in the electric vehicle supply chain. Premiers called on the federal government to take action to ensure the accelerated approval processes identified in Budget 2023 are implemented in a timely manner.” Mr.

Speaker, can the Premier describe what specific changes to the approval process are required? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Hon. Premier of Nunavut, Mr. Pauloosie Akeeagok. Hon. P.J. Akeeagok: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank my colleague for asking the question. I, too, am very pleased with the support we are getting in terms of the opportunities that are right here in the territory, and critical minerals, I think we’re all very excited when we see in the territory, we have 22 of the 31 identified minerals where we have so much potential.

During that meeting, I was very pleased to be able to share with all of my colleagues from coast to coast to coast, I would like to see infrastructure for us to be able to tap into these critical minerals that have been identified. During that time, the specific discussions we did talk about were in line to the infrastructure that’s needed to unlock on, but also the approval processes that are there in place right now.

As I have mentioned in previous discussions, we have a very stringent and very robust regulatory process here in Nunavut, which respects the institutions of public government that are here, but it’s the realization that in order for especially the north and Nunavut to really a key role and tapping this very important resource, we must look at all processes to see if we could

Tuesday, October 31, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 3626 expedite that process throughout. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Your first supplementary, Mr. Simailak. Mr. Simailak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Premier for his response. I’m very glad he mentioned that Nunavut has 22 of the 31 critical minerals identified and they’re hopeful that we can do something about extracting them out of the territory. Mr. Speaker, a number of my colleagues have raised the issue of the draft Nunavut Land Use Plan during our current sitting.

It is my understanding that the Chamber of Mines and other stakeholders have raised serious concerns regarding the extent to which the draft land use plan, if approved in its current form, will prevent critical mineral deposits in Nunavut from being developed. Mr. Speaker, I recently had meetings with Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. back in the summertime and they specifically spoke to me about the draft land use plan. They do have major concerns about what was drafted up. In their opinion, it will drive away the mining sector from Nunavut. Mr.

Speaker, will the Premier assure the House today that the Government of Nunavut will not sign off on the draft land use plan until these concerns have been fully resolved? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Premier of Nunavut, Mr. Pauloosie Akeeagok. Hon. P.J. Akeeagok: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, I really appreciate the member’s interest around this. I think we’re all eagerly looking at the draft land use plan like my colleague here and it will require a whole-of-government viewpoint.

I, too, am aware of the concerns that have been brought forward both my Agnico among many other partners and stakeholders, who I believe want the land use plan to bring clarity about what areas are going to be protected and what areas are available for resource extraction in a sustainable way. To the member’s question, at this point in time, we are doing exactly that, we are deliberating from a whole of government led by my colleague here, who will really factor in those concerns that have been brought forward.

I trust, through the institution of public government process, where they held public hearings throughout the whole territory at these regional centres where stakeholders at that moment provided their concerns and suggestions. That record that has been provided to us and the letters that we have since received are going to be all factored in, and I look forward to working with my colleagues here to find that balance. As the member across is aware as well, it will require three signatures to get the draft land use plan.

With ourselves, we also have Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated as well as the federal government who will have to sign off on the draft land use plan. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Your second and final supplementary, Mr. Simailak.

Tuesday, October 31, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 3627 Mr. Simailak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Premier again for the detailed response. I am glad that you guys are looking at these very seriously and having, I’m sure, pretty good debates amongst yourselves. I do hope this government will not sign off on it. As I mentioned earlier, it will drive away the mining sector from our territory. Baker Lake, for the last 12 years, has enjoyed the pleasure of working for Agnico Eagle Mines. I currently have over 120 constituents working for Agnico Eagle Mines, along with subcontractors, at least a couple dozen more.

The Premier did mention that we currently have strong, stringent regulatory processes such as the Nunavut Impact Review Board and Nunavut Water Board that go through all of these applications. Mr. Speaker, the official announcement from the recent meeting of the Council of the Federation made specific reference to the potential of small modular nuclear reactors and uranium. Mr. Speaker, I do know there is a lot of concern and worries about uranium. Mr.

Speaker, once upon a time, about 15 years ago, a junior mining company wanted to explore for uranium near Baker Lake and the Nunavut Impact Review Board was brought in specifically on that application. There was community consultation to try to educate people and I spoke to my grandfather about this. Norman Attungala was a man of the land before there were communities, and he mentioned that people should not be worried that this was going to be near a traditional calving ground. My grandfather said that calving grounds will be moved from time to time. I’m getting to my point, Mr. Speaker.

As the Premier is aware, there have been early steps taken in Nunavut to exploring the feasibility of small modular nuclear reactors, which are safe and have tremendous potential to provide carbon- free power. As the Premier is also aware, the Kivalliq is rich in potential when it comes to uranium mining. Can the Premier confirm that the Government of Nunavut is open to responsible uranium mining in the territory? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Premier of Nunavut, Mr. Pauloosie Akeeagok. Hon. P.J. Akeeagok: Thank you, Mr.

Speaker. (interpretation) I would also like to thank my colleague because I went to Baker Lake when the first mine was opened and I was able to go and see it in person in 2015. I remember the warm welcome I received in Baker Lake. Last month, I found that there are a lot of Inuit who are working there and I’m proud of that. I want to recognize that Baker Lake has contributed a great deal to the mining industry.

During our meeting of premiers in Canada, we started talking about how we can look at our non-renewable resources that can help us develop economically, especially our deposits underground, and to assess our potential. In my report, I spoke about the minerals located inside Nunavut and that we have 22 different

Tuesday, October 31, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 3628 minerals out of the 31 critical minerals identified. These are part of our overall plan to administer all future mines and minerals as we believe in our institutions of public government created to deal with that. As long as the IPGs are used properly and our communities are engaged fruitfully as they form our foundations in looking at potential mines’ economic feasibility, we are open to future developments that can create economic development. However, we rely on the IPGs to oversee impacts.

We rely on the bodies that were created under the Nunavut Agreement as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Members, be aware that the time allotted for question period is now over. Mr. Malliki. Mr. Malliki (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I seek unanimous consent to extend oral questions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: The member is seeking unanimous consent to extend question period. Are there any nays? There are none. Question period is extended for another 30 minutes. Oral Questions. Member for Tununiq, Ms. Nutarak. Question 622 – 6(2): Departmental Positions (Nutarak) Ms.

Nutarak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank you for extending question period. (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Community and Government Services. As the minister is aware, Pond Inlet is a decentralized community. The minister’s department has a number of positions located in the community and I believe that it is very important that every effort be made to fill these positions with residents of the community. The minister recently provided me with a listing of departmental positions and vacancies in Pond Inlet.

I really appreciate the effort that he made to provide me with this detailed information. Mr. Speaker, a number of the department’s vacant positions in the community appear to be awaiting the allocation of a staff housing unit. Can the minister indicate how many new staff housing units are required in the community and can he clarify how his department is working with the Nunavut Housing Corporation to address this issue? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Hon. Minister of Community and Government Services, Mr. Joanasie. Hon. David Joanasie: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

My department continues to try to make some headway around our recruitment of vacancies, not just in Mittimatalik but many of our offices that are experiencing this. Mr. Speaker, I don’t have specific details on the number of staff housing units needed, but my department continues to work with the Department of Human Resources as well as the Nunavut Housing Corporation. My department as well as many other departments are trying to get those staff housing units available for our departmental needs and

Tuesday, October 31, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 3629 we are trying to do it as best we can. I don’t have that level of detail, unfortunately, but I can follow up with the member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Your first supplementary, Ms. Nutarak. Ms. Nutarak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you to the minister. Mr. Speaker, it is important that we foster healthy workplaces and it is important that we do everything possible to support the retention of good employees. Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding that there has recently been a high turnover in the department’s Pond Inlet office.

I believe that one of the important elements of workplace wellness is ensuring that new employees who are not from Nunavut receive a comprehensive orientation that includes intercultural awareness and communication. Mr. Speaker, can the minister indicate how his department’s decentralized offices work with the Department of Human Resources to provide community-specific and culturally- specific orientation to new employees? Speaker: Hon. Minister of Community and Government Services, Mr. Joanasie. Hon. David Joanasie: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

My department alongside Human Resources, when a new employee is put into their position, they go through orientation as well as other training that’s made available to the public service. Mr. Speaker, this is something that we will continue to address through our existing resources as well as look at how better to equip our employees around making sure that they’re in a comfortable environment. Mr. Speaker, I’ll work alongside my colleague here, Minister Nakashuk, and if there are any other details that my colleague would like to share, I would be more than willing to listen. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: Your second and final supplementary, Ms. Nutarak. Ms. Nutarak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, minister. I’m open to helping out and giving suggestions. Mr.

Speaker, the Minister of Human Resources recently announced that the Government of Nunavut is introducing a new “interim remote work policy.” In her announcement, the minister indicated that the policy is “aimed at providing government departments and public bodies with a temporary recruitment tool to hire a limited number of highly specialized, professional positions.” Can the Minister of Community and Government Services clarify how many of his department’s vacant positions in Pond Inlet may be eligible to be filled with non-residents of Nunavut as part of the government’s Remote Work Policy? Thank you, Mr.

Speaker. Speaker: Minister of Community and Government Services, Mr. Joanasie. Hon. David Joanasie: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My department has many

Tuesday, October 31, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 3630 specialized and very technical-related positions within the field and between the different divisions, but right now, through the work that Human Resources has led around remote work as well as Nunavut-wide work, those, I think, are interesting opportunities where our government would like to see some progress around filling vacancies and getting some productivity. Mr. Speaker, right now, we don’t have a flood.

I’ll say that there is a small pool that we’re starting to look at the fairly highly technical, specialized skill sets that fit this category and again, this would be on a temporary basis to try out and see how well it works. We hope to have good results on that and we look forward to the work in this area. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Oral Questions. Member for Arviat South, Mr. Savikataaq. Question 623 – 6(2): Boarding Home for Rankin Inlet (Savikataaq) Mr. Savikataaq (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the people of Arviat, I say “good day” to you. (interpretation ends) Mr.

Speaker, my questions will be for the Minister of Health, partly to do with his minister’s statement, boarding homes. Mr. Speaker, last week, there was an exchange from Member Sammurtok and Member Malliki about looking at establishing a boarding home in Rankin Inlet, and after that exchange, lots of Arviarmiut were concerned and were disappointed with the outcome of the exchange between the Minister of Health and the MLAs, saying that the numbers don’t warrant establishing a boarding home in Rankin Inlet.

I don’t know if the minister’s numbers were just medical travel going to Rankin Inlet or if it included medical travel from Kivalliq communities going to Winnipeg and from Winnipeg. When there are transportation complications, they have to overnight there, but I will go to the numbers. Mr. Speaker, my first question to the minister is: what are the numbers for medical travel to Rankin Inlet compared to the boarding home in Churchill, Manitoba, which has five full-time employees in Churchill, Manitoba? Are there more medical patients going to and through Rankin Inlet and Churchill or Churchill?

What are the numbers comparing Churchill and Rankin Inlet? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Hon. Minister of Health, Mr. Main. Hon. John Main (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank the member for that question on this issue. I heard three questions there, so I’ll try to respond in part. The boarding home that the member referred to that is located in Churchill is the only one being operated by the government. It is generally used for dental patients. We are concerned about the fact that there’s not much use for the boarding home in Churchill right now.

People who need dental surgery, especially children, are generally sent to Churchill. There are many children who need dental work and there is a long waiting list of children. Looking at our

Tuesday, October 31, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 3631 numbers, there are just not enough numbers of people to justify it. Many of our children require pediatric dental care and we have quite a number of them on a waiting list. The numbers are being checked to determine how to lower them as it is a big problem. Our children require dental surgery in many cases at the (interpretation ends) pediatric dental clinic, (interpretation) where they are given general anesthesia for surgery.

We need to provide better dental care for our children and we are looking very hard to lower the numbers of our children requiring dental surgery. We send out children to Churchill and to other such places as Winnipeg, Ottawa, and Iqaluit. We are concerned about the numbers at the boarding home in Churchill, but we need to keep providing services out of Churchill for dental surgery procedures. This is the main use for the facility in Churchill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Your first supplementary, Mr. Savikataaq. Mr. Savikataaq (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The minister did not respond to my question. I was asking which one has more patients, Rankin Inlet or Churchill. Are there more medical travel patients that are going through Rankin Inlet or going through Churchill? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Minister of Health, Mr. Main. Hon. John Main (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know that this is not the first time we have heard about Rankin Inlet wanting a medical boarding home. The questions were posed to the Department of Health. I met with the health officials and we started research on the figures and the numbers of the patients.

The staff of the Department of Health had stated that the patients going through Rankin Inlet, perhaps, would be approximately three per night. That would be average. (interpretation ends) The average number for the medical travel into Rankin Inlet, and this is the result of very close monitoring in recent times, is a nightly average of three medical travellers. As was previously explained in the House, if we are going to set up a new boarding home, we would need to work with Indigenous Services Canada.

If we go into a room and we sit down with Indigenous Services Canada and we say, “We want to establish a boarding home in Rankin Inlet,” the first thing they’re going to ask us is, “What’s the demand? What are your numbers? How do you justify this?” I’m not sure what the member would like me to say or might like my staff to say when we can quote an average nightly need for three rooms. What’s going to happen and what has happened is we are told to use hotels. That’s what we use in Cambridge Bay. That’s what we use in Rankin Inlet.

We have a very important duty to take care of medical travellers and that’s what we do and we make sure that they are taken care of from when they leave their home, when they go to their appointment, and when they come back. We have other priorities we’re trying to deal with in Nunavut. We’re trying to deal with mental health. We’re trying to deal with public health; tuberculosis. We’re trying to deal with many different

Tuesday, October 31, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 3632 things. If the member would like a boarding home in Rankin Inlet to be a priority, perhaps the member should suggest something that we should take off of our list to make room to address this need that is perceived. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Your second and final supplementary, Mr. Savikataaq. Mr. Savikataaq: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The minister is still not alluding to the medical travel numbers between Rankin Inlet and Churchill.

If the minister is suggesting that I ask what to take off, my suggestion would be to shut down the boarding home in Churchill and move it or make another one in Rankin Inlet. I believe the boarding home in Churchill is underutilized and the minister has stated that it’s only used for dental travel. I don’t know if there are three patients per night in Churchill where the government is operating a boarding home.

If the numbers are the reason they can’t build a boarding home for my constituents for travel purposes when there are travel complications, the minister wanted suggestions, then I’ll ask the minister: will the minister shut down the Churchill boarding home in place of building one in Rankin Inlet? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Minister of Health, Mr. Main. Hon. John Main (interpretation): Thank you, Mr.

Speaker. (interpretation ends) As in indicated in my first response, we have a high waiting list for pediatric dental surgery and if we were to shut down the boarding home in Churchill, it could impact our important work to address the backlogs in pediatric dental surgery. These are children with very serious dental issues and so I don’t think that shutting down a boarding home would be a good idea. We are concerned with the underutilization of the Churchill boarding home and we are examining options with regard to the Churchill boarding home.

Another concern that we have with the Churchill boarding home is regarding the building itself. We don’t own the building; it’s leased, actually, from the education authority in Churchill. It’s a concern for us in terms of the utilization of that facility and like I had mentioned in this House, the numbers have to be there to justify a facility and, if it’s underutilized, then we have to look at options. That’s what we’re doing right now with regard to Churchill.

However, we do also have to balance that with the very real and pressing medical needs that can be addressed through that operating room and through our partners in Manitoba with regard to pediatric dental surgery. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Oral Questions. Member for Iqaluit-Sinaa, Ms. Brewster. Question 624 – 6(2): Child Sexual Abuse (Brewster) Ms. Brewster: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for the opportunity to ask questions a second time today. My questions are for the Minister of Health. I realize he was a little bit emotional just a minute ago and I hope

Tuesday, October 31, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 3633 he understands that I’m not targeting him. Mr. Speaker, the Inuit Health Survey in 2007 and 2008 indicated that over half of Inuit women, 52 percent of Inuit adult women and 22 percent of adult Inuit men had experienced severe sexual abuse in childhood. Mr. Speaker, we know that experiencing sexual abuse in childhood often leads to committing sexual abuse in adulthood.

My question to the minister today is whether or not the Department of Health is tracking the number or doing injury surveillance related to child sexual assaults and whether or not that surveillance information can be made available to the regular members. That’s injury surveillance on child sexual assaults by parents, caregivers, spouse, partner, or anyone else. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Hon. Minister of Health, Mr. Main. Hon. John Main (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I thank the member for raising this issue.

I think the exchange with Member Lightstone and Minister Nakashuk was important in my opinion and it’s very difficult to talk about these issues, but they need to be discussed and so I thank the member for raising this issue.

There are protocols in place within the department in terms of how we deal with medical needs related to sexual assaults, whether it be on minors or whether it be on adults, but in terms of the specific question around data and how we can share that data, it’s something that I am currently not aware of what specific statistics could be pulled out and whether or not those statistics would be able to be shared. As I mentioned, I do appreciate the question on this issue and it’s something that I can commit to looking into further and responding to the member or the members.

If the member would prefer that the response go to all members, then that’s what I can certainly commit to looking into. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Your first supplementary, Ms. Brewster. Ms. Brewster: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, minister. I would prefer that the information go to all members. We’re a pretty good team, I think, and the more information we have, the better it is for all of us. If the minister will excuse the fact that I can’t quote or can’t tell you where I’m quoting these rates from at the moment because I just hastily pulled together these questions, Mr.

Speaker, in my research just now, I pulled up some information and I think it says as far back as 2004 that Nunavut’s chlamydia and gonorrhea rates were 20 times higher than the national average and being highest amongst adolescents. In that same piece of research that I found, it stated that 20 percent of Nunavut’s school children have been treated for sexually transmitted infections. Mr. Speaker, I can tell you from my experience being the manager of health protection where the team reported back to me and where we were responsible for collecting this data at that time that the

Tuesday, October 31, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 3634 rates are alarming; they’re shocking. I would like to also ask the Minister of Health if he is able to provide more up- to-date data on those sexually transmitted infections and I’m not talking about congenital infections, which is infections that babies are born with, usually transmitted by the mom. I’m talking about sexually transmitted infections that an infant or a child might catch from an individual who is doing harm to them. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Minister of Health, Mr. Main. Hon. John Main (interpretation): Thank you, Mr.

Speaker. (interpretation ends) In terms of the chief public health officer’s duties, I can share that sexually transmitted infections in Nunavut are a key concern and the Department of Health is committed to improving the public health reporting so that we can keep Nunavummiut up to date in terms of public health issues. Health is currently working on a status report on the three most common sexually transmitted infections in Nunavut, which are gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis. The report is currently being translated for publication and I look forward to seeing that being published and made available.

That report will provide the statistics the hon. member is looking for. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Your second and final supplementary, Ms. Brewster. Ms. Brewster: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Minister Main, over the course of my career, I had the great pleasure of working with Dr. Allison Crawford, who I’m not sure if she is still the Director of Northern Psychiatric Outreach Program for the Centre of Addictions and Mental Health in Toronto, but I know she did work with us in that capacity.

At one point, she said that “The degree of childhood abuse is something I think is talked about even less than suicide.” She testified at the suicide inquest that occurred here a few years ago and she said that it’s still present and prevalent in communities. Mr. Speaker, we know that child sexual abuse in particular is often a determinant that ends in suicide for those who experience it. My question to the minister is whether or not the new Nunavut Recovery Centre will have a team and a program to help children and adults who have experienced sexual abuse. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Minister of Health, Mr.

Main. Hon. John Main (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank the member for asking those questions as they go hand in hand. Suicide prevention and sexual abuse need help through the mental health program. We know that children who are sexually abused are closer to committing suicide at any point throughout their life and they are at a greater risk of danger. (interpretation ends) In terms of Aqqusariaq and the specific questions around the programming that will be offered there, it’s a really good question. The programming side of Aqqusariaq Nunavut Recovery Centre has not yet been finalized.

We have an amazing team. There are actually several committees that are working on

Tuesday, October 31, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 3635 developing the programming for the facility. We have really placed an emphasis on putting Inuit societal values and Inuit culture at the forefront of that. As the Aqqusariaq development team continues their work, I’m really looking forward to seeing what types of programming they’re going to be recommending or developing to use within the facility.

I have already committed to look into something for the member, so I can commit to looking into the work to date and whether child sexual abuse has been singled out or highlighted to date through the development team’s work. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Oral Questions. Member for Baker Lake, Mr. Simailak. Question 625 – 6(2): Diseased Wildlife Monitoring (Simailak) Mr. Simailak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for recognizing me again, especially since I missed four days last week for medical travel. Mr.

Speaker, I would like to ask my questions to the Minister of Environment regarding his minister’s statement of yesterday on wildlife diseases monitoring of caribou. On the second page of his statement at the very top, “…the Kitikmeot sample confirmed parasitic disease. These suspected parasites are causing inflammation/swelling of muscles and connective tissues.” I’m wondering: is there a known cause as to why these caribou are getting these kinds of sicknesses? Is there a standard reason for something like this? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Hon. Minister of Environment, Mr. Qavvik. Hon.

Daniel Qavvik: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Over the years, hunters have reported diseases within caribou, but it’s very rare for reporting of wildlife diseases within the territory for caribou management. For the member’s question, I sincerely have no information as to how I can share it as that information is not in front of me. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Your first supplementary, Mr. Simailak. Mr. Simailak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, minister. I do hope that if the department does find out, he will relay that information to me. Mr.

Speaker, going on, on the same page in the next paragraph, he mentions that his “department is still awaiting the diagnostic results from the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative (CWHC) for the Kivalliq sample.” Mr. Speaker, I’m wondering: when he receives the results, will he be publicizing that to Kivallirmiut? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Minister of Environment, Mr. Qavvik. Hon. Daniel Qavvik: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the member for that question. Mr.

Speaker, I can commit the Department of Environment to make a public service announcement in terms of how it can work together with communities in terms of reporting

Tuesday, October 31, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 3636 through caribou harvesting. I will keep the member informed when the results do come from the laboratories that were sent to Canadian southern counterparts. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Your second and final supplementary, Mr. Simailak. Mr. Simailak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the minister for his commitment.

Going on again on the same page, he mentions that they “continue to work with wildlife and other disease experts and the regional environmental health officers to coordinate further response.” I’m wondering: does the minister also have a working collaboration with our neighbouring regions, such as the Northwest Territories, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan? I believe we share some caribou with those regions and, if he does, whether or not they are noticing more illnesses in caribou. I’m wondering: can I get an answer from that? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Minister of Environment, Mr. Qavvik. Hon.

Daniel Qavvik: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We do have a close working relationship with our neighbouring jurisdictions of the Northwest Territories, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan in terms of caribou management, but they do have their own ways of managing caribou within their jurisdiction. We work closely with our neighbours, as I stated, and we will continue to be proactive in working with our counterparts for the betterment of our caribou population across the territory. I can get back to the member as well in terms of how we work together with our neighbouring jurisdictions, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Speaker: Members, be aware that the time allotted for question period is now over. Today was a long-winded day of questions and long-winded day of answers on important topics, but maybe only because the blizzard never arrived. >>Laughter Item 7. Written Questions. Item 8. Returns to Written Questions. Item 9. Replies to Opening Address. Item 10. Petitions. Item 11. Responses to Petitions. Item 12. Reports of Standing and Special Committees on Bills and Other Matters. Item 13. Tabling of Documents. Item 14. Notices of Motions. Item 15. Notices of Motions for First Reading of Bills. Item 16. Motions. Item 17.

First Reading of Bills. Item 18. Second Reading of Bills. Item 19. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters. Bills 31, 32, and 33 and Tabled Documents 1 – 6(2), 120 – 6(2), 163 – 6(2), and 174 – 6(2) with Mr. Hickes in the Chair. Before we proceed with the Committee of the Whole, we will take a 20-minute break. Sergeant-at-Arms. >>House recessed at 15:57 and Committee resumed at 16:22 Item 19: Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters Chairman (Mr. Hickes): Thank you. I would like to call the committee meeting to order. In Committee of the Whole, we

Tuesday, October 31, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 3637 have the following items to deal with: Bills 31, 32, and 33 and Tabled Documents 1 – 6(2), 120 – 6(2), 163 – 6(2), and 174 – 6(2). What is the wish of the committee? Mr. Malliki. Mr. Malliki: Mr. Chairman, we wish to continue with Bill 31 and continue with the review of the 2024-25 capital appropriation for the Department of Health and, if time permits, we will commence with the Department of Finance. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Thank you. Is the committee in agreement that we first deal with Bill 31? Some Members: Agreed.

Bill 31 – Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2024-2025 – Health – Consideration in Committee Chairman: Thank you. Minister Main, do you have any officials that you would like to appear before you in committee? Hon. John Main (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, I do. Thank you. Chairman: Thank you. Does the committee agree to allow the minister’s witnesses to appear before the committee? Some Members: Agreed. Chairman: Thank you. Sergeant-at- Arms, please escort the witnesses in. Thank you. Just for the record, Minister Main, if you could introduce your officials. Hon.

John Main (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) To my right, your left, is Deputy Minister Megan Hunt; to my left, your right, Greg Babstock, Executive Director of Corporate Services. (interpretation) Thank you. Chairman: Thank you. We left off yesterday just right after both the minister and the chair of the standing committee provided opening comments. I’ll open the floor right now to general comments to the opening comments. Mr. Malliki. Mr. Malliki (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to welcome the minister and his officials here.

During the minister’s opening comments, he stated that they want to build facilities for elders so that they can be closer to their home communities. However, the elders that I’ve heard from want to be in their own communities. That’s the comment. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Chairman: Thank you. Any other general comments to the Opening Comments? I see none. I’ll open the floor for comments on Directorate. Department of Health, $21,720,000. Mr. Malliki, I believe you had some questions as well? My apologies. Mr. Lightstone. Mr. Lightstone: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good evening minister, Ms. Hunt and Mr. Babstock.

Before going into my question, I’ll start off with a comment. I was very happy to receive the last-minute addition to your capital request for the Qikiqtaaluk and

Tuesday, October 31, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 3638 Kitikmeot regional long-term care facilities. I was worried when I did not see this in the initial budget one committee had reviewed earlier in the fall, I was a bit concerned about the timeline of these projects, but again I am very happy to see that the Department of Health was able to submit or include these two projects in the current upcoming capital budget.

Along the lines of the long-term care facilities, in your opening comments you state that on page two, that the long-term care facility in Rankin Inlet substantial completion is now expected in January, and first cohort is expected to take place in the new home in spring of 2024. This is excellent; all three of these long- term care facilities are very excellent projects and I appreciate your comment to enhance the other elders’ facilities in other communities as well.

One thing that I have been raising about this Rankin Inlet long-term care facility is the training and the employment aspect which would be necessary to bring this facility online. Forgive me, Mr. Chairman, this is sort of borderline operations and maintenance, but the incremental O&M aspects are tied to this capital project, so if you will let me, I would like to ask the minister if he would be able to update us on the progress in filling the positions in the Rankin Inlet long-term care fancily? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Lightstone.

I will give you a bit of leeway here as it is directly tied to capital infrastructure that’s nearing completion. I can speak I’m sure for all of us that we don’t want any major piece of infrastructure like that sitting there without an operation plan or without staff. I will allow this question but be careful how far you go down it. Minister Main. Hon. John Main (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you to the member for the questions.

Requests for proposals for the operations of the Rankin Inlet elders facility to be a private facility and not to be run by the government but to be run privately, that would be our main desire. The request for proposals has a closing date of today, so we will see if it’s trick or treat once it’s closed. (interpretation ends) I think, from a high level, we are hoping that the request for proposals will close successfully, but at this point it’s too early to say.

We do really see value in collaborating with the private sector where possible and I think this is one of those situations. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Thank you. Mr. Lightstone. Mr. Lightstone: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, minister, for providing that update. I really hope that the RFP will be successful. I would hate for the Department of Health to come along with a similar situation as the Department of Economic Development and Transportation with their proposal to operate the deep sea port here in Iqaluit.

Again, I wish you success in this RFP and would hate to have that threatened,

Tuesday, October 31, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 3639 the potential timeline for opening that facility. I’ll move on to my next line of questioning in relation to the Nunavut recovery centre, Aqqusariaq. The Department of Health is still trying to determine who will operate this facility as well. When will the Department of Health make a determination on that aspect? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Thank you. Minister Main. Hon. John Main (interpretation): Thank you, Mr.

Chairman. (interpretation ends) Aqqusariaq I think, is a very important project for the Department of Health and the territory as a whole, and from the beginning, it’s been a trilateral project between Nunavut Tunngavik, Indigenous Services Canada and us. In terms of the governance and the operations of the facility, we’ve been evaluating a number of options, and recently, a decision was made to go down the road towards a non-profit governance structure, and so that’s the avenue that we are now pursuing. The groundwork is happening there at the site of Aqqusariaq.

It’s really exciting to see, and the ground-breaking that we had, the tundra turning this summer was a real kind of touching event due to all the special people who were there, including some residential school survivors, as well as some people with really extensive lived experience. It was a really happy moment for the Department of Health. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Thank you. Mr. Lightstone. Mr. Lightstone: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

People in Iqaluit have been raising concerns in recent years over the issue of public safety, and many of those concerns are fueled by those suffering from addictions and mental health issues, which do require a complex needs. Unfortunately, the subgroup of people in Iqaluit has fallen through the cracks and really hasn’t been provided with many options to assist them in their road to recovery and making the right choice. The topic of programming in Aqqusariaq has come up on numerous occasions.

I am wondering if, throughout the discussions, the Department of Health has had with the tripartite group, if the complex needs of those individuals in Iqaluit suffering with addictions and mental health issues have been included. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Thank you. Minister Main. Hon. John Main (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) Yes, there’s been representation from the community of Iqaluit on the development team, and some of the non- profit groups locally ha