Nunavut Hansard — 26 May 2023 (6th Assembly, 2nd Session, Day 44, Official Report, pp. 2857–2902)

2023-05-26, 6th Assembly 2nd Session, Day 44

Nunavut — Debates (Hansard)

Nunavut Canada LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF NUNAVUT 2nd Session 6th Assembly HANSARD Official Report DAY 44 Friday, May 26, 2023 Pages 2857 – 2902 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 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; Minister responsible for the Qulliq Energy Corporation Bobby Anavilok (Kugluktuk) Janet Brewster (Iqaluit-Sinaa) Hon. Pamela Gross (Cambridge Bay) Deputy Premier; Minister of Culture and Heritage; Minister of Education; Minister of Languages; 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 Joelie Kaernerk (Amittuq) 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) Daniel Qavvik (Hudson Bay) Hon.

Joanna Quassa (Aggu) Minister of Energy; Minister of Environment; Minister responsible for Nunavut Arctic College Inagayuk Quqqiaq (Netsilik) Alexander Sammurtok (Rankin Inlet North-Chesterfield Inlet) Joe Savikataaq (Arviat South) Deputy Chair, Committee of the Whole Craig Simailak (Baker Lake) Website: www.assembly.nu.ca

Table of Contents Opening Prayer ...........................................................................................................................2857 Ministers’ Statements .................................................................................................................2857 Members’ Statements .................................................................................................................2863 Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery ........................................................................................2868 Oral Questions ............................................................................................................................2869 Tabling of Documents ................................................................................................................2899 Motions .......................................................................................................................................2899 Second Reading of Bills .............................................................................................................2900 Orders of the Day .......................................................................................................................2902

A. Daily References Friday, May 26, 2023 .................................................................................................................2857 B.

Ministers’ Statements 227 – 6(2): Cabinet Holds “Nunavut on the Hill” Meeting Series (Akeeagok, P) .....................2857 228 – 6(2): Safe Sleep Campaign (Main) ...................................................................................2858 229 – 6(2): Early Learning and Child Care Database (Gross)....................................................2859 230 – 6(2): Notice of Minimum Wage Consultations (Akeeagok, D) .......................................2860 231 – 6(2): Emergency Preparedness Week (Joanasie) ..............................................................2860 232 – 6(2): Lancaster Sound Polar Bear Subpopulation Survey (Quassa) .................................2861 233 – 6(2): Safety Certificate Course for Young Workers (Nakashuk) .....................................2862 C.

Members’ Statements 295 – 6(2): Pirurvik Graduates of Pond Inlet (Nutarak) .............................................................2863 296 – 6(2): Successful Whale Hunt in Sanikiluaq (Qavvik) ......................................................2863 297 – 6(2): Commissioner’s Award Recipients (Malliki) ..........................................................2864 298 – 6(2): Successful Search and Rescue in Chesterfield Inlet (Sammurtok) ..........................2865 299 – 6(2): Taloyoak School Status (Quqqiaq) ..........................................................................2865 300 – 6(2): Resolute Bay High School Graduates (Akeeagok, D) .............................................2865 301 – 6(2): Ethan Manning of Kinngait (Joanasie) ....................................................................2866 302 – 6(2): Recent Death of Father-in-Law (Gross) ..................................................................2867 303 – 6(2): Fishing Derby in Pangnirtung (Nakashuk) ..............................................................2867 304 – 6(2): Tribute to the Toronto Maple Leafs (Main) .............................................................2867

D.

Oral Questions 448 – 6(2): Transient Employees (Lightstone) ...........................................................................2869 449 – 6(2): Municipal Parking Garage Program (Qavvik) .........................................................2871 450 – 6(2): Expanding Community-based Home Care (Nutarak) ..............................................2873 451 – 6(2): Income Assistance Rates (Simailak)........................................................................2875 452 – 6(2): Boarding Home Contracts (Kaernerk) .....................................................................2877 453 – 6(2): Local Housing Organization Governance (Brewster)..............................................2879 454 – 6(2): Kugluktuk Power Plant (Anavilok) .........................................................................2882 455 – 6(2): Issues with Medical Travel (Quqqiaq) .....................................................................2884 456 – 6(2): Request for Mobile Equipment (Sammurtok) .........................................................2886 457 – 6(2): Nunavut 3000 Housing Strategy (Malliki) ..............................................................2888 458 – 6(2): Funding for Mental Health Programs (Hickes) .......................................................2889 459 – 6(2): Future Plans for Full-day Kindergarten (Killiktee) .................................................2891 460 – 6(2): Water Infrastructure (Brewster) ...............................................................................2895 461 – 6(2): “Nunavut on the Hill” Meetings (Savikataaq) .........................................................2897 E.

Tabling of Documents 135 – 6(2): 2019-2020 Legal Services Board Annual Report (Akeeagok, D) ...........................2899 136 – 6(2): 2020-21 Legal Services Board Annual Report (Akeeagok, D) ...............................2899 F. Motions 017 – 6(2): Appointment of the Chief Electoral Officer of Nunavut (Savikataaq) ....................2899 018 – 6(2): Early Adjournment (Savikataaq) .............................................................................2902

G. Bills Bill 22 –

An Act to Amend the Mental Health Act – Second Reading ......................................2900 Bill 23 – Nursing Professions Act – Second Reading ................................................................2900 Bill 24 – Supplementary Appropriation (Operations and Maintenance) Act, No. 1, 2023-2024 – Second Reading ...................................................................................................................2901 Bill 25 – Supplementary Appropriation (Capital) Act, No. 2, 2023-2024 – Second Reading ...2901

Friday, May 26, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 2857 Iqaluit, Nunavut Friday, May 26, 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, Mr. Joelie Kaernerk, Ms. Mary Killiktee, Hon. Lorne Kusugak, Mr. Adam Lightstone, Hon. John Main, Mr. Solomon Malliki, Hon. Margaret Nakashuk, Ms. Karen Nutarak, Mr. Daniel Qavvik, Hon. Joanna Quassa, Mr. Inagayuk Quqqiaq, Mr. Alexander Sammurtok, Mr. Joe Savikataaq, Mr. Craig Simailak. >>House commenced at 9:00 Item 1: Opening Prayer Speaker (Hon.

Tony Akoak) (interpretation): Let us pray. >>Prayer Speaker (interpretation): Good morning, my colleagues. At least it’s now Friday. (interpretation ends) Item 2. Ministers’ Statements. Hon. Premier of Nunavut, Mr. Pauloosie Akeeagok. Item 2: Ministers’ Statements Minister’s Statement 227 – 6(2): Cabinet Holds “Nunavut on the Hill” Meeting Series (Akeeagok,

P) Hon. P.J. Akeeagok (interpretation): Good morning, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. I say “good morning” to my fellow MLAs and Nunavummiut who are listening to the proceedings. (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, the Qulliq Energy Corporation is excited to announce that the corporation’s brand- new head office in Qamani’tuaq is open for business. The utility administrative employees and services are now available at 3091-6th Street for the customers wishing to pay their bills or make enquiries in person.

Its construction is a testament to the QEC’s significant investments in better serving customers across the territory and supporting the local communities. The new facility also marks an important milestone for the corporation and its employees and the introduction of a unified and organized work environment that is of better benefit to staff experience and demonstrates the corporation’s commitment to building space, improve… . (interpretation) Do I have the wrong document? Do you have a different copy?

I’m sorry. (interpretation ends) I grabbed the other one. (interpretation) With your permission, (interpretation ends) if I could restart. My apologies to the members here. (interpretation) Is it okay, Mr. Speaker? I do apologize. (interpretation ends) My apologies there, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation) Shall I continue? (interpretation ends) My sincere apologies there. I got a little too excited to announce that particular one. >>Laughter Mr.

Speaker, I am pleased to report that cabinet met with our federal counterparts in Ottawa on May 1 and 2 for a set of meetings we called “Nunavut on the Hill.” Our ministers promoted the priorities of Katujjiluta in meetings with

Friday, May 26, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 2858 the 15 federal departments, including the Department of Health, Justice, Housing, Infrastructure, as well as National Defence. Mr. Speaker, on May 2 I met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and we discussed our efforts to build more housing, bolster health care, engage on arctic security and sovereignty, and transfer authority over Nunavut’s lands and waters through devolution. The Prime Minister also acknowledged the efforts of our cabinet to increase partnerships with Canada through our “Nunavut on the Hill” event.

In our meetings, the Prime Minister and his cabinet acknowledged the unique realities of our communities, where a lack of immediate investment means Nunavummiut face daily challenges with adequate housing, health and wellness, access to education, limited local economies, and poor supports for the aging. Mr. Speaker, on the last point, I was fortunate to meet with Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Dominic Leblanc, who is keen to work with us to bring our elders home back to Nunavut. Mr. Speaker, we want Canada to know we are investing our own equity in solutions for Nunavut.

We are confident that our current budget will make an impact in these mandate areas, especially for housing builds this summer, but we will need further investments from Canada and want to ensure space is made for Nunavut in the recent federal budget. My fellow northern premiers and I have been clear that the territories need specific carve-outs for the north. Mr. Speaker, with that, I’m pleased to say that similar meetings occurred between Canada and the governments of Yukon and the Northwest Territories. I’m encouraged to know the north is being heard in Ottawa.

We hope that this event will spark conversations at a federal level about development in the Arctic. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. >>Applause Speaker: Ministers’ Statements. Hon. Minister of Health, Mr. Main. Minister’s Statement 228 – 6(2): Safe Sleep Campaign (Main) Hon. John Main (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good morning, my colleagues and Nunavummiut. Mr.

Speaker, the Department of Health is continuing to develop resources and training sessions to promote safe practices while considering Inuit societal values for maternal and child health programs. (interpretation ends) The Baby’s Safe Sleep Campaign was launched in January 2023 and is currently implementing territory-wide training for nurses and support staff on best practices for infant safe sleep. An evaluation completed in collaboration with the coroner’s office identified six high-risk communities that will receive community-wide training sessions supported by health professionals.

The initial training will occur face to face in each community led by a health care practitioner. This training will be

Friday, May 26, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 2859 combined with community gatherings to increase awareness about safe sleep practices, tools, and methods to ensure the safety of infants while sleeping. The final stage of this campaign is to refine and redevelop the existing Newborn Wellness Program. The goal is to provide every expectant parent in Nunavut with a care package to ensure infant safe sleep, reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), and improve overall maternal and child health outcomes.

Items in this care package will include an infant sleep sack, health care kit, and printed resources on how to provide a safe sleep environment for their newborn. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. >>Applause Speaker: Ministers’ Statements. Hon. Minister of Education, Ms. Gross. Minister’s Statement 229 – 6(2): Early Learning and Child Care Database (Gross) Hon. Pamela Gross: Ullaakkut and quana, Mr. Speaker. Good morning to Nunavummiut and everyone here in the House with us today. Mr.

Speaker, in January 2022 our government signed the Canada-Nunavut Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement with the federal government. This agreement secured $66 million over five years to support families, licensed child care centres, and child care workers in Nunavut. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to inform the members that the Department of Education has fulfilled its commitment to create an early learning and child care database. This database will track information on licensed child care in Nunavut and support our ability to report that information. Mr.

Speaker, I am excited to share that the database will track the number of licensed child care centres and the number of spaces, the number of children and parents benefiting from child care, the number of child care workers, their years of experience, and their qualifications, and more. This will allow us to better target training for child care staff, wage subsidies, and other child care support programs that will support the positive transformation of the sector.

This functioning database means that we will have robust reporting data to share with Nunavummiut, and to demonstrate if we are achieving our goals of creating a more affordable, accessible and inclusive quality child care system. The database will also ensure that we can meet our funding reporting requirements. Mr. Speaker, the database is an accountability tool. We will be able to measure our progress and make corrections if we are not achieving the results that were expected. We will know when we are achieving the expected results and be able to celebrate those successes with Nunavummiut. Quana, Mr.

Speaker. >>Applause

Friday, May 26, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 2860 Speaker: Ministers’ Statements. Hon. Minister of Justice, Mr. David Akeeagok. Minister’s Statement 230 – 6(2): Notice of Minimum Wage Consultations (Akeeagok,

D) Hon. David Akeeagok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) The Department of Justice, through the Labour Standards Act, is responsible for the review of the minimum wage. The minimum wage was last increased in 2020 to $16 an hour for Nunavut workers. The increase was passed following consultations in the fall of 2019 and based on research about minimum wages in other jurisdictions across the country. Mr.

Speaker, the government is aware that high inflation has added to the already high cost of living in Nunavut, and we have therefore commenced a thorough review of the current minimum wage to determine if it is meeting the needs of Nunavummiut. The review includes a detailed economic analysis, cost of living assessment, and jurisdictional review, which has begun, and will include a public survey which will gauge the views of Nunavummiut, employees, and businesses regarding potential changes to the current minimum wage.

The survey should be publicly accessible in various forms over the summer and the department will issue a public service announcement with information about where and how Nunavummiut can access the survey. The final recommendation report should be completed in the fall and will determine the suitability of the current minimum wage and what changes may need to occur to ensure a healthy standard of living for employees throughout Nunavut. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. >>Applause Speaker: Ministers’ Statements. Hon. Minister of Community and Government Services, Mr. Joanasie.

Minister’s Statement 231 – 6(2): Emergency Preparedness Week (Joanasie) Hon. David Joanasie (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good morning, Nunavummiut and members. Mr. Speaker, as the minister responsible for Nunavut’s Emergency Measures Act, I want to reflect on Emergency Preparedness Week which took place from May 7 to May 13, 2023, with the theme “Be Prepared. Know your Risks.” This Emergency Preparedness Week has been a national awareness initiative since 1996 to encourage all Canadians to enhance their preparedness for potential emergencies. Mr.

Speaker, Nunavummiut must examine their role in emergency preparedness at the community level, with the involvement of local governments, emergency services, volunteers, media, health institutions, and schools. It is vital to take action and be prepared for potential climate disasters or other emergencies, with a plan in place to respond quickly and

Friday, May 26, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 2861 protect family, community, and property. (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, during emergencies, emergency personnel can only respond to critical needs in the initial stages. Thus, everyone must be capable of looking after themselves and their families during the initial 72 hours of any emergency. Mr. Speaker, generations of Nunavummiut have learned from their experience on the land that being ready for unforeseen circumstances is a collective responsibility.

I urge all residents to take necessary steps towards emergency preparedness by creating a plan, assembling an emergency kit, and reviewing their personal plans to ensure readiness in case of an emergency. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. >>Applause Speaker: Ministers’ Statements. Hon. Minister of Environment, Ms. Quassa. Minister’s Statement 232 – 6(2): Lancaster Sound Polar Bear Subpopulation Survey (Quassa) Hon. Joanna Quassa (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good morning to all Nunavummiut and my colleagues. Mr.

Speaker, I would like to inform the House that my department has successfully completed a hybrid survey of the Lancaster Sound polar bear subpopulation. It has been 26 years since the last survey of the subpopulation was completed. Up- to-date population estimates ensure appropriate management and helps maintain international support for the export of trophies and hides from the subpopulation. This provides economic benefits to the affected communities, as sport hunts make up approximately 28 percent of the harvest from this subpopulation. Mr.

Speaker, the survey of Lancaster Sound was initiated in 2021 and cancelled due to the tragic helicopter crash that claimed the lives of all on board. This project was reinitiated in March 2023, following consultations with all affected communities. My department conducted consultations with the hunters and trappers organizations in Arctic Bay, Grise Fiord, and Resolute Bay this past October. These communities supported a hybrid survey which includes both minimally invasive biopsy darting and an aerial abundance survey.

My department has taken the concerns brought forward by Nunavummiut over wildlife handling seriously and, as a result, developed alternative monitoring tools that are less invasive. This survey took place from March 6 to March 29, 2023 and was undertaken by helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft using these less invasive methods. Hunters and trappers organization representatives from all three affected communities participated in the program. I would like to thank the hunters and trappers organizations for their time, support, and participation. Mr. Speaker, Nunavut manages over 60 percent of the world’s polar bears.

Nunavut is a leader in the circumpolar world in the development and use of alternative methods for polar bear research, balancing our need for information and the concerns of

Friday, May 26, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 2862 Nunavummiut regarding the handling of animals. Staff are working hard to ensure that this important resource is managed appropriately. Analysis of the Lancaster Sound data is underway and we anticipate that results from this important work will be available in approximately a years’ time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. >>Applause Speaker: Ministers’ Statements. Hon. Minister responsible for the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission, Ms. Nakashuk. Minister’s Statement 233 – 6(2): Safety Certificate Course for Young Workers (Nakashuk) Hon.

Margaret Nakashuk (interpretation): Good morning. (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to highlight the work that the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission continues to do to keep young workers across the north safe on the job. While workers of any age can be injured, data shows that workers under the age of 25 are at a higher risk of getting hurt at work due to a lack of experience, awareness, or proper training. As part of their Young Workers Program, the commission developed the Young Workers Certificate Course.

It is a free, online safety course for young workers and is ideal for employers to include in the onboarding process for young workers as an addition to site- specific safety training. The program is designed to assist employers to properly train and supervise the young workers they hire and to help youth learn about their rights as workers and their own role in workplace safety. There is an offline version available upon request for those who have limited or slow Internet access.

This two-hour interactive e- course is fully available in English, French, and Inuktitut. (interpretation) Teachers and parents are encouraged to talk to the young people in their lives who are thinking of getting their first part-time job. Completion of the certificate course… . I apologize, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement. Thank you. Speaker: The minister is seeking unanimous consent to conclude her statement. Are there any nays? There are none. Please continue, Ms. Nakashuk. Hon. Margaret Nakashuk (interpretation): Thank you, my fellow MLAs.

Completion of the certificate course can provide some piece of mind that they know about workplace safety and how to advocate for themselves. Once participants complete the course, they receive a certificate that makes an excellent addition to any budding worker’s resumé. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to share this resource with their constituents so that youth in Nunavut are prepared to work safely. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. >>Applause

Friday, May 26, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 2863 Speaker: Item 3. Members’ Statements. Member for Tununiq, Ms. Nutarak. Item 3: Members’ Statements Member’s Statement 295 – 6(2): Pirurvik Graduates of Pond Inlet (Nutarak) Ms. Nutarak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good morning to my family, my colleagues, and the people of Pond Inlet. Mr. Speaker, today the Pirurvik Preschool in Pond Inlet will celebrate a graduation of the children this afternoon.

The following students will be graduating this afternoon: • Connor Angnatsiak • Austin Arnakallak • Jeremiah Arreak • Ronald Atagootak • Nuala Innualuk • Curtis Jacob Kadloo • Joshua Enooya Katsak • Samuel Kilukishak • Jaclyn Kublu • Kayla Panipakoochoo • Nataa Qanguq • Katie Suqslak Some of them will be starting kindergarten next fall. We are very proud of them and their parents. We are grateful for their parents for bringing them to school daily. I would also like to recognize the teachers: Leah Kippomee, Julie Pewatoaluk, Selena Enoogoo, and their replacement, Marlene Kippomee. Mr.

Speaker, Pirurvik Preschool was previously recognized with the (interpretation ends) Governor General Innovation Award (interpretation) last year, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they were unable to attend the event. Last month they finally had the chance to be recognized properly in Ottawa. Leah Kippomee and Jeeteeta Merkosak went to Ottawa for that and we are very proud of them. Having helped to establish the Pirurvik Preschool, I am very proud of their accomplishments and continued success in education. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. >>Applause Speaker: Members’ Statements. Member for Hudson Bay, Mr. Qavvik.

Member’s Statement 296 – 6(2): Successful Whale Hunt in Sanikiluaq (Qavvik) Mr. Qavvik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good late morning, colleagues, all of our visitors, and everyone in Nunavut. I just have a short statement. Yesterday in Sanikiluaq, hunters were able get (interpretation ends) six beluga whales. (interpretation) However, they are sharing the meat around and people are able to have that to eat again. The hunters in Sanikiluaq are going to be providing food and anything they catch to the community. I rose today because that is what I wanted to say.

It is great that we are going to be able to start boating again. The hunters will be busily hunting. That’s it for now. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. >>Applause

Friday, May 26, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 2864 Speaker: Members’ Statements. Member for Aivilik, Mr. Malliki. Member’s Statement 297 – 6(2): Commissioner’s Award Recipients (Malliki) Mr. Malliki (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good morning to my constituents, my colleagues and to the people of Nunavut. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate a number of my constituents in Naujaat who were recipients of the Nunavut Commissioners Award.

The Commissioner generally hardly ever goes to the communities, so this was a very special occasion and I am thankful they were able to go to Naujaat. (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, the recipients that were awarded included the elders committee members; Naujaat elders which are recognized as knowledge keepers, the search and rescue service team, volunteer firefighters, the Canadian Rangers Patrol team, and community members who dedicated their service to the community. The Commissioner also recognized members who demonstrated bravery and survivor instinct in times of need. Mr.

Speaker, the individuals that were awarded are as follows: • Elizabeth Aglukakka • Honore Aglukka • Luke Angotialu; • Richard Tuilik Angotialuk • Jermaine Angotialuk • Uluuta Ivanlutanar • Joana Kopak • Paula Kopak • Rosie Kopak • The late Nicolas Kringayark • Rosalina Kringayark • Jay Mapsalak • The late Donat Milortok • Suzan Mablik • Semi Malliki • Alexina Nanordluk • Mary Chantal Nanordluk • Alice Nanorak • Julia Natseck • The late George Putulik • Godelieve Putulik • Luky Putulik • Pasqualina Putulik • Jonah Siusangnark • Paniaq Siusangnark • Leo Subgut • John Tinashlu • Sarah Ullikatar • Tony Ullikatar • Bernadette Uttak Mr.

Speaker, I would like to express my appreciation to Commissioner Eva Aariak for travelling to Naujaat to recognize our hard-working community members. Mr. Speaker, I ask all members to join me in congratulating the Naujaat recipients of the Commissioner’s Awards. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. >>Applause Speaker: Members’ Statements. Member for Rankin Inlet North- Chesterfield Inlet, Mr. Sammurtok.

Friday, May 26, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 2865 Member’s Statement 298 – 6(2): Successful Search and Rescue in Chesterfield Inlet (Sammurtok) Mr. Sammurtok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good morning to the people of Chesterfield Inlet, Rankin Inlet, and Nunavummiut, as well as to my colleagues. Last night I received news that an emergency took place in Chesterfield Inlet. The search and rescue team, Sapujjijiit, without regard for themselves, went out to search for an individual of concern who was fine and healthy when found. In celebration for that, I stand with the community. Thank you, Mr.

Speaker. >>Applause Speaker: Members’ Statements. Member for Netsilik, Mr. Quqqiaq. Member’s Statement 299 – 6(2): Taloyoak School Status (Quqqiaq) Mr. Quqqiaq (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all, my thoughts are with the people of Kugaaruk. I love you all. (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of many Taloyoak students who are very happy to be back in their regular classrooms after a long break due to a fuel spill at the Netsilik School. Mr.

Speaker, I do recognize and appreciate the efforts made by government staff to provide safe facilities for students and their teachers to work in. We are all aware that education is very important and any break in our studies can be a huge setback. Mr. Speaker, even though the students and staff are back in class, it seems that there are ongoing concerns about the safety and status of the school environment. Mr. Speaker, I note that the government’s capital plan includes funding for the building of a new high school in the community of Taloyoak.

My constituents are very much looking forward to having a new, safe, and comfortable school in the community. We look forward to seeing construction on the school beginning this summer. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. >>Applause Speaker: Members’ Statements. Member for Quttiktuq, Mr. David Akeeagok. Member’s Statement 300 – 6(2): Resolute Bay High School Graduates (Akeeagok,

D) Hon. David Akeeagok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Tomorrow, Qarmartalik School students will be completing their schooling in Resolute Bay. I am very proud of these students and apologize that I am not able to attend their graduation. Minister Gross and I wanted to go up during the weekend, but we were unable to due to there being no flights. I apologize, but I am very proud of them. I congratulate their parents in particular, who woke up their children and gave them encouragement to continue their

Friday, May 26, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 2866 education. Five graduates are a lot for the community of Resolute Bay and I am very proud and happy that they are able to complete their schooling. The students who graduated, who I am very proud of are: • Aasta Idlout • Isaiah Brown • Jesse Iqaluk • Saagiaqtuq Amarualik • Cassandra MacDonald These are the five students who have completed high school for 2023. Tomorrow, the community will be celebrating their graduation and I’m very envious that it will take place while I am here in Iqaluit. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. >>Applause Speaker: Members’ Statements.

Member for South Baffin, Mr. Joanasie. Member’s Statement 301 – 6(2): Ethan Manning of Kinngait (Joanasie) Hon. David Joanasie: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I say “good morning” to the people of South Baffin, including Kimmirut and Kinngait. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a young Kinngarmiuq from my constituency by the name Ethan Manning. This young man is a shining example of what can be achieved when your put your dedication and heart towards what your goals are. Mr.

Speaker, Ethan Manning, after graduating high school, pursued hockey as something that he wanted to do and he got a call from the general manager of the Bradford Bulls down in Ontario, which is a Junior A hockey league. Mr. Speaker, this league is one level below the Canadian Hockey League, so I think this is a great experience for people of Nunavut that they can pursue. Mr. Speaker, Ethan was in Toronto to join the Bradford Bulls. He went down in November 2022 and was there throughout the season until the end of March 2023.

I’m sure he had a tremendous experience with the team and travelling around for the higher level of hockey that many people try to pursue. Mr. Speaker, even though he is back in Kinngait, he is trying to encourage his peers in having a healthy lifestyle and trying to maintain his fitness. I would just like to thank Ethan for his ongoing enthusiasm for this type of work that he is doing for himself, but also for the community of Kinngait.

On behalf of himself and his family, I would like to thank all of the people that helped to fundraise for him to experience this, as well as Brandon Billie, the General Manager of the Bradford Bulls, as well as all of Ethan’s teachers, friends, and family, including all of the community that helped to support him throughout this experience. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. >>Applause Speaker: Members’ Statements. Member for Cambridge Bay, Ms. Gross.

Friday, May 26, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 2867 Member’s Statement 302 – 6(2): Recent Death of Father-in-Law (Gross) Hon. Pamela Gross: Quana, Mr. Speaker. I know this is going to be a little bit tough, but I just wanted to share my condolences to my partner’s family in Kugluktuk. We recently lost my father-in-law at the beginning of the month, and this past week they had his service and burial on Wednesday. I just wanted to share my love to Kuglukturmiut and to the family and everyone who played a contributing support to this time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Members’ Statements. Member for Pangnirtung, Ms.

Nakashuk. Member’s Statement 303 – 6(2): Fishing Derby in Pangnirtung (Nakashuk) Hon. Margaret Nakashuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To Pamela and family, and many who have lost their dear ones, I give my condolences. I would am pleased to recognize and show my appreciation for an outdoor gathering that recently that took place in Pangnirtung as it is spring time. The people I would like to recognize are Lynne Kilabuk, Janice Kuluguktuk, and Eena Kilabuk. They were the volunteers who organized a fishing derby that took place on April 15. The largest char caught was 72.8 centimetres.

Daniel Duval won a four- wheeler, and 10 others received prizes. In the children’s category, first place went to Emily Alivaktak, who won $1,000, along with four others who won. On April 29 there was a cod fishing derby in the community. First place for the largest cod was 43 centimetres, which was caught by Naomi Qumuaqtuq and she won a snowmobile. Fourteen other adult recipients also received prizes. In the children’s category, the largest was caught by Nuka Sangoya. It was 40 cm which won a prize of $800. There were also seven other children who were prize winners.

I would like to congratulate these individuals who organized the event. They allow people stay outdoors and everyone has a great time. I would like to show my appreciation and acknowledge these individuals here in the House. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. >>Applause Speaker: Members’ Statements. Member for Arviat North-Whale Cove, Mr. Main. Member’s Statement 304 – 6(2): Tribute to the Toronto Maple Leafs (Main) Hon. John Main (interpretation): Thank you, Mr.

Speaker. (interpretation ends) It’s the only Friday morning sitting of our sitting, so I figured it is a good opportunity, and Minister Joanasie got me going on thinking about hockey. I want to pay tribute to your favourite team, everyone’s favourite team; the blue and white… .

Friday, May 26, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 2868 An Hon. Member: Boo! Hon. John Main: We had a good run, and unfortunately, we ran into some Panthers down in Florida, and Mr. Speaker, for the record, it was a goal. I saw the replay. >>Laughter It was a goal. It was in. I don’t know what exactly happened, but Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to pay tribute to the Toronto Maple Leafs and the fans of any NHL team, even the Canadiens. It’s something that brings us all together and there is always next year. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. >>Laughter >>Applause Speaker: Item 4. Returns to Oral Questions. Item 5.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery. Member for Cambridge Bay, Ms. Gross. Item 5: Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery Hon. Pamela Gross: Quana, Mr. Speaker. It is my honour to welcome to the Nunavut Legislature, the Hon. René Cormier, an independent Senator from New Brunswick who currently Chairs the Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages. Welcome to Nunavut. >>Applause I would also like to welcome back into our House the Hon. Senator Dennis Patterson. >>Applause We also have the Nunavut Languages Commissioner, Ms.

Karliin Aariak. >>Applause We also have Luc Bourgeois, Parliamentary Affairs Advisor to Senator Cormier’s office. >>Applause I want to thank Hon. Cormier for coming to Iqaluit with his colleague, Hon. Patterson, to better understand the realities and fundamental issues related to Nunavut’s three official languages and the protection of Inuktut. Their three-day visit here in Iqaluit, hosted by Ms. Aariak, showcased Nunavut’s unique linguistic vitality and language rights. Quana, Mr. Speaker. >>Applause Speaker: Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery. Member for Quttiktuq, Mr.

David Akeeagok. Hon. David Akeeagok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) Yesterday, Minister Joanasie and I had the pleasure of making a presentation to the 10 Parliamentary Interns that are in Iqaluit right now as part of travelling across the country. As we all know, we have 1 out of 338 Members of Parliament representing Nunavut. So any chance we get to have ears and eyes that help inform Members of Parliament, we like to make a presence for them. I want to thank and

Friday, May 26, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 2869 recognize the following 10, and please bear with me if I butcher your first or last names. It will be properly entered into the Hansard. Melanie Bartosh. >>Applause Philippe Fleury. >>Applause Sonja Tilroe. >>Applause Nina Sartor. >>Applause Nikhil Pandeya. >>Applause Nathan Mendel. >>Applause Madeleine Martin. >>Applause Sarah Rollason-MacAulay. >>Applause Alyth Roos. >>Applause Benoit Dupras. >>Applause Welcome to our House. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. >>Applause Speaker: Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery. I have no more names. Oral Questions.

Being a Friday, whoever puts their hand up last, will go first. >>Laughter Have a good Friday. Oral Questions. Member for Iqaluit- Manirajak, Mr. Lightstone. Item 6: Oral Questions Question 448 – 6(2): Transient Employees (Lightstone) Mr. Lightstone: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Happy Friday to you and thank you for bringing some laughs to the Assembly as always. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister of Human Resources and they regard the issue of perceived preferential treatment of transient government of Nunavut employees.

I would like to add that after today I hope to allow the minister a bit of annual leave before addressing any further human resources issues. Mr. Speaker, I strongly believe in equality and fair treatment. The Government of Nunavut’s reliance on transient employees in a number of areas has left our invaluable full-time, indeterminate employees, such as healthcare professionals and social workers, feeling unappreciated and

Friday, May 26, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 2870 undervalued. To those frontline workers, whom our communities are so dependent upon, I sympathise with you. Mr. Speaker, I’m sure that the decision to hire casuals, out-of-territory, on rotation was intended to be a short-term solution. Unfortunately, this has caused unintended consequences, namely disgruntled employees, reduced morale and most significantly, resignations. While short-term solutions are necessary to address labour shortages here in Nunavut, it is imperative that they be balanced with equal benefits to our permanent local employees. Mr.

Speaker, concerns that I’ve heard from our frontline workers is that benefits received by transient casual employees include items such as free housing, per diems, and fully paid travel for vacation every four months. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the minister if she might confirm what exactly fringe benefits are provided to Government of Nunavut transient employees? Thank you, Mr. Speaker Speaker: Hon. Minister of Human Resources, Ms. Nakashuk. Hon. Margaret Nakashuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr.

Speaker, and thank you for the question. (interpretation ends) I think you’ve made a really good point in terms of what equal supports we can provide for all GN employees, whether they are transient or indeterminate workers. We have to keep in mind that depending on the staffing process, the benefits coincide with the type of employment. We also have to think about, like you mentioned, there are nurses that have short-term stays, might have a different agreement within the department.

We also continue to discuss with our counterparts, whichever home department it may be; Human Resources and the NEU has to take into consideration whether… . Also Finance, because we have to go through the process of getting all of this approved, not just by one Department of HR; it consists of the working relationships of other departments. I just wanted to give an overall understanding of the process that we follow. I don’t want to get into the details of it because it could also depend on what the department may offer to their employees. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Thank you.

We have a lot of members that do want to ask questions and I ask that you keep your

preamble short and to the point. Your first supplementary, Mr. Lightstone. Mr. Lightstone: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the minister’s response. As I previously indicated, one of the priorities for the current fiscal year for the Department of Human Resources is creating the next human resources strategy. I’d like to ask if the Department of Human Resources has included this issue within their internal discussions on the matter. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Minister of Human Resources, Ms. Nakashuk. Hon. Margaret Nakashuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr.

Friday, May 26, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 2871 Speaker, and thank you for the question. (interpretation ends) The strategy that we are reviewing right now, we will be working with different departments as well as hoping to invite some regular members to be part of the discussions, but when we’re talking about other benefits, I’m not sure what information or where you got that information from because I’m not aware of it. When we are talking about transient nurses or health professionals coming up, they aren’t indeterminate so they don’t get the full benefits like any indeterminate employee.

That has to be taken into consideration as well. Also, I wanted to mention as well that we will be talking more about the strategy in the coming weeks. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Your second and final supplementary, Mr. Lightstone. Mr. Lightstone: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Recently, the Government of Nunavut released a request for proposals on a Government of Nunavut salary and job classification process review. Mr.

Speaker, the objective of the proposed comprehensive salary review includes such issues as including analysis of where the GN salaries rank relative to other provincial and territorial governments and to provide recommendations for the Government of Nunavut to identify positions which may require supplements to base salary. Mr. Speaker, in the terms of reference, the review identifies that the current salaries will be compared to other jurisdictions and other organizations within the territory, but it does not indicate whether or not… .

There is no indication in the terms of reference or the addendums on including an internal review of such fringe benefits provided to transient employees and the impacts that has on our rates of attrition. I would like to seek clarification on whether that significant matter will be included in the upcoming comprehensive salary review. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Minister of Human Resources, Ms. Nakashuk. Hon. Margaret Nakashuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank you for asking that question. (interpretation ends) We are actually talking about the salary review right now.

Of course, HR is not the only home department working on that. We have to take into consideration about the next NEU collective agreement that we will be working on as well, so those are things that we have to keep in mind. The salary review is being reviewed at this time. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Oral Questions. Member for Hudson Bay, Mr. Qavvik. Question 449 – 6(2): Municipal Parking Garage Program (Qavvik) Mr. Qavvik: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions this morning are for the Minister of Community and Government Services.

As the minister is aware, his department’s Municipal Parking Garage Program provides funding for municipalities to construct shelters for municipal service vehicles and mobile

Friday, May 26, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 2872 equipment. This is an essential program that I fully support. When I raised this issue during last year’s fall sitting, the minister indicated that the Municipality of Sanikiluaq had submitted an application under the program and that $39,950 in initial design funding had been approved. Can the minister provide an update today on the status of this application? Thank you, Mr. Speaker Speaker: Hon. Minister of Community and Government Services, Mr. Joanasie. Hon. David Joanasie: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Sanikiluaq parking garage application process is still within planning and there is some funding remaining around that. As for the other status, it’s going to be contingent on doing a full complete study on the planning of that. Of course, this program, it’s a phased approach that we’re taking for which each year we’ll have some in the planning stages, and the next year would go into design, followed by a construction year. Right now, it’s still in planning and we hope that things will go well in Sanikiluaq.

We do have other applications around this in other communities that we’re working with municipalities on, and again, we hope to see those parking garages up and running as soon as we can. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Your first supplementary, Mr. Qavvik. Mr. Qavvik: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is my understanding that the Municipality of Sanikiluaq is in need of a seven-bay parking garage, but has only been funded for a six-bay facility. Will the minister commit to having his department work with the municipality to review this situation with the goal of fully meeting the community’s requirement?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Minister of Community and Government Services, Mr. Joanasie. Hon. David Joanasie: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This new parking garage program, we know there is a lot of excitement and interest towards getting municipalities equipped with parking garage needs. We know there are some that require much more than currently exists in their communities.

With this funding that we’ve rolled out, we try to maximize the usage of our funds, and looking at the proposals, we have some that are planning for six-bay garage or three-bay garage, so of course there are many communities; there are nine communities that have submitted proposals, and this was as of March 2023. We’ll work with the Municipality of Sanikiluaq to see what might fit with the funding levels that we can deliver through this program. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Your second and final supplementary, Mr. Qavvik. Mr. Qavvik: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

As the minister is aware, his department’s 2023-24 capital estimates included $4 million in funding under the Municipal Parking Garage Program.

Friday, May 26, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 2873 During last year’s fall sitting, the minister indicated that his department is “consulting with municipal administrators to refine the program.” I appreciate the minister’s willingness to listen to the feedback provided by communities. Can the minister describe what specific refinements or changes to the program are being made as a result of these consultations? 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 question.

My department and our officials are working with local government officials, senior administrative officers, around just that, around how we can make this program better fit the needs of communities. We’ll continue to get feedback around this. As for specific details around how this program was refined, I don’t have that level of detail, but I would be more than willing to get back to the member and specify some examples of how some of the feedback from hamlets that we receive helps to make this program better. Thank you, Mr. Speaker Speaker: Oral Questions. Member for Tununiq, Ms. Nutarak.

Question 450 – 6(2): Expanding Community-based Home Care (Nutarak) Ms. Nutarak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This morning I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Health. (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, residents of Nunavut communities that do not have local eldercare facilities are concerned about the fate of their elders. Homecare services can play a very important role in supporting elders to stay in their home communities as they age.

Can the minister provide an update on what work has been undertaken by his department to improve the structure of Nunavut’s homecare service delivery model to better meet the needs of elders and their families in our smaller communities? 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 the question. First of all, I would like to recognize our workers in the communities in Nunavut who provide home care services.

They are very capable workers and they never give up helping the elders or other people with physical disabilities. They always hold that commitment to provide assistance. Mr. Speaker, this issue revolves around the need to identify areas that require further strengthening, and we have identified areas requiring improvement, and we want to have this reviewed, including it in our (interpretation ends) business plan, (interpretation) so this is moving ahead.

The review is proceeding and further, I want to speak to the fact that the Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs is currently doing the review that is specific to elders.

Friday, May 26, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 2874 (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, another related initiative that is underway is the senior strategy development through Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs, where there is a team travelling, consulting right now I believe, with elders in terms of looking at where the gaps are and what additional supports can be provided through government programs such as home care, and that is really exciting work. We are taking a very close look at home care, as the Department of Health, in terms of where we can add additional supports. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: Your first supplementary, Ms. Nutarak. Ms. Nutarak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, minister. (interpretation ends) Home care programs in most Nunavut communities are only staffed during the work day, that is from 9 to 5. Many elders would benefit from receiving support during the evenings or at other times. In some communities there are individuals who could provide part-time home care services but would need the appropriate training before being employed.

Can the minister clarify whether any consideration has been given to training or hiring more part- time home care workers in our smaller communities so that more care can be provided to more elders at times when it is most needed? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Minister of Health, Mr. Main. Hon. John Main (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) The member is correct in terms of the hours of operation, and that is something that we are looking at in terms of whether it is sufficient to be providing the services during working hours.

We are also looking at the weekend period, which currently is not staffed and whether that would be something that would be an additional support. In terms of the training piece, we are working with Nunavut Arctic College to update the training for home and continuing care workers. Specifically, we are looking at developing a personal support worker program. The updated program is looking like it’s going to be a hybrid model where there is a combination of in-person as well as online training modules.

It’s an exciting initiative and we really appreciate Nunavut Arctic College’s support in this important work. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Your second and final supplementary, Ms. Nutarak. Ms. Nutarak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is great to hear that it is forthcoming. Mr. Speaker, (interpretation ends) elders, families, and communities greatly appreciate the home care services that are currently available. The request for more services demonstrates the success of this type of program.

It has come to my attention, however, that some patients who really need home care are being declined when they or

Friday, May 26, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 2875 their families request it. I am concerned that services are being denied because of a lack of service providers. Will the minister commit to directing his officials to look into expanding Nunavut’s home care programs, especially in those communities which do not currently have elder care facilities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Minister of Health, Mr. Main. Hon. John Main (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) Thank you for the question, to the member.

In terms of Nunavut residents being declined access to the home care program, that is something that I can commit to looking into having my staff look into those individual cases. We do have the ability to bring on additional staff if required if in a community, say for example, Pond Inlet, the caseload increases, there are additional clients, there’s an ability to bring on additional staff to meet that need. I would be interested to hear around the circumstances and have the staff look into that. Mr.

Speaker, I have lost the member’s question, so I do apologize, but it is an important program and it’s something that we are looking at very closely. I can commit to not just specifically for the communities that don’t have long-term care facilities, but across the board, I can commit to looking into our current numbers staffing-wise and caseload- wise, and whether there is any room for short-term improvements to complement the longer-term work that’s happening through our business plan. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Oral Questions. Member for Baker Lake, Mr. Simailak.

Question 451 – 6(2): Income Assistance Rates (Simailak) Mr. Simailak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good morning, all. This morning, I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Family Services. Mr. Speaker, on April 1, 2023, the basic allowance amounts for income assistance clients were increased. I am sure this was welcome news for many Nunavut residents who struggle to feed their families while facing the rising cost of living.

Can the minister clarify how often her department carries out its review of income assistance programs, and specifically how the basic allowance amounts are calculated to take into account the true cost of living in each Nunavut community? 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 asking that question.

Now, there is an annually scheduled meeting on (interpretation ends) poverty reduction (interpretation) where they review the cost of food using a food basket through the Department of Family Services, along with the cost of food in various communities. (interpretation ends) There are four zones all across Nunavut. (interpretation) Based on these distinct zones, they correlate the food prices

Friday, May 26, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 2876 across these zones and based on the review, they fix the zone prices. The newest review recommended a higher price; however, because of the disparity between the zones, we used 34.5 percent as the increase to the income support payment levels. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Your first supplementary, Mr. Simailak. Mr. Simailak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the minister for her response. Mr. Speaker, over the past year it seems that more and more Nunavut residents are applying for funding under the Inuit Child First Initiative of Jordan’s Principle.

I hear from families waiting for approval or needing a letter of support to submit with their application. This additional funding is often used to buy such items as clothing, pampers, major appliances, and occasionally food. This tells me that our Income Assistance Program is not working for those most in need. Can the minister explain how her departmental officials work with income assistance clients to ensure that the supports they receive are enough to meet their basic needs? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Minister of Family Services, Ms. Nakashuk. Hon. Margaret Nakashuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr.

Speaker. I also thank the member for the question. This is a part of the reason for increasing income support levels as the review of the income support levels were already planned in advance. Nonetheless, we must also follow the (interpretation ends) processes (interpretation) laid out, and it must also be approved by the MLAs here during a sitting. Since this increase was approved during last fall’s sitting, we were able to increase the amounts due to rising costs. The previous levels were insufficient for their basic needs and the amount was not enough to reach the next month because of rising inflation.

We are looking at ways to speed up the review process, but we are limited as we must follow the process, and you are referring to what is called the CFI; the (interpretation ends) Child First Initiative, which is not our responsibility. The plans have to be approved, but support from Family Services to help buy food, pay rent and utilities, or furniture can be accessed from our office. We also have different daycare programs if they want to start working and they request help for daycare purposes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Your second and final supplementary, Mr. Simailak. Mr. Simailak: Thank you, Mr.

Speaker. I thank the minister for her response. I know it is a big job and they are continually working on trying to make improvements, and I do appreciate that. Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned earlier, the income assistance basic allowance rates were increased just last month. However, it seems that the people are still going hungry and need extra financial support to survive.

Friday, May 26, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 2877 Can the minister clarify whether she is aware of the number of income assistance clients applying for Jordan’s Principle funding, and if so, can she describe how her department is working to address the shortfalls in the allowance amounts provided through the Income Assistance Program? 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 those questions.

We are not quite sure how the year is going to be yet, but we will try to keep track of those things and see where we can improve things. However, they can receive up to an additional $700 a month without it affecting their income support, and up to $3,000 income tax is also exempted. That also includes Child Tax, and family support is also exempted when they are getting income support. However, we are going to have to look into the (interpretation ends) Child First Initiative (interpretation) to see how it is affecting our work.

Also, medical boarding homes are fuller now, and that affects a lot of things, but we will try to keep track of them and see where we can improve things in the future. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Oral Questions. Member for Amittuq, Mr. Kaernerk. Question 452 – 6(2): Boarding Home Contracts (Kaernerk) Mr. Kaernerk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good morning to my fellow residents of Amittuq and also to Nunavummiut. This morning, Mr. Speaker, I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Health.

When we met this past winter, there were complaints made by people staying at Tammaativvik regarding the lack of hospitality. The reason I rise is that with the addition of a new boarding home, I would like to get an update from the minister regarding the complaints that were previously raised and whether improvements have been made. Can the minister indicate what improvements have been made to the services for medical clients since the new boarding home has opened? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Hon. Minister of Health, Mr. Main. Hon. John Main (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank the member for the question. Since the new boarding home opened, it is now called Sailijaarvik. With the Sailijaarvik Boarding Home now in use and having visited the facility personally, I observed larger rooms and the kitchen being larger, offering more space, making it easier for patients. (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, in terms of improvements to the services that are offered at the boarding home here in Iqaluit, it’s a process of continual improvement through contract

Friday, May 26, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 2878 management that the department follows. There have been a number of improvements in response to different pressures that have come up. There have been improvements made to customer service, there have been upgrades to the rooms and the furniture, there have been improvements to the food services, as well as the transportation aspects and there have also been improvements made on security. I’m able to get into further detail, but I’ll wait to see if the member would like me to. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Your first supplementary, Mr. Kaernerk. Mr.

Kaernerk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank the minister for listing the improvements, but the one thing I really noted was (interpretation ends) customer service, (interpretation) especially in considering our elders and other unilingual Inuit needing support, and I am glad to hear that the facility was inspected and improvements have been made. (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, there have been a number of my constituents that have travelled to Iqaluit for medical travel.

I often hear complaints concerning the lack of support at the boarding home and, as I’ll mention again, for elders and the unilingual people. Now, can the minister clarify whether a new contract has been negotiated with the boarding home operator following the opening of the new boarding facility and if the contractor has ensured that adequate supports will be available in both buildings? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Minister of Health, Mr. Main. Hon. John Main (interpretation): Thank you, Mr.

Speaker. (interpretation ends) In terms of the questions that the member has posed to me, I guess I’ll try to answer as many as I can. The new boarding home opened on March 7 of this year, and in September 2022 the Department of Health and the Nova Group signed a ten-year contract for the new facility, which I just mentioned; Sailijaarvik. The contract uses the last 10 years of the original 20- year contract in the new facility, Mr. Speaker.

In terms of the customer service aspect that the member mentioned, it is very important, as I mentioned to MLA Killiktee yesterday, throughout all of our services, whether it’s medical travel, whether it’s at the health centre-level, it’s very important to Health for Nunavummiut to be able to use the language of their choice. In terms of the boarding home here, there have been new projects implemented for support staff and guests, including a bilingual bonus for Nunavut Inuit staff, new training programs for staff, and improved operational procedures, which includes a new booking system.

It is the contractor’s duty to make those improvements, but the Department of Health is helping to drive that forward through the contract management process. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Friday, May 26, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 2879 Speaker: Your second and final supplementary, Mr. Kaernerk. Mr. Kaernerk: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for the detailed information on the customer service and the services that they provide at the boarding home. I appreciate that. Now, on the other matter, Mr. Speaker, in the past, the minister had indicated that if medical clients have complaints regarding the services that they receive, they should contact the patient relations office. The 2020 report of the Office of Patient Relations is available on the department’s website.

In this report there is no mention of boarding homes or the problems that clients face when seeking services at boarding homes or what steps are taken to resolve issues identified at the boarding homes. Now, will the minister commit to tabling a separate report describing how his department works with the boarding home contractors to resolve issues? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. >>Applause Speaker: Minister of Health, Mr. Main. Hon. John Main (interpretation): Thank you, Mr.

Speaker. (interpretation ends) In terms of the Office of Patient Relations and the number of different issues that they do look into, I can say for a fact that within the numbers presented in the annual report, there are issues around boarding homes. It’s something that’s regularly raised.

What happens is when we have issues that are identified as systemic, through the Office of Patient Relations, they can identify those through their database and through tracking of the different issues and then they can hand that over to our staff who manage the contract with the boarding home operators, whether it’s in Iqaluit or whether it’s in Winnipeg or anywhere else. That’s kind of an explanation of how the process works in terms of troubleshooting. The Office of Patient Relations has had staff travel to boarding homes themselves. I would like to recognize that.

In 2022 the Office of Patient Relations staff visited boarding homes in Edmonton, Yellowknife, and Ottawa to engage with clients and boarding home staff, as well as to share Office of Patient Relations materials and resources. One final thing I’ll mention about the new boarding home facility is that it does have space for Department of Health staff to be present in the facility. That’s something that we believe is going to benefit customer service in terms of the medical travel experience as well as providing easier access to Department of Health representatives. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: Oral Questions. Member for Iqaluit-Sinaa, Ms. Brewster. Question 453 – 6(2): Local Housing Organization Governance (Brewster) Ms. Brewster: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I sincerely believed that you were going to make me wait to go last.

Friday, May 26, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 2880 Good morning, everybody, and welcome to the visitors and family in the gallery. It’s nice to see you. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation. Mr. Speaker, as one of Iqaluit’s four Members of the Legislative Assembly, I want to begin by acknowledging the critical role that the Iqaluit Housing Authority plays in our community. Mr.

Speaker, over the years, I have known many of the authority’s employees and board members, and I can say with certainty that they have all been committed to the well-being of this community, which is why the current impasse between the authority and its employees is so concerning. Mr. Speaker, the extent to which the minister and the Nunavut Housing Corporation can resolve this situation is a question that needs to be addressed in a public forum, which is why I am raising it today. Mr.

Speaker, I fully recognize and understand that it is not the role of the minister or any MLA to be personally sitting at the bargaining table and negotiating over the specific details of clothing allowances and dental benefits. However, given that the minister has the statutory authority under the Nunavut Housing Corporation Act to undertake such actions as appointing members of the authority’s board of directors, I believe that it is fair to say that he is not without influence in setting strategic direction.

For the record, can the minister clarify what steps he is taking to resolve the current labour impasse at the Iqaluit Housing Authority? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Hon. Minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation, Mr. Kusugak. Hon. Lorne Kusugak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have said this on more than one occasion that the Nunavut Housing Corporation and my role as minister responsible are not playing a role in the negotiations between the Iqaluit Housing Authority and the Public Service Alliance. That negotiation is between those two bodies exclusively. Mr.

Speaker, the NHC has no role or influence in the negotiations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Your first supplementary, Ms. Brewster. Ms. Brewster: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is very clear that there is a lack of clarity about the lines of accountability and the respective roles and responsibilities of the Nunavut Housing Corporation and the Iqaluit Housing Authority. Mr. Speaker, this is not a new issue.

As the minister is aware, one of the formal recommendations contained in a recent annual report by the Information and Privacy Commissioner recommended that work needs to be done to “clarify the relationship between Local Housing Organizations and the Nunavut Housing Corporation.” As the minister is aware, emails between the Nunavut Housing Corporation and

Friday, May 26, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 2881 the authority recently became public, the contents of which indicate that the corporation does work closely with the authority in a number of operational matters. For the record, can the minister clarify how the boards of directors of local housing organizations such as the Iqaluit Housing Authority determine their negotiating mandates before entering into collective bargaining? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation, Mr. Kusugak. Hon. Lorne Kusugak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I’m not aware of the discussions, if there are any, between the housing corporation president, and in this case, the Iqaluit Housing Authority, Mr. Speaker. I have said all along and I will repeat again: I’m not participating or party to any discussions between the two parties, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. Speaker: Your second and final supplementary, Ms. Brewster. Ms. Brewster: Thank you for that clarification, minister.

I know that we don’t always believe what we read in the media, so it is good to hear from the minister that in fact, there has been no correspondence or email correspondence between Nunavut Housing and Iqaluit Housing in order to shore up, I guess, anything that goes against fair bargaining for those employees.

As the minister is aware, the Nunavut Housing Corporation’s current business plan indicates that it has “engaged a consulting firm to produce a report on Local Housing Organization governance models to see how the public housing allocation process and organizational structure can be improved.” Can the minister clarify the extent to which this work is expected to result in local housing organizations, such as the Iqaluit Housing Authority, having more autonomy or less autonomy? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation, Mr. Kusugak. Hon. Lorne Kusugak: Thank you, Mr.

Speaker. Just to clarify, first of all, I did say that my office of the Housing minister is not party to, or have interactions with the Iqaluit Housing Authority. If the president of the Nunavut Housing Corporation has had contact with the Iqaluit Housing Authority, I am not aware of that. I just want to make that very clear. That’s different from the comments that my colleague made.

In terms of reviewing the local housing associations and organizations and how they function and to see if more autonomy or less is necessary to streamline some of the work between the different housing associations, that work continues and once it’s complete, I would be more than happy to share it with my colleagues. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Oral Questions. Member for Kugluktuk, Mr. Anavilok.

Friday, May 26, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 2882 Question 454 – 6(2): Kugluktuk Power Plant (Anavilok) Mr. Anavilok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all, I say “good morning” to the people of Kugluktuk and Nunavummiut, as well as to my colleagues. I also feel for my colleague representing Cambridge Bay who has lost a relative, so I sympathize deeply in my heart. (interpretation ends) I also want to put it in there to recognize Senator Patterson for his strong efforts for the Grays Bay port, for helping there.

My questions are for the new Minister responsible for the Qulliq Energy Corporation, and they concern the issues of Kugluktuk’s new power plant. This is an issue that I have raised on many occasions. As the minister is aware, Kugluktuk’s existing power plant is over 50 years old and is in urgent need of replacement. In recent years the Qulliq Energy Corporation has issued a number of unsuccessful tenders for the new power plant. Mr. Speaker, the most recent tender was issued on April 6 of this year, and it closes later today.

Can the minister confirm how many bids have been submitted to date to construct Kugluktuk’s new power plant? (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Hon. Minister responsible for the Qulliq Energy Corporation, Mr. Pauloosie Akeeagok. Hon. P.J. Akeeagok: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank my colleague first off, for welcoming me to Kugluktuk as well, and for myself to actually see the existing power plant that is very old, but very well maintained by the incredible staff we do have in the community.

So I just want to first off, say thank you so much for your amazing hospitality most recently in my community visit to the beautiful community of Kugluktuk. With that, the member is right; the tender is just closing. So at this moment I do not have a list of exactly how many bidders have submitted for this particular tender. It has gone through many rounds of going through the public procurement process of bringing the project to life, which has not resulted in any favourable outcomes in terms of the high cost of building any infrastructure.

I’m very optimistic that with the whole- of-government approach we have taken to see this very critical project advance, I am confident that the bidding will be there and I look forward to working with the member on the next steps once we have the assessments. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Your first supplementary, Mr. Anavilok. Mr. Anavilok (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) The Qulliq Energy Corporation’s original plan was to design and construct a new hybrid diesel-solar power plant. Federal funding for this project under the Arctic Energy Fund was announced in August of 2019.

However, information published by the government in response to a recent

Friday, May 26, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 2883 question asked in the Legislative Assembly indicated that “The Qulliq Energy Corporation is very interested in renewable energy and secured additional funding to install a solar component to the new power plant for Kugluktuk. Unfortunately, the tender bids for the Kugluktuk hybrid plant project escalated well beyond the funding limits and Qulliq Energy Corporation could not pass these costs on to its customers.

Therefore, the renewable solar project had to be cancelled.” Can the minister clarify the extent to which the tender bids exceeded the available budget? (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Minister responsible for the Qulliq Energy Corporation, Mr. Pauloosie Akeeagok. Hon. P.J. Akeeagok: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I again thank my colleague for asking the question. The member is right; the large component of what prohibited the advancement for the new power plant to be awarded was the overbidding that we did see on, I believe, four different tenders that we have gone through.

It was very unfortunate that the solar component had to be removed because that was really putting the price over the allocated amounts that we did secure both through this House as well as through our partners in Ottawa, specifically. Mr. Speaker, the solar component obviously was of a big component as well as the battery. So those two particular main ones, as well as the fuel tank storage were the concerns that we did mention while we were in Kugluktuk as we discussed the particular project.

I don’t have the specific difference from the last tender in front of me, but I can get back to the member on the difference. I do feel very confident that we do have the adequate budget to build once we analyze all the tenders that we’re soliciting that had closed on the 25th, just yesterday. 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) Can the minister confirm whether or not the funding received under the Arctic Energy Fund had to be returned to the federal government? (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Minister responsible for the Qulliq Energy Corporation, Mr. Pauloosie Akeeagok. Hon. P.J. Akeeagok: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Once we did re-analyze the removal of the solar system, we did have to bring a very small percentage back to the Arctic Energy Fund, but overall, the 75 percent that we did secure is still compatible.

I would just like to reassure the member that the current design of what was tendered out does allow us to be able to bring partners in like a company, as an example, who wishes to plug into the power plant, whether it’s through an IPP program of some sort or whether the private sector wants to bring solar into it, the design allows the ability to plug in.

Friday, May 26, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 2884 To the member’s question, there was a very minor amount that was returned to the fund once we did remove the solar component of the project. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Oral Questions. Member for Netsilik, Mr. Quqqiaq. Question 455 – 6(2): Issues with Medical Travel (Quqqiaq) Mr. Quqqiaq: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to direct my questions to the Minister of Health. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate that concerns regarding medical travel have been raised many times in this House.

However, it seems that the problems continue and I am once more raising the issue on behalf of my constituents. Mr. Speaker, can the minister provide an explanation of why medical clients are notified at the very last minute that they have been booked for medical travel? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Hon. Minister of Health, Mr. Main. Hon. John Main (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the member for asking that question.

The questions he raised regarding why clients are seemingly notified at the last minute for their medical travel; perhaps what I say is that it doesn’t happen to every patient, as some clients run into travel logjams which result in these notification issues. Nonetheless, this does show that improvements are required and we acknowledge this fact, and further, we have started deliberating on ways to amend the policy for the medical patients, specifically with the (interpretation ends) Medical Travel Policy. (interpretation ends) We are undertaking the work for that based on recognizing the issues.

It is currently under development. The notification requirement includes the requirement to ensure clients understand their travel plans and the issues surrounding (interpretation ends) escorts, (interpretation) as some do not understand the strict requirements and responsibilities entailed in this role. This includes proper conduct and support of the patient in fulfilling their escort duties, and we do recognise that challenge, so we are reviewing how we can better accommodate them. (interpretation ends) Mr.

Speaker, I should also mention that there are some cases where last-minute bookings are done on a very short notice and it’s in response to clinical needs. Let’s say for example, if a patient has a test result that comes in and it requires an urgent follow-up appointment outside of the community, then there are some cases where a last-minute booking is in the best interest of the client in terms of the medical need.

We do recognize the inconvenience that that can cause, but there are some situations in which it’s actually the best course of action in terms of the medical side of things. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Your first supplementary, Mr. Quqqiaq. Mr. Quqqiaq: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Medical clients are notified on the very day that they have to leave on the plane. There is very little time or even no time

Friday, May 26, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 2885 for preparation. Too often, appointments are missed due to late notice. Mr. Speaker, can the minister clarify whether his department keeps track of when they notify patients that they have a medical travel flight? Is there a record of when the medical travel office calls a patient to notify them of their travel? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Minister of Health, Mr. Main. Hon. John Main (interpretation): Thank you, Mr.

Speaker. (interpretation ends) In terms of the question and whether there’s a record kept of every phone call that’s made or notification, that’s something that I’ll have to look into further. It’s really getting into the weeds and I’ll have to check with my department and respond to the member if I find out. In terms of the Medical Travel Policy review, it is a comprehensive review, so we’re looking at all the different aspects of medical travel. The plan is that once the new policy is developed and approved, there will be operational aspects that we will roll out after that.

In terms of the communication tools and resources for medical travellers and escorts, that is something that we’re looking very closely at. We’re also looking at clarifying the entitlements around escorts and travellers. We’re looking at information around medical travellers who are banned from boarding homes and what the appeal processes are around there, as well as developing standard operating procedures and guidelines for Nunavut. The goal of all this work is to improve the travelling experience for Nunavut medical travellers. We do want to see improvements.

We do want to see things streamlined and, at the end of the day, lead to a stronger system of health care across Nunavut. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Your second and final supplementary, Mr. Quqqiaq. Mr. Quqqiaq: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am certain that missed flights and missed appointments create extra administrative work for the Department of Health. Mr.

Speaker, in some cases, it may be the client who has caused the problem, but in many cases, the medical travel offices simply do not give enough time for clients to prepare and make arrangements, especially if they have children or family members who rely on them for food, care, and support, not to mention employment. It is unreasonable to expect anyone to drop their lives at a moment’s notice. Mr. Speaker, will the minister commit to looking into the issue and reporting back to this House on what specific steps are taken to improve the medical traveller notification system? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: Minister of Health, Mr. Main. Hon. John Main (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I think that the department is already committed to doing this. The commitment that the member has requested of me, I believe, is something that’s already included in the

Friday, May 26, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 2886 comprehensive Medical Travel Policy review. As I mentioned the other day in the House, it’s ongoing. We’re engaging with Nunavut Tunngavik on it following

Article 32 and we are committed to consulting with the public. We’re going to target medical travellers themselves, maybe not every medical traveller, but they are a key stakeholder group that we want to hear directly from in terms of where we can make improvements. That’s something that is upcoming. I should add on a final note that with the support of this House, we have been able to add capacity. In every community in Nunavut, we have added additional medical travel clerk positions and that’s specifically with the goal of strengthening the customer service and workload management aspects of their job.

I thank the members for their support and that’s one thing that we have done already that’s leading to improved service. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Oral Questions. Member for Rankin Inlet North-Chesterfield Inlet, Mr. Sammurtok. Question 456 – 6(2): Request for Mobile Equipment (Sammurtok) Mr. Sammurtok: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Education. Mr. Speaker, the Chesterfield Inlet District Education Authority recently wrote to the department regarding the need for a new school bus and the need for a specialized van with a wheelchair ramp.

Can the minister confirm whether or not she is aware of this request and, if so, can she tell us when the community may expect a response? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Hon. Minister of Education, Ms. Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Quana, Mr. Speaker. Quana to the member for the question. In regard to the bus request for Chesterfield Inlet, we did receive the letter and the department is working to respond on that letter.

However, I can say that unfortunately for this fiscal year, the community will not be receiving a bus unfortunately, because we have had other communities in the line for a longer period of time that we need to address. The communities of Igloolik, Sanikiluaq, Sanirajak, and Pangnirtung will be receiving buses this year. As I mentioned yesterday to our member colleague from Hudson Bay, we do get a large number of requests and the department has annually slotted for two buses across the territory.

The department has received so many requests that we have been working internally within the department to meet and exceed the number of two buses. I am happy to say that we are able to fund four buses this year. However, I will work to see that we can get the buses for next fiscal year for Chesterfield Inlet. However, I can’t commit to it, but we will definitely have it on our list and we do still have a number of other communities, including Naujaat, Arviat, and Rankin Inlet, that are also on the list for school buses at this time. Quana, Mr. Speaker.

Friday, May 26, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 2887 Speaker: Your first supplementary, Mr. Sammurtok. Mr. Sammurtok: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A number of young clients at the Naja Isabelle Group Home in Chesterfield Inlet have mobility issues and need additional supports to enable them to attend school. There are other students in the community who also require accessibility transportation. A van with a wheelchair ramp would greatly help getting these students to school. Our education services should be inclusive of all students.

Can the minister provide some clarification on whether district education authorities need to make a specialized application for specialized school busing needs? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Minister of Education, Ms. Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Quana, Mr. Speaker. Quana to the member for that question. We do have a number of wheelchair capability buses across the territory. We have nine of them at the moment.

If it is a required specific necessity, then if we know that ahead of time, we can work to making sure that we do have that bus particularly ordered for the community of Chesterfield Inlet, but it has been noted. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Your second and final supplementary, Mr. Sammurtok. Mr. Sammurtok: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Chesterfield Inlet’s current school bus is a 2008 model that has provided far more than the estimated 10 years of service. It is costing the district education authority a significant amount of money to constantly maintain and repair the bus.

Can the minister explain what process is in place to replace community school buses which have exceeded their years of service? It does not seem very efficient to require district education authorities to submit requests for new school buses when the department should be aware when the buses are due for replacement. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Minister of Education, Ms. Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Quana, Mr. Speaker. Quana to the member for the question and the information about the bus being over 10 years old.

This is an area that we are working to strengthen within the department as the Department of Education does purchases buses. However, they are run by different contractors, whether they are the district education authorities, the hamlets, or private contracts. These buses across the territory are all run very differently in each community, depending on the service that is available. I can commit that we will definitely work with the district education authority from Chesterfield Inlet to look into the information that the member has brought to my attention. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Oral Questions.

Member for Aivilik, Mr. Malliki.

Friday, May 26, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 2888 Question 457 – 6(2): Nunavut 3000 Housing Strategy (Malliki) Mr. Malliki (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to direct my question to the Minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation. I want to begin by thanking the minister for his recent visit to Naujaat to do a review on the operations of housing.

It was an excellent opportunity for the minister to see our housing needs with his own eyes so the minister is more aware of that now. (interpretation ends) As the minister will recall, the Nunavut Housing Corporation issued a request for proposals in January 2023 for the design-build of new units in a number of communities including a new residential multiplex in Coral Harbour. The request for proposals closed on February 20, 2023.

Information published by the government indicates that the request for proposals was “cancelled due to budgetary constraints.” Can the minister indicate how the Nunavut Housing Corporation will ensure that construction begins this year on the planned new units for Coral Harbour? (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Hon. Minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation, Mr. Kusugak. Hon. Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank my colleague for warmly welcoming us while we were in Naujaat.

It was great to meet with the Naujaat Housing Association and the hamlet council while we were there. Mr. Speaker, the request for proposals were introduced so that the Housing Corporation could construct houses in Naujaat. However, the bids were much higher than what was budgeted for them, and we had anticipated a cost of around $600 per square foot. The multiplexes ended up costing over $1 million. It has been cancelled for this year, but we plan to go ahead next year. Speaker: Your first supplementary, Mr. Malliki. Mr. Malliki (interpretation): Thank you, Mr.

Speaker. (interpretation ends) As the Member of the Legislative Assembly representing Naujaat, I support the Nunavut 3000 Housing Strategy’s goal of constructing up to 150 new public housing units, affordable housing units and market housing units in the communities of Naujaat and Coral Harbour. Can the minister confirm the timeline for when the construction is planned to begin on the first set of new housing units in Naujaat and Coral Harbour? (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation, Mr. Kusugak. Hon.

Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Each of the communities will be allocated houses following a

schedule for construction. Looking at Naujaat, in 2022-23, there were 15 new units that were opened and moved into. In 2024-25, they are planning to build five additional units. In

Friday, May 26, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 2889 Coral Harbour, we were looking at the planned builds for this summer. We won’t be able to do that now, but we are looking at constructing 12 in 2024-25 instead, and that is for Coral Harbour. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Your second and final supplementary, Mr. Malliki. Mr. Malliki (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It is unfortunate that they were cancelled. (interpretation ends) As the Member of the Legislative Assembly representing Aivilik, I support the Nunavut 3000 Housing Strategy’s goal of providing training, apprenticeship and employment opportunities for my constituents in Naujaat and Coral Harbour. Can the minister provide an update today on how the Nunavut Housing Corporation and NCC Development are working with Nunavut Arctic College and the Local Housing Organizations in Coral Harbour and Naujaat to provide pre-employment training and apprenticeship opportunities? (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: Minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation, Mr. Kusugak. Hon. Lorne Kusugak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As of now, the plan is to put out a call for proposals. NCC has indicated that they are looking for construction workers in the communities of Rankin Inlet, Arviat, Baker Lake, Taloyoak, Cambridge Bay, Gjoa Haven, and Grise Fiord. They have been notified that they will be looking for workers, so they are planning on calling those communities looking for people interested in being trained in housing construction.

These are open right now, and I know as the time goes by, they will be bringing in trainers so that people can be trained in construction to build houses in the communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Oral Questions. Member for Iqaluit-Tasiluk, Mr. Hickes. Question 458 – 6(2): Funding for Mental Health Programs (Hickes) Mr. Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to direct my question today to the Minister of Health regarding mental health care. Last year the minister invited myself and my Iqaluit colleagues to a lunch meeting with the Hon.

Carolyn Bennett, the federal Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. At that lunch meeting I brought up what I consider quite an urgent issue of residents of Nunavut accessing mental health counselling outside the territory and the onerous application process it takes to apply for non-insured health benefit status for those mental health counsellors. With the Premier’s statement today with the “Nunavut on the Hill” message, my first question today, Mr.

Speaker, is to ask the minister whether he has had an opportunity to discuss the issue that I brought up with the federal minister and what was the outcome of those discussions? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Friday, May 26, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 2890 Speaker: Hon. Minister of Health, Mr. Main. Hon. John Main (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) Thank you for the question to the member. In terms of the recent meetings at “Nunavut on the Hill,” I did have the opportunity to sit down with Minister Bennett and, as always, I very much appreciated her time. In terms of discussions that we did have, that specific topic was not one that we touched on. It was more of a high-level discussion regarding needs of Nunavummiut under the mental health portfolio.

We discussed the Nunavut Recovery Centre and the ongoing work moving towards that. We discussed the need for increased support for paraprofessionals that we are currently rolling out through federal funding with the Territorial Health Investment Fund. Mr. Speaker, the Non-Insured Health Benefits program is a federal government program and so the benefit levels and the processes underneath that program are set by the federal government. I know that there’s a parliamentary committee which our MP actually sits on.

It has issued a report with some quite interesting recommendations in it around the Non- Insured Health Benefits program. That’s something that our department has been following closely. We had participated in those committee meetings, provided input, and we’re watching very closely as to what the response from the federal government will be to that report. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Your first supplementary, Mr. Hickes. Mr. Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am familiar with the report. I’m holding it in my hand here right now.

Again, the minister and I have had a few discussions on some of the information in this report and I can’t help but emphasize on how important it is. The example that I used with the minister was a student that identified the need to avail themselves of mental health counselling at the school in the jurisdiction that they’re in, outside the territory going to school in. I commend anybody when they identify that they need help and to ask for help and any barriers that we can remove for our residents.

Even though it’s a federal program, I think it’s very important that the minister accelerate any discussions with his federal counterpart to allow, in jurisdictions where there are regulatory bodies for counsellors, that those counsellors be identified and approved through the Non-Insured Health Benefits status without going through such an onerous application process. Mr. Speaker, in some of these jurisdictions, there may not be a large aboriginal population in the vicinity of a university per se where there is not the identified need.

In the report that the minister and I are mentioning, it speaks to service providers not knowing that there are funding options available. The example that I used with Minister Bennett, and I do apologize for going on long on this, but I think it’s very important to give some background on the example that I used with Minister Bennett. The student accessed services through a non-approved Non-Insured

Friday, May 26, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 2891 Health Benefits service provider, so their claim was denied. It’s not a matter of submitting receipts and getting reimbursed for accessing mental health care outside of the territory of Nunavut. It’s the fact that they’re not even able to get reimbursed for expenditures that they feel that and identified that they need. Our students, especially when they’re first year outside the territory, are very vulnerable. It’s a strange new world out there in some respects, Mr. Speaker.

I just want to get some confirmation from the minister here today that he will raise this issue at the earliest opportunity, whether it be written, verbal, or in person with the federal minister, to accelerate this aspect of the report from the Standing Committee on Indigenous Services. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Minister of Health, Mr. Main. Hon. John Main (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) I can commit to raising this issue with the federal minister. I can also commit to raising it with our MP as it is within the federal realm.

I agree with the member in terms of mental health and vulnerabilities, that we do need to recognize those and make efforts to provide better supports and remove barriers. One thing that I did have the opportunity to discuss with Minister Bennett was around licensure and that has been identified as something across Canada that is a barrier to services being provided across provincial or territorial jurisdictional boundaries. It’s something that is a bit of a rat’s nest, to be honest, in my opinion. Mr.

Speaker, if you look at the different levels of licensure across Canada, it’s something that’s in real need of streamlining and it’s something that I’m going to continue raising. In terms of the mental health counselling aspect and the reimbursement, I think it’s troubling to hear that a student who accessed mental health counselling services would be denied reimbursement because I think it’s more of a bureaucratic barrier than anything, but I take the member’s request and I do commit to raising this issue. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Members, be aware that the time allotted… . Mr. Malliki.

Mr. Malliki (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to extend question period. 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 Uqqummiut, Ms. Killiktee. Question 459 – 6(2): Future Plans for Full-day Kindergarten (Killiktee) Ms. Killiktee (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Prior to asking my question, I first wanted to take this opportunity to tell our colleague, whose in-law passed away, that it is sorrowful and we feel your loss, nonetheless, we must always move forward with our lives even with these unfortunate events.

Friday, May 26, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 2892 I wish to direct my question this morning to you, the Minister of Education, Mr. Speaker. Before I ask the question, let me start by saying good morning to my constituents in Uqqummiut, to Iqalummiut, along with all the viewing audience watching the televised proceedings. I want to ask the minister a question respecting the pilot project to study the feasibility of our kindergarten students who are entering school for the first time. I wanted to make that the subject of my question, especially with the

preamble that accompanied that announcement earlier at the beginning of our session. I want to ask about that so I can further understand the reasoning behind this decision. It entered my mind and I am thinking proactively of what may transpire, so I rise to ask the questions, as here in Nunavut, we are lagging behind. Mr. Speaker, on the first day of our sitting, the minister mentioned that there will be a review on the full-day kindergarten pilot project in the five communities where this pilot project began.

The minister stated that “based on the results of this pilot project, the department will begin a phased rollout of full-day kindergarten across the territory.” Mr. Speaker, (interpretation ends) can the minister provide more detail on how the results of this pilot project will be assessed and evaluated and what goals and objectives will need to be met before she decides to roll out full-day kindergarten across Nunavut? (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Hon. Minister of Education, Ms. Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Quana, Mr. Speaker. Quana to the member for the question on full-day kindergarten.

It’s a topic that has been long discussed by previous governments. I’m very happy that it is included in our Katujjiluta mandate to implement full-day kindergarten. Mr. Speaker, full-day kindergarten can’t run without the support of the local district education authority, so they have the right to either say yes or no to their community accepting full-day kindergarten or not. I am thankful and pleased to say that the five pilot communities of Apex, Kimmirut, Chesterfield Inlet, Whale Cove, and Kugluktuk all agreed to pilot the project, which will start this fall.

We had minor construction to each of the schools for the classrooms to prepare for full-day kindergarten. Three of those schools have already been renovated and two renovations to the remaining two schools will conclude this summer in preparation for the fall. In terms of the member’s question about measuring the success of the full-day kindergarten pilot project, the purpose of the pilot project includes that we are confirming that the departmental resources to support a full-day kindergarten pilot program will be there.

We are also testing the program and learning how the program stands up to the real-life scenarios that happen and

Friday, May 26, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 2893 also making improvements to the program prior to the full rollout, and ensuring by and from our relevant stakeholders to all agree as well to this rollout. The success of the full-day kindergarten pilot program will be measured through feedback from educators, parents, and guardians. In the longer-term, the department will also be looking at the impact of the full-day kindergarten program on Inuktut language acquisition and the early years of language learning. Quana, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Your first supplementary, Ms. Killiktee. Ms.

Killiktee (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also thank you for that response. It is very interesting and I understand that the district education authorities in the communities will also review and decide whether or not to go forward with it in their schools. That is how I understood the answer. To add, Mr. Speaker, I support the concept of full-day kindergarten. I recognize that the more we can provide to our children in the early days of their education in our communities, it will benefit our children, youth, and adults later on.

I would like to speak to concerns that I have regarding resources that we have to consider for the future. Keeping in mind that although there are good projects that we are focusing on, I come from a small community where there is such infrastructure as schools that require renovation or expansion. With that being the case, I’ll reiterate that (interpretation ends) I am concerned that as the department focuses on this new project, such long-standing needs for school infrastructure as renovations, expansions, or even new schools will be pushed aside.

Can the minister assure me that those communities which have already been waiting for a number of years for new infrastructure will not have their school projects further delayed due to this new priority? (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Thank you members. Although question period has been extended for 30 minutes, we still need to shorten our

preambles on the questions and answers. Minister of Education, Ms. Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Quana, Mr. Speaker. Quana to the member for the question. In terms of the full-day kindergarten capital projects or minor improvements to schools that need to be made to other schools in the future, I can say that it won’t impede on any capital projects that are going through and going ahead. Mr.

Speaker, I can say, for example, that the Sakku School in Coral Harbour is still scheduled to go ahead along with all of the other capital projects that the Department of Education does undertake to either do minor repairs or renovations to the schools, or major school projects like renovating schools, or building and constructing new schools. The department is able to handle both projects and work towards implementing the new facilities along with upgrades to

Friday, May 26, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 2894 schools and work towards implementing full-day kindergarten with the repairs that will need to be made in the future. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Your second and final supplementary, Ms. Killiktee. Ms. Killiktee (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. She responded to parts of my question. (interpretation ends) I do appreciate that the Department of Education is working hard to provide educational opportunities for our young population. I am in full support of that.

I am simply concerned that expanding full-day kindergarten to Nunavut’s other 20 communities will use up capital funding dollars which are already very limited and will distract from the desperate needs for additional classroom space or the replacement of old and aging schools that have already been identified. (interpretation) I’ll just briefly explain further that in the communities, due to a lack of space in schools when the student population is high, some of the classes are split between the morning and the afternoon. (interpretation ends) Can the minister describe how many schools will need renovations to accommodate full-day kindergarten and what portion of her department’s capital budget will be allocated to rolling out this project across the territory? (interpretation) Thank you, Mr.

Speaker. Speaker: Minister of Education, Ms. Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Quana, Mr. Speaker. Quana for the question. With the full-day kindergarten pilot happening this year, we had eight schools that are at the level to be renovated with requiring less capital funding. The five that were chosen are represented across the regions and required less funding to go forward to complete those and make that a reality. The department has costed this year’s full-day kindergarten for those five schools costing $820,000 to do those renovations to the schools. However, Mr.

Speaker, to accommodate full-day kindergarten across the remaining schools will mean that some of them do require more space and bigger renovations which will cost more money. The department is working to look at how we can accommodate that, and that is the part of the phased rollout. It can’t happen in one year additionally because there are 22 additional schools that will need to be renovated to accommodate the full-day kindergarten. In some instances, we might need to build new schools to accommodate that request. With this, it’s not going to happen in a year or two.

It will take time to roll it out because we do have so many schools in Nunavut in each of our communities and it does, in some cases, cost a lot of money to create that capital to begin the work and we will need to probably come forward through the legislative process to seek additional funds in the future to have this pilot project become a reality if it is going to go forward. We will work towards bringing that through the

Friday, May 26, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 2895 various channels at the time that it is required. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Oral Questions. Member for Iqaluit-Sinaa, Ms. Brewster. Question 460 – 6(2): Water Infrastructure (Brewster) Ms. Brewster: Thank you, Mr. Speaker for recognizing me a second time today. I appreciate it. My questions are for the Minister of Community and Government Services. There you are. They concern the issue of water infrastructure.

As the minister will recall, the very first question that I asked in the Legislative Assembly concerned this issue, and I want to acknowledge and thank the minister for his clear commitment to ensuring that the thousands of human beings who call our capital city home have secure access to safe drinking water at all times. Mr. Speaker, I was happy to note the City of Iqaluit’s recent announcement that public consultations will be held on June 7 and 9 concerning the different options under consideration for critical improvements to the community’s water infrastructure.

As the minister is well aware, the federal government has committed $214 million to this essential work and I was proud to have been part of the advocacy for this investment. Can the minister confirm if his department will be participating in the upcoming consultations and can he indicate if his department has a preferred option in respect to reservoir expansion plans and related matters? 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 that question. Mr.

Speaker, my department has been working very closely with the City of Iqaluit around the water situation and the infrastructure needs around having safe potable drinking water for Iqalungmiut. Mr. Speaker, I was glad to hear that staff from the city were talking about some of the options being presented around just the level at the water reservoir having to pump from the different lakes to keep up with the demands.

With regard to how the department is working with the city, I can’t say, per se, whether or not we have a preferred option on what is to come for the city around that, but my department, at the official-level, is working closely on supporting the city through this, and the $200 million announcement through the disaster mitigation adaption fund can’t come any sooner. We hope that that process will be smooth and we will be keeping a close eye on the developments as we go through addressing the water needs here in Iqaluit. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Your first supplementary, Ms. Brewster. Ms.

Brewster: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the minister for reassuring us that there is still an ongoing and good relationship between the department and the city. We know water is life and we know that we are all impacted here in our governance when there isn’t potable

Friday, May 26, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 2896 water or any kind of water in our city. So thank you for that. As the minister is aware, his department’s current business plan indicates that one of its current priorities is to “work with partners and stakeholders to develop and deploy the Drinking Water Strategic Framework Action Plan.” Recent information published by his department indicates that “development of the framework action plan was paused to allow a shift in focus to drinking water regulations. It is expected that the framework action plan can be completed by the end of March of 2023.” Mr.

Speaker, it is now almost June 2023. Can the minister update the House today on when the new drinking water action plan and new drinking water regulations will be finalized and published? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Minister of Community and Government Services, Mr. Joanasie. Hon. David Joanasie: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am intending to table that strategic framework during this spring sitting. I would like the member to sit tight and I expect that it will be coming in short order. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Your second and final supplementary, Ms. Brewster. Ms. Brewster: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, minister, for reassuring us that I’ll have some reading and homework to do. I appreciate that. As the minister will recall, a number of concerns were raised in the House during our recent winter sitting concerning the hardships that a significant number of Iqaluit homeowners and other entities suffered during the long period of extreme cold weather earlier this year that caused so many problems with Iqaluit’s aging water infrastructure.

I am sure that all four Iqaluit MLAs have heard from constituents who incurred thousands and thousands of dollars in costs through no fault of their own to address the freeze-up related damages. Can the minister update the House on what actions his department has been able to take to work with the city to assist or compensate impacted homeowners and other entities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Minister of Community and Government Services, Mr. Joanasie. Hon. David Joanasie: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

On the recent freeze-ups here in Iqaluit, we know that the city was heavily challenged around addressing the utilidor and other mishaps that we had. It was pretty well an all-hands-on- deck type of approach where the city and the Government of Nunavut tried to address it on many fronts, including contractors and what have you. In terms of our department working with homeowners around the incurred costs around these freeze-ups, I don’t know what level of engagement my department has had on this.

I would have to check into some of these details, but many communities do experience fluctuations or hardships around municipal services and we try to assist the hamlets in making sure water and/or

Friday, May 26, 2023 Nunavut Hansard 2897 sewage is kept up-to-date on a daily basis. It’s an ongoing thing. We live in the Arctic. Our environment is quite harsh and it’s a reality that we have to deal with on a year-to-year and seasonal basis. It’s nothing new per se, but we will continue our efforts around making sure that water is available for our residents, not just here in Iqaluit, but across the territory, in partnership with our municipalities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Oral Questions. Member for Arviat South, Mr. Savikataaq. Question 461 – 6(2): “Nunavut on the Hill” Meetings (Savikataaq) Mr.

Savikataaq (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It took a while for the light to turn on. I say “good morning” to the people of Arviat. As today is Friday, I hope you have a relaxing weekend. (interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I would like to question the Premier on the minister’s statement on the “Nunavut on the Hill” meeting. Mr. Speaker, it says here on May 2 the Premier “met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and we discussed our efforts to build more housing…”. Nunavut 3000 was announced and it was not announced with any funding attached to it, therefore it’s just a concept.

It’s a concept to build 3,000 housing units within a time frame. I would just like to ask the Premier: did the Prime Minister make any commitments towards housing to the Premier if any funding was requested for Nunavut 3000? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: Hon. Premier of Nunavut, Mr. Pauloosie Akeeagok. Hon. P.J. Akeeagok: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank my colleague for asking that question. It was a very productive bilateral meeting we had with the Prime Minister.

The member is right; we did talk about many broad-ranging, very important issues that are important to Nunavut, including Arctic security, health care, and housing. We did specifically talk about housing. We were, obviously, very looking forward to seeing in the federal budget that was just released a specific carve- out for the north, a specific carve-out for Nunavut. Without seeing that, we did mention our displeasure. However, we did discuss the line item where the federal budget did identify $4 billion that wi

Document details

Collection	Nunavut — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	2023-05-26, 6th Assembly 2nd Session, Day 44
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	20230526 Hansard
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	TERRITORIAL
Identifier	c1fa0d21c4e87e2bbeee0f301461f767feb43b41

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