Nathan VanderKlippe
Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet (July 24/02) - When the hamlet of Rankin Inlet asked the territorial government to return something the hamlet never had in the first place, the government said sure but give us some time.

At a hamlet council meeting early in July, councillors voted to have Mayor Jack Kabvitok lobby the government of Nunavut to return control of the home-care program to the hamlet.

"If you're a person that needs help, who are you going to go to? It's easier to go to your mayor and your council than it is to speak to someone in government," said Coun. Justin Merritt.

The hamlet already administers several programs formerly run by the territorial government, including drug and alcohol counselling.

But Rankin never had control over home care, despite having hired its current co-ordinator, Harry Tootoo. Tootoo was hired by the hamlet several years ago to conduct a home-care needs assessment -- as required by Health Canada, which funds the program.

Tootoo switched to the territorial government when the program got off the ground. He now serves as its administrator. But Health and Social Services is open to handing off the program to the hamlet. A similar arrangement has been worked out in Baker Lake, where a non-governmental association runs the program.

"If there's a willingness from the hamlet's perspective to provide leadership, and if there's also a an understanding that the federal government has requirements that need to be reported back, I don't see a problem with that," said Joanne Bezzubetz, executive director at the regional Health and Social Services office.

When the hamlet assumes control, it also receives five per cent of program costs as an administrative fee.

The home-care program is worth an estimated $1.5 million, meaning it could be an extra $75,000 to the hamlet.

Deputy Mayor Lavinia Brown hopes that happens soon.

She has a daughter with Prader-Willy Syndrome, a condition that hampers a person's ability to develop.

She turns to the homemaker program for some assistance.

Under the homemaker program, unqualified care workers help with household chores such as cooking and cleaning. Between 15 and 22 homemakers work in Rankin.

Serious staff

Home-care workers, on the other hand, are trained to help the disabled directly, administering baths and providing assistance with walking and dressing. None have been hired yet, although Health and Social Services intends to train three home makers to do home care. Tootoo co-ordinates both home care and homemakers.

But Brown wasn't entirely happy with the home maker program.

"We had a hell of a time trying to keep one because it was not consistent," she said, adding that if the hamlet can take the program, homemaker workers can be encouraged to take their job more seriously.

Meanwhile, the home-care program is just spooling up. Federal dollars are paying to hire a nurse and train three workers this year. The program also purchased a handicapped-accessible van, which is expected to arrive on the first barge.

Bezzubetz said that she is open to giving the program to the hamlet, once the government "works out the bumps and does the hirings." That could be as soon as a year from now.