Legislative Assembly briefs
Health department seeks more midwives
Stewart Burnett
Northern News Services
Monday, June 1, 2015
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Health Minister Paul Okalik said the government is seeking midwives for its ''More OB'' program.
''We're looking for more midwives and we will continue to look for midwives so that this program can continue fully,'' he said.
Since the Midwifery Profession Act was approved by the legislative assembly in 2008, midwifery centres have opened in Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet and Cambridge Bay. Certified midwives must be registered by the Nunavut Registration Committee to practise in Nunavut.
''We have 10 positions that are open,'' said Okalik.
''We're still looking to fill maybe four positions. That's my knowledge to date.''
Marine facility sought for Iqaluit
Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu MLA Pat Angnakak questioned Finance Minister Keith Peterson on whether the government is open to a private-public partnership to build a new strategic marine facility in Iqaluit.
''I feel like I'm in a university class where they're writing exams - yes or no,'' responded Peterson. ''It's not that easy. Ms. Angnakak knows that. If a proposal comes forward through the planning process, we will consider it.''
Angnakak said the lack of such marine infrastructure is part of the territory's ''significant'' infrastructure deficit.
She tabled an excerpt from the Nunavut Mining Symposium that points out improvements to marine infrastructure in Nunavut could have significant benefits for other communities in the territory.
''We have tremendous infrastructure demand on us in the hundreds and possibly into billions of dollars across Nunavut, so we're open to all suggestions,'' said Peterson.
Mental Health Act under review
South Baffin MLA David Joanasie asked what the Akausisarvik Mental Health Treatment Facility in Iqaluit is doing to address mental health illnesses in the territory.
''They're doing assessments,'' responded Okalik.
He said the facility is looking at ways to improve and is doing an ongoing assessment of its systems. It is also trying to incorporate Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
The Department of Health is in the process of reviewing the Mental Health Act and plans to conduct community consultations starting in the fall.
''We all know that this act was grandfathered from the Northwest Territories and we have been using it to date,'' said Okalik.
''It's very outdated and we will definitely have to review it to make it Nunavut-made.''
MLA questions social assistance
Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu MLA Pat Angnakak said the percentage of Nunavut's population receiving social assistance is ''steadily increasing'' with close to a six-per-cent increase in 2013 to more than 41 per cent of the population.
She wanted to know what Family Services Minister Jeannie Ugyuk is doing to make those who rely on social assistance more self-sufficient.
''We will be reviewing the social assistance policies in an effort to change some of them,'' responded Ugyuk.
''The work will start this fall.''
In 2014, social assistance expenditures reached almost $38 million, nearly $10 million more than five years ago.
Ugyuk said the department is trying to turn clients over to career development officers.
''The career development office refers them to either more education or more career development,'' said Ugyuk.
''We understand the numbers. We want to make sure that the young people are trained, so we will be pushing for that.''
