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Premier expected to address high rates of suicide
Recommendations from jury at coroner's inquest to be reviewed, according to government spokesperson

Michele LeTourneau
Northern News Services
Monday, October 5, 2015

NUNAVUT
Cabinet ministers will consider recommendations made by the jury at the conclusion of the chief coroner's inquest into the high rate of suicide when the legislative assembly resumes Oct. 21, a spokesperson for Premier Peter Taptuna said Oct. 1.

"Cabinet will review the jury recommendations from the suicide inquest. (The) premier will make an announcement on the government's actions moving forward. It is anticipated that this announcement could be made during the upcoming session," Catriona Macleod stated in an e-mail.

Macleod, director of communications for the Government of Nunavut, replied to a request for reaction to the jury's recommendations in lieu of Taptuna, who was travelling.

"(The) premier and all of cabinet have considered this an important enough issue to act on and this is reflected in Sivumut Abluqta, which was agreed upon by the full caucus, all members of the legislative assembly, under the pillar of healthy families through strong and resilient communities."

The government is also facing its mid-term leadership review when the next sitting of the legislative assembly begins Oct. 21.

Typically, all members of the assembly are given the opportunity to vote for changes in cabinet. MLAs hear statements made by the premier and each cabinet minister and then ask questions.

Political will at the highest level and funding were required to implement the now-expired Nunavut Suicide Prevention Strategy, the jury at the chief coroner's inquest into the high rate of suicide in the territory repeatedly heard Sept. 14 to 24.

Both a financial commitment and direction from cabinet were absent from 2010 onward, while suicide deaths remained at a rate 10 times the national average, the jury heard.

The jury recommended the Government of Nunavut "immediately declare suicide as a public health emergency." Such a declaration would amount to ensuring the territorial and federal governments apply resources to address the emergency.

There are strict deadlines attached to many of the jury's recommendations, but two relate to GN timelines.

"The GN appoints a minister responsible for suicide prevention at the next sitting," recommended the jury.

Other recommendations from the jury call for specific actions from many responsible government departments, including funding for Inuit beneficiary organizations, the Embrace Life Council, the Kamatsiaqtut Help Line and regional Inuit organizations.

Asked if the premier expected the suicide prevention strategy, its failures, and inquest recommendations to come up during the sitting and leadership review, Macleod stated: "We would expect the inquest to be a topic of discussion during the legislative sittings, yes."

Asked, if as the leader of the territorial government, would he concede that suicide prevention needs dollars allocated to initiatives in the strategy, that it needs a budget, the reply was: "The recommendations made by the jury at the suicide inquest are going to be reviewed and that information will be presented to cabinet. Once that review is complete, the premier will make an announcement on the government's action plan. It is anticipated that this announcement can be made during the fall legislative session."

Should the GN call a public health emergency, the federal government would need to respond. Nunavut News/North asked Nunavut candidates in the Oct. 19 federal election if their parties would be responsive.

Conservative candidate Leona Aglukkaq listed investments her government has made to date in broad health and infrastructure initiatives, some national, but did not directly address the question of a public health emergency.

"However, much more work remains to be done to support our communities. If re-elected I will continue to work with the Government of Nunavut, Inuit organizations and Nunavummiut to address suicide in our territory."

Liberal candidate Hunter Tootoo stated regarding a public health emergency that he would "certainly commit to meeting with the premier, the health minister and the rest of cabinet to discuss the tragedy of suicide and to determine how the federal government and territory can work together to address this issue."

Meanwhile, on Sept. 30, the Representative for Children and Youth Office opened its doors, after 10 years in the making. Part of its mandate is to review critical injuries and deaths of children and youth in the territory.

Asked if her office has a role in suicide prevention in the territory, child and youth advocate Sherry McNeil-Mulak said, "Absolutely."

"We consider the rate of suicide in Nunavut a crisis. Suicide has a far-reaching and devastating impact on young people and their families. Our office will champion that message and use its independent status to hold government accountable to the public on its plans to address this crisis in Nunavut.

"Our role is not to develop or replace government services, but rather to ensure government is effectively addressing the types of issues that matter most to Nunavut's youth; suicide being one of those key issues."

Meanwhile, a press release from the partners of the suicide prevention strategy stated they were reviewing the recommendations.

Health and Justice Minister Paul Okalik, speaking on behalf of the Government of Nunavut, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., the RCMP and Isaksimagit Inuusirmi Katujjiqatigiit (Embrace Life Council), stated in a news release, "The recommendations from the Nunavut Suicide Prevention Strategy evaluation report, the coroner's inquest recommendations, best practices and lessons learned by the partners, will be used to determine the next steps in the development of suicide prevention in Nunavut."

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