Legislative Assembly Briefs
MLA: Is pot plebiscite possible?
Michele LeTourneau
Northern News Services
Monday, November 7, 2016
IQALUIT
Baker Lake MLA Simeon Mikkungwak wants to know if the GN is planning on selling marijuana, should it be legalized by the Canadian government.
"Our territorial Liquor Act allows for communities to hold votes to determine whether or not to allow free access to alcohol, restrict access to alcohol through the work of alcohol education committees, or to prohibit alcohol altogether," said Mikkungwak, making parallels between the intoxicants.
"What is the Government of Nunavut's position with respect to the ability of communities to hold similar votes regarding marijuana?"
He noted Ontario has expressed an interest in selling marijuana in its government liquor stores.
"Mr. Mikkungwak is way out front of us on that," Finance Minister Keith Peterson said Nov. 1. We most certainly haven't given much consideration to the distribution of marijuana in the communities."
Peterson has met with other justice ministers and his department met with the task force on the legalization of marijuana, at which he noted Nunavut's concerns. He said the meetings were productive.
The department is waiting for the task force's preliminary report.
He noted all jurisdictions told the federal government they will need one or two years grace to figure out legalities and distribution within their respective jurisdictions if the Government of Canada introduces that legislation in the spring of 2017.
"We're already struggling with the distribution system for liquor products in Nunavut. We do have an interdepartmental working group with Finance, Justice, and Health that will probably be considering those types of concerns," said Peterson.
GN commits to Inuit employment
The Government of Nunavut wants to meet its requirements under Article 23 of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement to implement Inuit employment plans.
This news, delivered by Premier Peter Taptuna at the legislative assembly Nov. 2, came weeks after Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. called out the government for failing to implement an Inuit employment plan for teachers.
"To that end, the Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs has reorganized its Sivumuaqatigiit division to focus purely on Inuit employment initiatives, and to provide support and guidance to departments and corporations to implement their Inuit employment plans," said Taptuna.
"The Government of Nunavut is committed to an effective and functional public service that is representative of the population it serves, and that meets the requirements of the (NLCA)."
Taptuna said that as a result of the settlement of the implementation lawsuit last year, the government has access to $40 million to implement Article 23 for the duration of the contract period concluding in 2023.
A new Public Service Training division will design, develop and deliver training and development programs for all public servants at headquarters and decentralized communities, said Taptuna.
Food concerns voiced
Are the dietary needs of medical travel clients being addressed?
That was Quttiktuq MLA Isaac Shooyook's concern Oct. 31.
"Diabetes is a growing concern across Nunavut," Shooyook said. "A person with diabetes cannot control the amount of sugar in their blood, which can lead to very dangerous health conditions. Two of my constituents have a number of dietary restrictions and they will need to travel to Iqaluit for tests and medical care related to diabetes."
He asked Health Minister George Hickes to clarify what steps are taken to meet the needs of medical clients when they travel.
"Some kinds of pills and greasy foods don't sit well together," said Shooyook.
Hickes said his department works very hard with contractors and medical staff to make sure that such needs are recognized.
"In a nutshell, if a member is aware of certain instances where that's not occurring, I would recommend that patient relations be contacted to deal with the one-off circumstance of that," he said.
Shooyook pressed Hickes further with the example of a constituent who told boarding home kitchen staff he wasn't allowed to eat a certain kind of food.
"But the kitchen was not concerned at all, and didn't do anything," Shooyook said. "They (clients) expect that their special dietary needs would be recognized and also with respect to country foods. Can the minister look into those patients who have to go to the Ottawa boarding home, and remind the staff there about respecting special dietary needs of diabetic patients?"
Hickes agreed to have his staff notify the boarding home administration of Shooyook's concerns.
Finally, Shooyook said country foods should be made available to medical travel clients. Hickes said it is already on the radar.
"I know when I was recently at the Larga Baffin opening, there were tuktu, maktaaq, and when I spoke to the executive director of that facility, she said they quite often have country food available for the residents," replied Hickes, adding he was open to suggestions on ways he could assist in making country foods available.
"I'm open to any dialogue."
