Quebec’s public guardian heads north, to Nunavik

Normand Jutras, Quebec’s Curateur public, or public guardian, visited Nunavik for the first time June 16-19. (HANDOUT PHOTO)

Quebec’s curateur public, or public guardian, wants residents of Nunavik to be aware of their options and rights if they — or family members — find themselves unfit to make decisions or care for themselves.

When someone becomes incapacitated due to mental or physical illness, or an injury, some people designate a family member to arrange care and make decisions for them, giving them what is known as power of attorney.

But in Quebec, when there isn’t a designated relative in charge, incapacitated people fall under the protection of the province’s Curateur public, known in other provinces as the public guardian or trustee.

In either case, the office oversees the well-being of those people, who might, for example, be suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, mental illness or head trauma.

Quebec’s public guardian, Normand Jutras, made his first trip to Nunavik last week, visiting all the support services and facilities in Puvirnituq between June 16 and June 19.

Throughout the region, there are 67 Nunavimmiut who fall under the protection of Jutras’ office — a tiny fraction of the 42,500 incapacitated adults and children across Quebec.

But that small group still requires facilities and services, such as long-term care and crisis centres.

“What struck me was that, in Nunavik, it was really the same kinds of facilities you find in the South,” Jutras said. “And that’s where most incapacitated people in the region find themselves.”

Nunavik residents under public protection will most often be found in facility care for a reason though, and that’s the housing shortage in Nunavik, which often leads to overcrowded homes that are not ideal to accommodate people with special needs.

“It’s a serious problem,” Jutras said.

But even those who designate someone to manage their affairs, the public guardian is still available to oversee that relationship. The office has the power to investigate cases where the power of attorney may not be acting in the best interest of those in their care.

Of the 67 Nunavimmiut represented by Jutras’ office, 41 are under public protection.

Of those, 25 are under a “curatorship,” which means they are considered completely and permanently incapacitated, such as in the case of advanced Alzheimer’s Disease.

Another 16 are considered under “tutorship,” which is considered partial or temporary, such as some forms of mental illness.

But while a community like Puvirnituq may have its own hospital and long-term care facilities, Jutras said, many communities in Nunavik do not.

Even in a larger community like Puvrnituq, staff at those facilities who work as caregivers told Jutras they would like to have access to better training and Inuktitut-language interpretation.

The absence of banking services throughout most of the region also makes it difficult for Jutras’ office to manage the assets of people under its care.

That’s why Jutras hopes his recent visit will raise awareness about the work his office does, but also encourage people to speak with their own families and decide how they want their affairs managed.

It’s always better to make those wishes clear, on paper, he said, then to leave it for family members to interpret when a relative is no longer able to communicate.

“Our role is to ensure, as much as possible, that people are cared for by someone they know and trust,” Jutras said.

You can read more about the office of Quebec’s Curateur public and download forms here.