Nunavut minister misstates number of emergency shelters
Territorial budget includes $2M for shelters and transitional housing
Nunavut’s Minister of Family Services answered questions about women’s shelters and safe houses in the territory last Thursday. (File photo)
While Nunavut’s minister of Family Services told the legislative assembly last week that there are three shelters in the territory for women fleeing violence, on Monday morning the department explained that there are actually five.
After the release of Nunavut’s budget this week, which officials say places a focus on wellness and social issues in the territory, regular MLAs have been pushing ministers to provide details on plans in store for women’s shelters, safe houses and transitional housing projects.
On Thursday, Feb. 21, Iqaluit-Mannirajak MLA Adam Lightstone asked Family Services Minister Elisapee Sheutiapik which communities currently have facilities for women who are fleeing domestic violence.
At the time, she said there were three and did not say where they were located.
However, on Monday, Alison Taylor, Family Services’ director of policy and planning, sent Nunatsiaq News a statement that the correct number is actually five, and that they are located in Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet, Cambridge Bay, Kugaaruk and Kugluktuk.
On Thursday, Sheutiapik had also explained that all 25 communities have a safe house for women.
“The communities have private homes that are not publicly stated that they could be a safe home to go to if need be temporarily,” said Sheutiapik.
The safe houses are just not advertised for privacy reasons, Sheutiapik said, but the hamlets and RCMP are aware of them.
But, on Monday, Taylor corrected that as well.
“There are currently four safe homes across Nunavut that are funded by the Department of Family Services—Igloolik, Arviat, and two in Pond Inlet,” said Taylor, adding that this number fluctuates.
“The department is aware of other safe homes operating within communities that are not funded by the department. These are informal supports provided by community members. If any individual is providing this service informally, they can contact the department’s front-line Community Social Services Worker (CSSW) to learn how they can be supported by the department.”
Typically, women can stay in department-funded safe houses for seven days, but in some cases Family Services can help to create a longer plan.
Funding for Uquutaq project needed
As well, Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu MLA Pat Agnakak brought up concerns about financing for shelters in the territory, starting with the plan in the works for a men’s transitional housing program in Iqaluit.
Currently, the Government of Nunavut contributes approximately $10,000 a month towards the rent of the house used as Iqaluit’s men’s shelter, Agnakak said.
She asked Sheutiapik what the GN will provide to support the Uquutaq Society’s transitional housing project.
Sheutiapik said that her department meets regularly with the society, the mayor and other stakeholders involved with the project. But at this point she does not know how much money the GN will provide because the board itself does not know what it needs.
“It really hinges on this support for the project to be successful,” Agnakak said.
“Without that kind of financial input, I think it is going to be very hard.”
Services and programming need space
If the Uquutaq Society manages to acquire a larger building, Agnakak said, it would allow them to provide the “much-needed programs and services.”
Currently, the men at the shelter have to leave each morning, because the building is too small to provide training or counselling inside, Agnakak said.
The rooms are filled to capacity with bunk beds and couches for the men to sleep on. One tiny bathroom is often shared by about 50 men in the winter.
Agnakak asked the minister how her department will assist the Uquutaq Society to train staff to provide these services to men’s shelter clients.
“All the funding provided is through contribution agreements, so (if) Uquutaq has ideas on the programs they want to do, they have to put together a contribution agreement, a proposal,” said Sheutiapik.
The government should be proactive, said Agnakak.
“That response kind of makes me think the department sits back and waits for people to come to them,” said Agnakak.
“I think you are very aware of the need for the Uquutaq shelter. I think everybody knows, even if you are not from Iqaluit. It has been in the news a lot.”
Budget details for Nunavut shelters
Cate McLeod, the Nunavut premier’s press secretary, said at a budget lock-up on Wednesday, Feb. 20, that the emphasis of this year’s budget is on wellness for the most vulnerable.
For that reason, there is a $2-million investment in the budget to improve services at emergency shelters and plan potential transitional housing options for women and children.
Of that $2 million, about half is going to top up the societies to run shelters, for capacity and programming.
“$800,000 is going to create additional support through family violence and training initiatives, and $120,000 will go to support to Qulliit Nunavut Status of Women Council,” said Lindsay Turner, Nunavut’s director of poverty reduction, on Feb. 20.
As well, this funding will cover hiring a GN transitional housing coordinator, who will work with the partners in developing a model for Uquutaq’s plan, and also one for women.
“There is a lot of work going on, on the Uquutaq society side, to develop a transitional housing project for men so we are equally wanting to put in place the resources to create transitional housing for women around the territory,” said Turner.
They not sit back, relax, and wait for a crisis to happen, they are also ignorant. They rely too much on paper than reality itself. That’s why the Government of Nunavut has no idea what is happening to the mainstream Nunavummiut.
Unfortunately Sheutiapik doesn’t seem to be doing too well as a Minister. Maybe she performs better behind the scenes but ministers have to be at the top of their game when they answer questions publicly. If you dont know the answer tell the other member you’ll get back to them, don’t guess. It makes you wonder if this was a one time error or if this is a reoccurring problem. The media can’t be expected to fact check every statement.
The minister seems unprepared in her responses and doesn’t seem to know her portfolio very well. It also doesn’t look very good that so many inaccurate statements are being provided by the Minister to the public.
A lot of Ministers know very little about what goes on in their departments. Not a good thing.
In this case, it’s very likely she received an inadequate briefing from her senior management, including the Director of Policy, prior to session.
I can guarantee that the information referred to in this story was located somewhere in the Minister’s briefing binder (each Minister gets one before the start of session). The more likely answer is that the Minister never read the binder and spoke off the cuff as so many in Nunavut are wont to do.
That’s also likely.
I think we all had such high hopes for Elisapee Sheutiapik when She was elected…
now that we have seen her handle multiple portfolios, these hopes have been somewhat dashed and drizzled on. It is not a job where you can simply read your Briefing Notes a couple of hours before sitting and smile nice for the cameras. We have lives hanging in the balance here for the safety of our own people and these reports are more than just numbers on a page.