Nunavut has spent $54M to house elders in Ottawa over the last 7 years, government says

The Nunavut government has spent almost $54 million to house Nunavut elders at Embassy West, a seniors' living facility in Ottawa, over the last seven years.

That's according to numbers from the territory's health department, which has a contract with Embassy West.

The annual spend by the government of Nunavut increased in almost every fiscal year, with the exception being 2020-21, when Embassy West received $191,672.99 less than the year before.

The department said as of June 3, there were 71 Nunavut elders are staying at Embassy West.

Raymond Ningeocheak was an elder who previously stayed there. He was a beloved political leader, a key figure in engaging with Nunavut Inuit and helped improve harvesting and hunting rights in the territory.

His daughter, Sarah Netser, said she's proud. 

"When he became a board member at NTI (Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated), he was always leaving us, but it was because it was his duty; he wanted us to be able to be on our own," Netser told CBC News in Inuktitut. "I didn't mind because he was travelling as one of the leaders to make changes in different communities, to help them."

"He always told us to share with the people that were less fortunate. He had so much love for everyone."

Ningeocheak spent part of the last two years of his life living outside of Nunavut.

In 2021, he wanted to stay at Embassy West for help with physiotherapy.

But while he was there, he was also diagnosed with dementia. He ended up staying at Embassy West for more than a year, according to Netser.

"I didn't like how Nunavut didn't have the kind of facilities he needed and [he] had to be sent to Ottawa," she said. "There wasn't anyone that was able to care for his needs at all times, because we moved here to Iqaluit while he was still in Coral Harbour."

"There wasn't anything else we could do, we had no choice."

With the help of public donations, Netser raised more than $38,000 in two weeks to bring her father home after the government of Nunavut told her that they don't pay for airfare to bring elders home if they're not medically cleared.

"I am so thankful for all the help from everyone all over," she said.

Seven months later, her father passed away at the age of 81.

Contract between GN, Embassy West redacted 

The total value of the deal between the GN and Embassy West is roughly $14.5 million, according to a redacted copy of the contract obtained by CBC News through an access to information request.

Health declined to disclose a clause of the contract which contained "commercial and financial information."

After CBC News appealed the redaction of the clause, Graham Steele, Nunavut's information and privacy commissioner, released a report saying the GN's application of the exemptions were incorrectly applied.

"A contract with the GN for the spending of public dollars is inherently a public matter, subject to specific exemptions for things like trade secrets," part of Steele's report read. "The subject matter of this particular contract has been a matter of public interest in Nunavut for years."

Health Minister John Main still refused to disclose the information.

"Health is currently engaged in contract negotiations with this third-party contractor," he said in a letter to CBC News. "Releasing the information could have a negative impact on the negotiations. Once negotiations are completed, Health will re-visit the issue."

Main was not immediately made available for an interview.

Elders to eventually stay in Nunavut

Elder care in Nunavut is split into five levels.

Currently, Embassy West is the only GN-affiliated facility that provides "Level 5" care. In the GN's Elders and Seniors Strategy, titled "Aging With Dignity," those who fall in Level 5 need 24-hour supervision and care.

"[This] may include Nunavummiut who have been diagnosed with dementia," the report continued.

There is a new long-term care home set to open in Rankin Inlet that will provide Level 5 care.

The new facility will be run through a numbered, yet-to-be-named, company, which will hire its own staff and oversee the day-to-day operations of the facility.

Embassy West owns 24 per cent of the numbered company's shares, with Sakku Investments Corporation owning the remaining 76 per cent, according to Sakku president and CEO David Kakuktinniq.

Netser said such a facility will be a boon for Nunavut.

"We need to take good care of our elders," she said. "They become unable to take care of themselves. They would feel more welcome and comfortable around Inuit. They would be able to talk about how they feel and they would be able to tell their caretakers if they're unwell, and where it hurts.

"It would be better for them if there was someone that understands them."

Regardless of when it comes, Netser is pleased that elders who need long-term care could be able to stay in Nunavut.

"I truly hope it goes well, for the Inuit to have Inuit workers that understand them and for the Inuit to be able to eat their traditional food when they want it; for them to understand one another and for the elders to be able to visit each other," she said.

Netser said had that option existed when her father needed care, she would have preferred him to stay in-territory.

"He would eat country food and he would see Inuit all the time," she said.

"I think he would have lived longer."