EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
At the time of the standing committee’s review, members also recognized that the college’s budget has been affected by the anticipated loss of funds that were allocated from the Territorial Health System Sustainability Initiative for programs related to health career development.
Since the federal government’s announcement that this funding will be temporarily renewed, the committee looks forward to receiving an update on how much of this funding will again be allocated to such programs.
During the minister’s appearance before the standing committee, members noted a significant discrepancy between the college’s main estimates documents and the Government of Nunavut’s quarterly employment statistics with respect to the number of positions at the college.
The standing committee appreciated receiving correspondence from the minister clarifying the reasons for the discrepancy and recommends that for the purposes of accounting for positions, Nunavut Arctic College ensures that its positions are identified in a manner that is consistent with the GN’s overall approach in this area.
Community learning centres play a critical role in the delivery of Nunavut Arctic College programs at the community level, enabling community residents to improve their skills as well as to prepare for opportunities in education or employment.
Although the majority of Nunavut’s communities do have community learning centres, the committee appreciates that efforts are underway to address infrastructure needs for community learning centres in communities, such as Whale Cove, Grise Fiord, and Iqaluit.
The committee recognizes that developments in this area fall mainly within the capital planning process. However, members would appreciate assurances that program delivery in communities, such as Grise Fiord, will not be adversely affected by delays in establishing a new or renovated facility.
The standing committee recognizes that the college delivers a wide range of courses and programs which focus on training and qualifying Nunavummiut for employment and careers within the territory, especially for such positions as teachers, social workers, mental health workers, and dental therapists. Members have noted that past commitments to such programs as the Akitsiraq Law School and literacy programs do not seem to be priorities within the college’s current plans.
Members encourage the minister and the president of the college to work together to identify long-term program commitments that may have been overlooked over time.
It has been noted that some programs, such as the Human Services program which provides training for mental health workers and social workers, does not appear to sufficiently prepare graduates to meet employment requirements for positions in Nunavut’s communities.
Members expressed concerns that by raising students’ expectations but not ensuring that individuals have what they need to meet those expectations, there is a negative and demoralizing effect on their motivation to succeed.
Standing committee members support ongoing efforts towards incorporating the Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition Program into all of the college’s programs and encourage the minister to provide regular reports on the success of implementing this initiative.
The standing committee was pleased to learn from the minister that progress towards opening Nunavut’s new trades training centre in Rankin Inlet is on schedule and within budget. Members were also pleased to note that the majority of instructors are beneficiaries themselves.
However, it is unclear to what extent these instructors will be able to continue to practice their trades within the Nunavut labour force while focusing on instructing a group of potentially 40 new tradespersons.
In the near future, committee members anticipate reviewing program plans for the next major initiative in this area, the new mine training campus in Cambridge Bay.
Mr. Chairman, education is a critical and fundamental determinant of the well-being of Nunavummiut.
While members give their full support for the growing use of technology, distance learning opportunities, and participation in such inter-jurisdictional initiatives as the University of the Arctic network, the standing committee also strongly supports investments in programs directed towards Inuit language and culture.
Members give their full support for the involvement of elders with the ongoing “Elders in the Classroom” initiative for community learning centres and regional campuses. Members also support dedicated oral history projects, such as those operating out of the Igloolik Research Centre.
The standing committee is of the view that these initiatives provide valuable linguistic and cultural foundation for the college.
Mr. Chairman, that concludes my opening remarks. Individual members may also have questions and comments as we proceed.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Shewchuk. (interpretation ends) I’m sorry. I’m confusing you with the minister, Mr. Schell. Thank you.
According to our rules, (interpretation) every member will have an opportunity to speak. According to Rule 77(1), you have 10 minutes to speak, and according to Rule 77(2), subject to the discretion of the Chair, a member may speak more than once to a matter under discussion but not until every member wishing to speak has spoken.
Mr. Rumbolt: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank the minister and his official for appearing.
I have a question regarding your opening comments.
On the first page, you talk about the new trade school in Rankin Inlet and phase 2 will train heavy equipment operators.
Will this training be similar to what is being done in Morrisburg, Ontario right now that a lot of Inuit from the north are attending?
Chairman (Mr. Schell): Thank you, Mr. Rumbolt.
Hon. Daniel Shewchuk: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for the question, Mr. Rumbolt.
Yes, it will be similar.
We are working with Morrisburg on the development of that program, so they will be involved.
With this heavy equipment training, how many pieces of different equipment are you anticipating to have at this school? For example, backhoes, loaders, dozers, and excavators.
Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Rumbolt. Minister Shewchuk.
As the member has stated, we plan on acquiring all of those pieces of equipment, but at this time in the developmental stage, we’re not sure of the numbers exactly.
That was going to be my next question, how many pieces of each type of equipment you will be undertaking at that school.
If you’re going to be purchasing equipment, it’s going to get very costly.
So I’m wondering if you’re working out anything with any type of companies within the community where you can maybe lease their equipment on a short-term basis.
Hon. Daniel Shewchuk: Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Thanks for the question again.
As I stated, we are looking into the numbers as the program gets developed. We are also looking at using simulators to initially start people in that type of training. Also, we will be working with communities to possibly use their equipment too.
On page 2 of your opening comments, you talked about $425,000 for the delivery of the diploma program in Iqaluit and to deliver the traditional modules in two communities per year.
How do you determine which two communities per year?
Hon. Daniel Shewchuk: Thank you very much for the question. Mr. Chairman, thank you.
We are planning on delivering two more programs in Nunavut communities. Part of the initial criteria for that will be to look at the demands where the sealing is the biggest in those communities where there is very active sealing taking place. Also, part of the criteria will be where there is a lot of traditional involvement in seal clothing included.
Have you determined which two communities will be up for this year?
Hon. Daniel Shewchuk: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. No, those communities haven’t been selected yet.
Mr. Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) I’m looking at the plans for a three-year program plan for the college’s Appendix II and page M-26 and I see that the Akitsiraq Law Program is still there and that you’re hoping to offer this.
I think there are a lot of good potential students that are waiting in the wings and wanting to know if it’s actually going to happen so that they can plan and make a firm commitment for this program.
Can the minister update us on the progress that has been made on this program?
I would like to thank Mr. Okalik for the question. As Mr. Okalik is aware, we believe that this is a very important program too. However, the lead on this is the Department of Justice in regard to the funding and acquiring the financing for this program to go ahead with the whole Government of Nunavut.
The Arctic College is supportive of this program and our contribution is in the classroom space and in providing housing for the program to take place. So we are in-kind support and we will support this program in the future.
Mr. Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) Can the minister assure the House and those potential students that you will have classroom space available for 2011-12 if the Department of Justice can get their act together on this one?
No, I can’t make that commitment. It will depend on what kind of programs we are offering at the time and what the demands are on the available classroom space and the housing they have in place right now.
Mr. Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) When will you be able to know when you can have that space and accommodations for students?
We would have a better idea and know more when we could supply that once there is core funding put in place for this program to deliver it. Shortly thereafter, when that is ever secured, we would provide that information.
Mr. Ningeongan: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation) My question… I’ll just use an example. In Coral Harbour…
An Hon. Member: No quorum.
Chairman: I guess we’ve got to ring the bells before we get a quorum here.
I guess the Member for Nanulik wasn’t quite finished asking his question, so if you want to ask your question again.
I had a question with regard to a mine training program that was held in the fall in Coral Harbour.
It seemed that for the majority of the participants who graduated, there would be positions available for them to fill. However, to date, only one individual has been successful in obtaining a position at the Meadowbank mine.
I believe it is called the pre-trades exam and prior to being accepted as an apprentice, they have to pass that exam. Apparently, this is where the difficulties arose since many of the participants were unable to pass the exam.
In my estimation, they should have been able to garner an entry level position, such as a labourer.  However, out of the 12 participants, only one was successful in getting a position at Meadowbank.
I imagine that the numbers have changed, but I was wondering if that could be resolved since they had taken the courses for working in a mine and their expectations were that they would be able to work at the mine.
After the exams had been written, some of these people wanted just an entry level labour position since they did not pass the exam. From my perspective, it seems that the training they undertook was for naught.
This is what I would like to ask about, whether this process has any area for improvement.
I would like to thank the member very much for that information and the member is absolutely right.
There were 12 people who took a 16-week course in Coral Harbour and as far as we understand, all 12 graduated. It’s very disappointing to find out that only one is working at Meadowbank.
That’s not very good news at all.
However, we would absolutely be interested in looking into that and finding out why that is and what the standards are at the Meadowbank mine site that will help us either to develop a better training course or find out what the standards are for them hiring people. We will definitely look into that and get back to the member.
The question I wish to ask is whether this can be taken into consideration by your department in the coming years down the road.
On page 1 of the minister’s opening comments, it states that there is going to be a training centre set up in Rankin Inlet and once it is underway, they are going to be training heavy equipment operators.
Have you considered setting up the training program not only in Rankin Inlet?
Using Coral Harbour as an example, there is a private enterprise there with heavy equipment, such as gravel crushers, and does contract work.
Is it possible to consider using private companies to be part of training heavy equipment operators? I think there is a lot of gravel not only in Coral Harbour but very likely Igloolik and Hall Beach.
I would like to ask the minister if he has considered having some training programs in other communities.
I would like to thank the member again for that suggestion and idea.
Yes, this is being considered in the development of this program. You must realize that this project is three to five years in the future and we are going to consider all avenues.
We would appreciate input from all members in the development of this program and your comments will be considered.
It would benefit more of the communities in the Kivalliq and there would be more students. Even though there is going to be a trades school in Rankin Inlet, the outlying communities might have the capability or resources to be involved in the trades training centre.
We would like to see the communities benefit maybe not right away, but it is something that should be considered ahead of time by your department or the government.
Again, I stress to the member that he brings up some very good ideas. It just makes sense to me, and I have heard this from other communities too, not only from Coral Harbour, that we use communities as a practical training ground for this type of training along with the academics in the Rankin Inlet school, so yes.
It’s good to hear that you want to hear our input in terms of the heavy equipment operator course because I know there are a lot of ideas out there.
It seems like the MLAs are red flagging the capital expense of buying that equipment, but maybe CGS could give you some block funding for it.
In the second paragraph on the first page, how does your department work with the Department of Education in terms of offering some of these trades programs, like carpentry and level 1, level 2?
Yes, we work with the Department of Education very closely.
I believe we have two partnership committees with them.
One is focused on training teachers and the other one is focused on the actual training that is taking place.
Mr. Elliott: On page 2, the third paragraph, you were mentioning and talking about the fur design program and moving it into two specific communities.
I just wanted to point out that Arctic Bay does have a lot of sealing and we provided sealskins for the program last year and also, one of our instructors is a former Arctic Bay resident.
So I think Arctic Bay might be a good community that might be one of the ones.
On page 3, you’re talking about the University of the Arctic.
How is Nunavut Arctic College working with that in terms of having programs offered or establishing a location?
As you know, the University of the Arctic is being talked about and it’s an important initiative that is working its way forward.
We are part of a committee and a group with the other territorial colleges.
The presidents of all three colleges are working together and that’s the first step, working on a plan to move forward on this file.
Mr. Elliott: In your opening comments, you never actually mentioned anything about the MTO training that the college, I think, is contracted to do.
Is it possible to get an update on that? If I can’t ask that question now, if you could show me where in the O&M I could ask it.
It is not in the opening comments, but if the minister wants to answer it, he can go right ahead.
If you look in your appendix, I believe the MTO training is outlined there and the status of it in the back of your appendix.
Mr. Elliott: Thank you. That’s in the business plan.
Yes, in the business plan, I believe, on page M-25.
I’ll save my questions for the page-by-page for the rest. Thanks.
Chairman: There are no more names on my list here for opening comments, so we will go page-by-page.
There is only one page in this one here.
Department Summary. Nunavut Arctic College.
Total Operations and Maintenance. $24,186,000.
Chairman: We’re done then. I guess we’re done.
Do members agree that we have concluded with the Department of Nunavut Arctic College?
Minister Shewchuk, do you have any closing comments?
I thought we were going to at least go to six o’clock.
I would like to thank the president for being here with me. I feel like we should be answering more questions here, but maybe the members will have questions face to face.
I’m not sure, but thank you very much for your input and time and have a good evening. Thank you.
I thank the minister and his official for showing up. Will the Sergeant-at-Arms escort the minister and official out, please.
I would now like to ask Minister Tapardjuk, responsible for the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth, to make his opening remarks.
Bill 22 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2010-2011 – Culture, Language, Elders and Youth – Consideration in Committee
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am pleased to have this opportunity to present the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth 2010-11 Business Plan and Main Estimates.
This department holds the leadership role within the Government of Nunavut for the preservation, development, and enhancement of Nunavut’s culture, heritage, languages, and healthy living opportunities for Nunavummiut.
As part of our commitment to focus government initiatives around Inuit societal values, we have changed the accounting structure of the department.
The Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Division and the Piqqusilirivvik project budgets were previously listed under the Directorate.
For the 2010-11 main estimates and business plan, they are now broken out into their own sections and budget lines.
The Piqqusilirivvik facility is currently under construction in Clyde River.
The completion date for the facility is expected for spring 2011. The development of programming is a very important part of the development of Piqqusilirivvik.
The administration main estimates for 2010-11 is $1,880,000, which is a $1,240,000 increase from 2009-2010.
The budget increase is as a result of preparation for the cultural school opening, which includes staffing, training, and more pilot program testing.
During 2009-2010, we have conducted extensive consultations with territorial institutions, municipalities, Inuit, French, and English language communities, and other stakeholders likely to be impacted by the new language legislation.
Last month, those consultations culminated in the first Nunavut Language Summit, providing Nunavummiut a better appreciation for their language rights and allowing public participation in a groundbreaking language planning process.
My staff and I will now use the valuable input we receive to develop a comprehensive implementation plan for the Language Acts.
Within our Official Languages Branch, we are continuing to implement and support terminology workshops, community contributions, and other initiatives that help to ensure the preservation, promotion, and development of the Inuit language in Nunavut.
In 2010-11, we will continue to pay special emphasis to initiatives that directly support the revitalization of Inuinnaqtun.
Our Elders and Youth Division is focusing on collaborative youth and elder programming.
Bringing together elders and youth to increase the record of oral history takes place with programs in communities across Nunavut.
Currently, interviews based on maps and historical photos are occurring in Chesterfield Inlet, Cambridge Bay, and Arctic Bay. Plans are also underway to bring elders and youth together for the clothing and tool making sessions.
As I explained during our review of the department’s capital budget, the Culture and Heritage Division is working closely with CGS to complete the project brief for the Nunavut Heritage Centre and to be ready to move to the design phase in early 2010-11.
The 2010 Arctic Winter Games were held in Grande Prairie, Alberta the past two weeks, March 6 to 13.
Team Nunavut was represented by cultural performers and athletes participating in the sports of Inuit games, Dene games, badminton, basketball, curling, dog mushing, gymnastics, hockey, indoor soccer, speed skating, table tennis, wrestling, and volleyball.
Mr. Elliott: Mr. Chairman, I would like to report progress.
Going back to our orders of the day. (interpretation ends) Item 20.
Mr. Okalik. (interpretation) Thank you. (interpretation ends) The motion is in order.
Motion 17 – 3(2)
This House stands adjourned until Friday, March 19, at 10:00 a.m.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Pages 1734 – 1782
Opening Prayer 1734
Ministers’ Statements 1734
Members’ Statements 1737
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery 1739
Oral Questions 1742
Tabling of Documents 1759
Notices of Motions for First Reading of Bills 1760
First Reading of Bills 1760
Second Reading of Bills 1761
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters 1761
Third Reading of Bills 1781
Orders of the Day 1781
Friday, March 19, 2010 1734
131 – 3(2): Career Development Officer Training Strategy (Tapardjuk) 1734
132 – 3(2): Atuliqtuq Nunavut Climate Change Partnership (Shewchuk) 1735
133 – 3(2): Occupational Training Diploma Program Delivery in Rankin Inlet, Cambridge Bay, and Iqaluit (Shewchuk) 1735
134 – 3(2): Funding Increase for Licensed Child Care Facilities (Tapardjuk) 1736
194 – 3(2): Commending Community Justice Committees (Elliott) 1737
195 – 3(2): Safe Return of Ernie Etuak (Shewchuk) 1738
196 – 3(2): Problems Facing Homeowners in Small Communities (Ningeongan) 1738
197 – 3(2): Medical Appointment (Ningark) 1739
198 – 3(2): Montreal Canadiens and the AWG Athletes (Okalik) 1739
317 – 3(2): Status of New Power Plant for Cape Dorset (Schell) 1742
318 – 3(2): Status of Conservation Office in Baker Lake (Aupaluktuq) 1743
319 – 3(2): Addressing Concerns Relating to Health and Social Services (Rumbolt) 1744
320 – 3(2): Letter Addressing Mould in Workplace (Okalik) 1746
321 – 3(2): Creation of Child and Youth Advocate Office (Elliott) 1747
322 – 3(2): Information for Potential Homeowners (Ningeongan) 1749
323 – 3(2): Baffin Bay Polar Bear Quota Decrease (Arvaluk) 1751
324 – 3(2): RCMP Issues in Pangnirtung (Komoartok) 1753
325 – 3(2): Coordination of Child and Youth Advocate (Elliott) 1754
326 – 3(2): Purchase of Units in Smaller Communities (Rumbolt) 1756
327 – 3(2): Baffin Bay Polar Bear Management (Okalik) 1757
144 – 3(2): United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change – COP15 Meeting, December 7 to 18, 2009, Copenhagen (Aariak) 1759
145 – 3(2): WSCC 2009-2011 Corporate Plan (Curley) 1760
146 – 3(2): Correspondence from the Hamlet of Pangnirtung and Senreq Canada Incorporated (Komoartok) 1760
Bill 24 – Legislative Assembly Statutes Amendment Act, 2010 – Notice 1760
Bill 24 – Legislative Assembly Statutes Amendment Act, 2010 – First Reading 1760
Bill 24 – Legislative Assembly Statutes Amendment Act, 2010 – Second Reading 1761
Bill 24 – Legislative Assembly Statutes Amendment Act, 2010 – Consideration in Committee 1762
Bill 22 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2010-2011 – Culture, Language, Elders and Youth – Consideration in Committee 1764
Bill 24 – Legislative Assembly Statutes Amendment Act, 2010 – Third Reading 1781
Speaker (Hon. James Arreak) (interpretation): At this time, I would like to ask Mr. Taptuna to say the opening prayer.
Good morning, Premier, Ministers, Members of the Legislative Assembly, and all Nunavummiut.
(interpretation ends) Orders of the day. Item 2.
Minister’s Statement 131 – 3(2): Career Development Officer Training Strategy (Tapardjuk)
Good morning to my constituents in Igloolik and Hall Beach.