EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Is there a teacher assigned to me? I know, with some of the announcement that the federal minister did, there’s online learning and things like that, but where will these adult learners be learning? I guess that’s what I want to know.
Is it in our high schools or is it in our Nunavut Arctic College Community Learning Centres?
Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) The adult mature graduation program is in progress. It has not been completed yet; it is in the developmental stages.
I just want to add for clarification as well that our Department of Education develops the programs and Nunavut Arctic College implements them.
To answer the question about where the students will actually be going to school, we’re in the process of developing them.
Once they are developed, they will then be given to Nunavut Arctic College, and then Nunavut Arctic College will provide the programs through the community learning centres or here in Iqaluit.
Based on the work that has been accomplished, it can include all of these matters under the Department of Education as well as those under Nunavut Arctic College.
Again, thinking ahead to when you actually have students… . I guess what I’m trying to do is come up with questions because I know that when I go back to the community, I’m going to have people asking me.
I have quite a few adults, some who are mothers, who were in school, ended up being pregnant, had to get out of school, raise their children, and now that they are older, they want to go back to school.
DEAs, I find, sometimes are very lenient and they have that requirement where you can go in and ask the DEA if they’re allowed to go back within the actual school system, but I know, sometimes there’s a worry with older students and younger students being in the same classrooms.
The other question too and maybe something that the department is probably thinking about is funding for that as well.
Is this something that will be funded through FANS if they’re going back for adult learning? I’m just asking that because I know that’s one of the questions that always come up, especially if you were working and you want to go back to get more education. You still have to maintain a certain standard of living and support your children while you do go to school.
Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) This is one of the options that we are looking at.
Specifically, in the minister’s opening comments, she was mentioning $600,000 going to a database that was going to be created to help with the adult learning.
I think it was on page 5 of her opening comments, the $600,000. I’m wondering: is that similar to the money that was spent on the NCSIS program or is it an enhancement of it or is it a totally different database?
I would like to thank the member for that question. I will have my deputy respond to that question.
Chairman (Mr. Ningeongan) (interpretation): Thank you, Madam Minister.
Ms. Okpik: The current FANS database is an existing database that needs to be updated; it is totally separate from the NCSIS database that was created. (interpretation) Thank you.
Again, specifically for the $600,000, that’s going to pay a computer company of sorts to create the database, or is it for training or hiring individuals to learn how to run the database? What exactly, I think, is what I would like to know and where that $600,000 will go.
This is to update the database.
Again, I guess I’m being picky and that’s why I’m asking it here and I didn’t ask it during the general comments of the opening comments. $600,000 is a lot of money. In terms of updating or upgrading, it could mean different things.
When you update a computer program, you actually pay money to get a newer version and updating could also mean imputing new data and including new features.
Again, what is actually the $600,000 going for?
Is it going to a consulting firm to actually redesign a made-in-Nunavut specific database that will help the FANS department or is it just for an update?
Mr. Elliott, I would like to remind you that we bypassed the general comments or questions regarding the opening comments.
So we’re on G-10.
Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) The $400,000 is for contract services and $100,000 is for casual wages.
Mr. Elliott, on G-10.
Thanks for that reminder, but that’s what I said; I didn’t ask the question from the opening comments because it was a very specific and detailed question, and we were informed by the Speaker to make sure that we asked our detailed questions during the line by line.
This line by line, as far as I know, the $600,000 is going to adult education and post-secondary services. So that is within G-10’s line items that are going for the money.
So they’re very specific questions. I didn’t want to be called out of order by the Chair when I was doing general comments.
Again, $100,000 is a lot of money to pay an individual.
Is that one person for a full year in terms of training on how to run this database and properly use it?
Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): Yes, there is that one position and there is support available from the IT division.
Are you finished, Mr. Elliott?
I would like to ask a question to supplement the previous questions that were raised by my colleagues related to students taking post-secondary courses here in Nunavut, specifically people who want to take NAC courses and the financial assistance provided to them.
When a student hasn’t completed their course, this policy to debit the student causes major problems to many individuals. I will use a hypothetical situation where a student has been categorically named as a debtor.
Let’s say a student undertakes carpentry courses in the south and they’re unable to complete their course due to personal reasons or they find that they’re in a course that doesn’t suit them, so they return home after two or three months after starting these courses. The individual still wants to take other courses more suited to them, but they notice that in the new calendar year, they now owe funds.
When a person wants to take a new course in the fall, does this mean that this person has to repay their prior FANS debited amounts prior to becoming eligible? Can we not support these students instead?
That is my first question, whether a student cannot receive further FANS funds until they repay their previous amounts if they are interested in new courses.
When a student is approved for assistance for their course or program and the student was unable to complete their course, they are given an invoice for the amount expended.
When students don’t complete a course and several cases occur in a year, it can quickly add up and it ties up the funds that we could have assisted other students with.
This is kind of interrelated and that is why the policy is to repay the funds if a student didn’t complete their course for any unexpended funds.
My question then is regarding students not receiving financial support due to their debts, but they still wish to continue their schooling. They’re not approved due to their prior debt, but their personal wish to continue their schooling is strong, so they continue their schooling via another institution. Just when the student is continuing their education without support, does this not qualify towards their previous debt?
If they passed the first semester but didn’t finish, therefore incurring a debt, and they have continued their education without support, I’m just using this as an imaginary case to illustrate the point.
Does the department not recognize that through the student’s own perseverance and personal dedication to continue their education? In taking another course without support, would this allow the department to then reconsider their status?
Even though the person owes funds to FANS, they still have the desire and will to continue their education, but they’re not getting any assistance from the government. Can the department somehow acknowledge their ambition to continue their education with some sort of relief or help? Has the department ever even considered these cases whereby a person is not receiving assistance due to their past debt and to work with them?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Ms. Ell. Minister Aariak.
Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It is always refreshing to see people with a desire to complete their education and we want to see them succeed in their efforts. This government wants our residents to further their education for their benefit.
There are different avenues for students. For instance, in the case of Inuit students, there are beneficiary education programs, such as those available through the Kakivak Association, and they can apply for base or supplemental funding.
Additionally, the entire student financing field is currently under review with the new emerging opportunities as we need to ensure that we meet their needs.
That is what is happening, and we are seeing an increase in the number of interested students, so it is presently being scrutinized. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister Aariak. Ms. Ell.
Ms. Ell (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Former students owing FANS are quite numerous as many people have taken advantage of this government funding assistance program. With the longevity of this program, many former students end up owing funds to the program and it seems to be escalating.
The minister stated earlier that the program funding has not been increased since 2008 and it is quite common to encounter students going through financial hardship, yet our bureaucracy requests a cost of living increase every year.
Why doesn’t the government extrapolate this practice so that our students can also take advantage of this cost of living increase prevalent in the public service? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman (Mr. Tapardjuk) (interpretation): Thank you, Ms. Ell. Minister Aariak.
Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Our residents who wish to attend post-secondary institutions are increasing and the funds we appropriate for the program are limited as it has a ceiling. The government considers it very important that students have to understand that they have to complete their course or program in order for this program to continue.
This FANS program, as I stated earlier, is under review at this time and I can only reiterate it at this time.
I’m not sure if I answered the member’s question, so she can feel free to ask me further questions. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Ms. Ell (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Can the minister please provide further details related to this review she keeps referring to and exactly what the terms are? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We are reviewing the FANS program. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Ms. Ell (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. With respect to the review of the FANS program, are you looking at increasing the fund and increasing the amount per person? Who can apply for the program?
What exactly are you reviewing? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Everything that the member referred to is under review.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Ms. Ell.
In looking at the figures for Nunavut for 2012-13 for this FANS program, it looks as if there has been a decrease in the funding levels. Why was this fund decreased?
There is a temporary decrease in this fund over a two-year period totalling $600,000 that will be re-profiled into what we were discussing earlier, updating the computer database.
For example, computers have an operating system and at this time, this operating system is getting outdated and cannot handle all the new software. Due to this lack of an updated operating system, we have to make serious upgrades to the hardware and software.
Another reason for the upgrade is to allow for an expansion of our services to become digital so that if a student wishes to file an electronic application, they can do so.
This is one of the most common complaints we hear about, the lack of electronic copies, as they have to send hard copies via facsimile to our offices.
Once we have a new system up and running, students will be able to file electronic applications and if the application is incomplete, it will inform the applicant that they are missing this required field and that they have to complete it.
Again, this is to expedite the process for the benefit of our students and that is why this system has to be replaced.
In looking at the FANS program, we hear many former students state that they still owe funds to this program.
How are these debts collected from the people who owe these funds?
Can this be clarified, please?
The department sends out notices indicating the amounts owed by each former student.
Some of these former students are homeless and unemployed.
Does the department try to collect the entire amount owed or do you have a repayment plan that you work out with the former student? Once the notice has been sent out, does this matter get thrown out and no one bothers to try to collect that amount?
Actually, we have various options available for offering the student a repayment plan and this is usual practice. The students are not required to repay it in a lump sum, but they work together to come up with a repayment plan. It is unfortunate that many former students haven’t been able to make payments on the amounts they owe as of today.
Is there any data available to highlight how many former students are in that situation? Does your department have information on the numbers of students receiving financial assistance and what types of courses are being taken?
For the 2011-12 fiscal year, we have received a lot of applications and the number of approved applications with the students taking their courses total 476 students.
Since various courses and programs are available to students, I wonder whether these funds are for all types of different courses available to the students.
The applications that are approved are for different types of accredited courses that result in a recognized paper, in English, the types of courses that result in a certificate, diploma, or degree.
I would like to welcome the Premier as well as her officials.
Mr. Chairman, if I may, I don’t necessarily have a question but I would like to share a comment.
If I may, all the members in the past, past and present members, have all spoken eloquently in the House in regard to pursuing the right to an education and to enhance quality of life.
Mr. Chairman, from personal experience and being informed by constituents who attend or have attended post-secondary institutions, they would like to remind the people of Nunavut of certain issues that do confront them in terms of access to education and some of the challenges they face.
For those presently in college and university or have attended, one of the examples that is a barrier is access to better quality of dollars to ensure that their quality of life is stabilized so that they can stay focused on their educational matters.
Mr. Chairman, for example, even those living on campuses with cafeteria meal plans and bus passes and paying for the residential requirements on campuses, they have no or very little, if at all any, funds leftover even to do laundry in some cases.
Even those who are attending college and university that have rooms, meal plans, and bus passes, students are lucky to have any money left to do laundry is a statement that is quite impacting.
Mr. Chairman, another area is for many Nunavummiut who choose to live off campuses, they pay rent and groceries on their own, as my colleagues have mentioned, with the inflation of the cost of living as well as access to foods.
Another prospect that is a barrier is many Inuit leave the north for many reasons, whether it would be relationship, employment, medical reasons, and are forced to leave in order to access better services down south. In that sense, they don’t want to leave home, but they are forced to and have no choice, simply because the resources are there.
As a result, Inuit who leave the north are, in many cases, deemed unqualified in meeting the residential requirements based on the FANS criteria for access to education.
Mr. Chairman, I think it’s important that Nunavut and the House remember that we are in a position to ensure that policies and legislation are there to be enforced and amended. I think it’s just essentially to meet the basic needs of Nunavummiut.
Unfortunately, we impact those people who leave to access better services. We systematically deny those better positions to access better education and a right to education and quality of life.
Mr. Chairman, another thing that we always talk about is education is a foundation and education starts at home, but also, education starts with policy and legislation.
This is the thing that we fight for and the very reason why we sit here in this Legislative Assembly.
As a result, it seems to be unfair to the rest of Nunavut, ourselves, if we keep denying access to education for various reasons, such as residency requirements, when, unfortunately, they had no choice but to leave for medical, personal, marital reasons, whatever it may be.
The one thing that is never really mentioned and never really shared, mentioned before amongst others, is the Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms under Section 4 of mobility. As mentioned before in previous sittings, it states that if your province or territory… .
Chairman (interpretation): Mr. Aupaluktuq, all members have had an ample opportunity to speak to issues under general comments. When the minister made her opening comments along with the chairperson’s opening comments, members were provided an opportunity to provide general comments.
If you have a question under G-10, we would like to hear a question at this time.
I wanted to remind members that you had ample opportunity to comment at the appropriate time.
Mr. Aupaluktuq, do you have any questions?
Mr. Aupaluktuq (interpretation): Yes, indeed, I do have some questions as this is an extremely important matter.
This was a preamble to give some background as I wanted information for myself and for the benefit of Nunavummiut as well as this House.
I wanted to ask why there is an obstacle and how we can provide more assistance to our fellow residents.
I apologize if I misled the Chair due to my preamble and I totally understand that we have that opportunity during general comments and I will continue to utilize it. I thank the Chair for allowing us the opportunity, but that is the purpose of my question.
(interpretation ends) The reason I mention that is they have the right to pursue a quality of life. I would like to suggest, with FANS, that perhaps, with my colleagues, we review these policies and ensure that all Nunavummiut have a right to quality of life.
My question to the officials here, Mr. Chairman, is: along the lines as well, I would like to know when we would consider renewing and amending the FANS policies and what strategy and process would be required. (interpretation) Thank you very much.
With respect to your comments, I completely recognize the need as I experienced that while I was taking courses down south in the ‘70s. I also had to be very careful with my money and I had to budget it as well.
It seems obvious to me that students also have to budget the funds they receive even today.
(interpretation ends) I would like to first of all inform the member that with the FANS residency requirement, the Financial Assistance for Nunavut Students, or FANS, program is for Nunavut residents only.
Inuit residents in other parts of Canada have other financial assistance programs they can access, usually from their province or territory and from Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada.
Nunavut residents who are living outside of Nunavut for some special purposes like going to school are still considered Nunavut residents and can get FANS.
There are no Charter of Rights issues with this policy, which is similar to the rules in other provinces and territories.
Like any other jurisdiction, we have our FANS residency requirement.
The review that is happening with FANS is with the sponsorship area. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Aupaluktuq (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am quite appreciative that the minister fully understands what students experience and that these policies need revision.
It is quite obvious that people who have gone south for school apply for funding for their courses, but there is another source of funds that students can also apply for from the federal department responsible for northern affairs.
However, the government does impact students with this assistance for post-secondary courses as it affects them and a lot of Nunavummiut.
The students are a future resource when they complete their courses and start employment. When decision-makers are aware of the challenges faced by our students, they are more willing to assist them as they will benefit our government.
I was just making a comment and I don’t have any further questions.
Your comment was quite understandable, but it didn’t contain a question.
I have no further names on the list.
I would like to provide another opportunity to the member who ran out of his allotted time and whom I thought didn’t finish his line of questioning.
If you have any further questions, you have the floor. Mr. Enook.
Mr. Enook (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for acknowledging me again. I would just like to continue the line of questioning I was proceeding with earlier. I don’t think the questions that I have were just ideas from the top of the students’ heads but actual experiences they underwent.
Let us recognize that matter first. I don’t believe that the students are grabbing stories from a hat, but are reporting their actual experiences.
However, Mr. Chairman, prior to asking my question, this matter is a source of confusion for me.
This program has been in existence for many years, providing financial assistance to many students in post-secondary education. Why is it that this system was never subjected to a comprehensive review? Why is it still a source of constant irritation for the students?
I imagine some of the information I’m relaying has indubitably been brought to the attention of the department since there are many people who are so quick to complain about problems they experience.
If these current problems are going to be treated as new issues they have never heard of, it will be ludicrous. That is why I cannot understand the reasons the bureaucracy provides as to why these problems have never been corrected. These issues can be easily corrected, at least from my perspective.
Let me return to the financial aspect, Mr. Chairman, to ask some questions. One of the biggest problems faced by the students in the outlying communities is the requirement to have a bank account.
It is a very difficult requirement to fulfill since there are specific legal requirements in order to open a bank account where you have to actually show up in person to that financial institution. I don’t believe it is possible to open a bank account via correspondence yet.
This program has been in existence for many years, yet this policy has never been revised to deal with these sorts of problems. Why is that?
Hasn’t the department ever bothered to strategize on how to resolve these problems or have these problems already been resolved?
Hon. Eva Aariak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Let me start by saying that once the problems surface, I urge all students to relay them to their local MLA. These students have with their representative and I thank the students of Pond Inlet for passing on the experiences to their MLA.
If the department is made aware of these problems forthwith, we can provide a response faster and I urge the students further to do so.
With respect to this requirement for a bank account, it was created as a response to students having to wait for their funding cheques for long periods.