EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
So regardless of when the building will open we will actually continue to recruit.
It is unfortunate that it is not open today but we're not letting that hold us up.
Can the Minister tell me, I've been through the building, a few weeks ago when I was home, and it looked fairly complete to me.
What is the tie-up and when can we expect to move people into that building.
It looks complete even by telephone, but can't telephone there.
Telephone , fax those kind of equipment, essentials are not complete but I'm told that they would be completed by after 1st of July.
Just second part of my question is it fair to assume that after the phone systems are installed that at that point we can then more people this new building?
Yes, we hope that by after 1st of July then we will start recruiting as much as we can get in those competitions and transfers etc. etc. that we would like to have that done around that time.
This is my last question, comment.
The 27 positions that are earmarked for my community at this point and time can you confirm that there are no changes to those numbers. That these positions will be located in the community.
Hon. James Arvaluk: That's right, that's true , that's the number we have been told any other directive from the Government to do likewise.
That's the number we have.
Mr. Chairman my question is about the students who have graduated in grade 12 who would like to attend university but usually there is no funding for students to attend universities.
What is the status of assistance for students who liked to go down to universities.
Hon. James Arvaluk (interpretation): There are different ways of sponsoring students according to the university they're attending.
I would like Ian Rose to elaborate.
Ian Rose.
Chairperson (interpretation): Ian Rose.
Mr. Rose: There are a number of programs that can we use.
For most students attending southern university receiving a funding through the Student Financial Assistance Program.
Students would apply to the Department for their funding depending upon whether they are a single student or a student with dependants their level of funding would be based on that scale.
I don't know if it's directly involved, if the department is involved, usually they use training programs or carpentry or plumbing and they usually go to the West to get that kind of training.
To have that kind of training in the communities would be very valuable.
For the communities that did not receive any decentralization I was wondering if you would make that kind of training in the communities so that it could be, that kind of education and training could be made available to Nunavut for certification.
The trades programs such as training for carpentry, plumbing, electrical or mechanical training or for teacher training programs if there are many interested people in Nunavut we would automatically have to start considering if we need that kind of training centre in Nunavut and for the communities that did not receive any decentralization like the smaller communities.
If they requested we would consider that also but I don't want to say that Department of Education alone cannot resolve this and the Government themselves cannot resolve this we would have to work together and review this and to review which community would be the best appropriate community to have that kind of a centre.
Chairperson (interpretation): Mr. McLean , you're up.
I going to go back, I try to keep to 10 minutes, but I might get carried away here.
It nice to see everybody here , armed and dangerous with paper.
The Capital Planning process has been involved in DEAs and Regional Education Authorities for the last decade.
I'm going to do a bit of history here because we all have a tendency to say in Kabluna talk that history repeats itself.
And I'm hoping now that its Nunavut that history won't repeat itself.
The past Finance Minister negotiated our formula finance agreement with the thought of decentralization in mind.
Unfortunately when he was negotiating with the Federal Government on decentralization in foreman financing agreement he must have been asleep in regards to Capital Projects.
I go through the wish list from the Department from Bob Moody and there is something like 16, 17 school extensions or renovations planned in the next 3 to 4 years.
I'm just throwing a ball park figure out there because all renovations in new buildings are different.
Conservative estimate is that we're going to need close to one hundred fifty million dollars.
That's just my estimate.
And like I say they're conservative.
To get Nunavut up to where it should be for our booming population that we hear so much about.
So you have momentous task on your hands to find one hundred fifty million dollars for school facilities alone and that doesn't really take in the adult education facilities.
Our Capital Plan this year is fifty five million dollars total and I think there is ten million dollars for schools.
So the plan ahead of us and with our Finance Minister at the helm we've got a monumental task ahead of us in regards to putting in schools at communities that deserve them.
Now in the past, it wasn't necessarily the case in the region that I live in. That schools were given to communities in need, in dire need.
It was done on political will, just before election time.
A Member: Name one.
Mr. McLean: Exactly, and I don't want to pick on another community or anything like that. But Rankin Inlet has a school that was built as a regional high school.
The Mani Uluyuk School with the capacity of 451 students and it has 185 in there.
The Leo Ussak Elementary School was built for the capacity of 374 and they have 255.
And being on the regional education board I fought tooth and nail to have a capital plan equitably and fairly in the region and they turned around and built a middle school in Rankin Inlet.
So I think their capacity in Rankin Inlet is 30 to 40%.
Where as I know if we went around to the other schools in the region the capacity is anywhere from 85 to 120%.
So I'm getting back to standards and criteria in need.
And in the government in Yellowknife always didn't have the true figures of what populations were in the school, because I watched it and studied it.
I said we had this many kids in the school from actual counts and calling the nursing stations and seen what kids were there from year age 1 till 5 and the we'd get the bean counters from Yellowknife or we would come to the Keewatin once every 5 years when there was a free ride or they had booster air miles up and say oh yeah I was in Baker Lake or I was in Chesterfield Inlet or Whale Cove once and our figures say that you only have 70% of your numbers.
So I'm hoping when this department was closer to the government or closer to the people its going to be a little bit more flexible and really put schools in renovations in places they need them.
And being member of this government and seen what happened in the past I'm going to keep this government to it.
If a school needs to be built in a certain community it should be built there.
If a renovation has to be built in a certain community it should be built there.
They shouldn't be built at politicians whims as they were in the past.
I'm not blaming you guys this is new.
We're all in this together and I'm going to see to it.
So when I do my 10 minutes let me go but I want to go into other things.
The school populations right now in the Keewatin there was a 15% influx of students into the Keewatin schools this year and the funding was status quo.
So 15% of 2,200 students is roughly 300 so the important of the finance, I should have been at least 15 new teachers hired this year.
I know you guys are dealing with the budget and I know we're all concerned about education.
But the fact of the matter is, and Mr. Tootoo alluded to it, we have the highest student teacher ratio in probably North America. And probably, and I'm not taking anything away from anybody but probably with the most inexperienced staff.
We've got some very qualified staff but the pressure on the system and I go through the school in Baker Lake numerous times a week because I have two children going there I've picked up and I watch how dedicated teachers are and how hard they work.
Just try and keep semblance in that classroom in trying to maintain and education level that we come to expect because I know as parents we all concerned that our kids get the best education level.
And I know we're looking at the poor Minister of Finance there and we're saying we need for money for education.
We all have to live within the realms, the realms of we all have to live within the means and what I'm saying, I'm hoping this is going to change over the next year.
You said you're hiring 17 new teachers, I'm hoping you're going to put them in communities that the student teacher ratio need them the most because I can agree on that.
Bussing, we inherit this bussing policy from the west.
This bussing policy was formulated in the west based on whatever.
It was based on their climate.
They would give us a certain amount of money to the Divisional Board in the Keewatin for 4 months of the year the 4 coldest months.
Well, the 4 coldest months in Yellowknife or Hay River are not necessarily the 4 coldest months in Arctic Bay, Iqaluit, or Baker Lake.
We went to the point where we hosted bingo's and did fund-raising to make the bussing schedule fit the needs of the community.
And we fortunately were successful in paying enough money through fund-raising, binges, and through our contribution for Regional Education Council to provide bussing year round.
But bussing over here we found in the Keewatin is not really a privilege or a something to have, a frill, it’s a necessity because there is a, you know in places like Chesterfield Inlet, I think the reason they had bussing there was because of polar bears.
You know it could be a threat and we heard in Arviat there wolves in Bake Lake , foxes and stuff like that so I think there should be a bussing policy formulated to reflect the needs of Nunavummiut.
Inuit Educators; I've been they've been sadly neglected in the last 7 or 8 years.
I was really, really put out 3 or 4 years ago when an individual from one of the organizations over here was running round the Keewatin say that they had 40 million dollars over, it wasn't Department of Education official, it was somebody else, in one of the organizations.
Saying that they had 40 million dollars to train people to work in the Nunavut Government at various levels of management or what ever, what ever, what ever.
And he had the nerve to come to a regional education meeting and say well its not their to help the Inuit educators.
And I'm going what are you doing at this meeting.
Well, its just to advice you so you can advise your high school students and other people in the community.
And I says well, what about a classroom assistant that's worked in a classroom for 10 or 15 years, taken a TEP course, got here B. ed. and you know they' re committed, they're committed 15, 25 years in education system and then money comes out for training people in Nunavut and they're not eligible for it.
Like to me that was injustice, terrible injustice to probably the most committed group of individuals in our education system and like I say again there are certain number of dollars going around.
When I was hoping he was Minister of Education if the Federal Government is going to dump 40 or 50 million dollars into Nunavut for educating people for Management positions and other various positions in Nunavut we'll look at the backbone of our education system which is the educators.
The more help they have the better our education system will be.
And I'm sure you'll look at that Mr. Minister because I know you're involved in education and is concerned about it as I am.
Your staff; I've known Mr. Rose for 30 years, I remember Murray Horn when I was a young lad, and I've know you, James and I really don't know Carmen Levi that much…
Chairperson (interpretation): Mr. McLean, your time is up.
You may ask another question. Or you can ask another question to you and ask if you can have general consensus in order to go over your time.
Mr. McLean: Thank you . Mr. Chairman and my fellow colleagues.
I'll end it right now.
I just want to see more people out in the field.
We're supposed to be closer to the government.
I'd like to get Mr. Rose out in the Keewatin.
Murray used to live there.
It helps being in a region, in the Keewatin, where the board office is in the community.
But the biggest complaint from the staff was they never saw the staff of the board office in their school.
They were always out travelling around.
Did you want to make a response?
Hon. James Arvaluk (interpretation): I know exactly where you're coming from.
I would also like to thank him.
I'm sure that we will not want to repeat his traces because of the inconsistencies and so on.
So right now I would like to be very open.
We'd like to look as how we can improve the education system, openly amongst ourselves and we will also have to realize that there is a limit to the money.
So we have to use, look at how we can best use our money effectively for the people of Nunavut.
Chairperson (interpretation): Do you have another question Mr. McLean?
His opening remarks yesterday, he said that he would like to see education closer to the people of to the communities of Nunavut.
Can you clarify that point.
Hon. James Arvaluk (interpretation): The Arctic College.
I think some people think that Arctic College is here in Iqaluit, Ft. Smith, far away and it's something that's foreign to the people of Nunavut.
I can use an example of Arctic College ETEP students.
They're taking their training at Arctic College but the Arctic College is community based.
There is graduation in Coral Harbour and Igloolik they don't necessarily have to go down to Iqaluit, they can take their training at home and they think that headquarters or the Board of Governors and President are sitting way up there somewhere; unreachable.
That's the perception that the people have out there.
So I would like to get Arctic College a little bit closer to the communities so that there can be dialogue between the people and Arctic College and the Board of Governors for example.
Those are the ideas that we have.
There are some students who take heavy equipment operator courses in Ft. Smith and heavy equipment mechanic, apprenticeship programs do you have any plans on setting up trade school over here in the Nunavut area?
Hon. James Arvaluk (interpretation): Yes, that's a part of, it's a part of what we're doing now.
A lot of people go to Ft. Smith to take the heavy equipment operator courses and trades and also there is also a mine in Nanisivik and I believe there is one opening in the Keewatin area.
So we have to be prepared and get workers trained and also more and more people bidding on contract services providing heavy equipment and operators and I think that there is going to be more and more demand for those types of workers.
So we have to get planned ahead so that we can put people into those into the provision of these services.
Chairperson (interpretation): Mr. Nutarak .
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): It's not a question but it's regarding the Arctic College that's in my home community.
It's very, very small and it seems like nobody's given it a second thought so the Adult Education for the Arctic College in Pond Inlet has to be renovated.
Chairperson (interpretation): Mr. Arvaluk.  Hon. James Arvaluk (interpretation): Okay we'll look into it.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): Okay, my last comment.
Yesterday in your opening remarks there was twenty-six point one million dollars I believe.
I'm sure were going to talk about it when we get into the Main Estimates.
Do you give out those monies on a per capita basis or how do you, what's the formula.
Chairperson (interpretation): Any one of you. Mr. Arvaluk.
Hon. James Arvaluk (interpretation): I have exactly no idea how its set.
It's on a per capita basis.
I'll get our Assistant Deputy Minister to elaborate on this.
Chairperson (interpretation): Ms. Levi.
In regards to the Income Support, the regulations are and policies are dealt with by the Sustainable Development and we handle the operations portion.
Some of our employees work through the hamlet councils and some through our departments.
The community's are given a PYs .
There has been no change in the salaries and benefits.
Even if they are working under the Hamlet Councils, the same rules or policies apply.
Also when money is given to the communities, they are given the same amount as they use the previous year, so that is how the money is given out to the communities.
Chairperson: Mr. Arvaluk.  Hon. James Arvaluk: I forget the name already.
Ikupigvilirijikkut, when we were talking to Sustainable Development, going back to those comments, if an employee sees about 2 thousand clients they are given one full time position and if they see half then it’s a half time or casual position.
If they do more than service clients, we are also looking at whether they could also be there to provide employment services.
Mr. Kilabuk and I are discussing this right now, I am not saying that this is going to be the case but we are exchanging ideas on how we can improve the system for Nunavut.
Chairperson: Thank you Mr. Arvaluk.
First of all I would like to make a comment about the provision of buses in the communities.
I believe that is a concern all over Nunavut.
We do have a bus in Sanikiluaq but it cannot be used for all the students.
Some of the people bring in students with skidoos and other modes of transportation and I believe that it is like that all over the communities.
A man will bring his kids to school first instead of going out hunting or delaying their hunting trip so that they can bring their children to school.
It is more of a comment, but my question is in regards to the DEA’s.
It has been quite a while now since they had to use the money for specific purposes.
I would like to know if there is going to be money given to the DEA’s that they can use at their discretion.
We do have a policy, maybe Ian can elaborate on it further.
Chairperson: Mr. Rose.
Mr. Rose: Thank you.
Again, as I said earlier, the funding formula for the way schools is calculated, the funding formula is an allocation formula.
So the money is calculated and then given to the DEC’s.
From there the money can be reallocated or re-profiled within the DEC’s or reallocated to other schools.
So if they are high in one area, they can move money from there to another area where they are low.
So they can move it around.
So there are not set amounts for set things, they can move it around, re-profile it, they can move it over.
The Department does not take money back from DEC’s, it allows them to move money around so if they are high in one area it is not taken back it is allowed to be move over.
So monies can be moved around and re-profiled within the areas.
Chairperson: Mr. Kattuk.
Mr. Kattuk: I guess I was misunderstood somewhere.
I was trying to say that in the past the Education Authorities in the communities used to pay their employees within the community but in the past that authority was taken away from them to the Educational Board in Iqaluit.
I think what I am saying is that in the future will the communities have that authority again to pay their employees, or the people that work for them in the community.
This issue you brought up, is being negotiated and we are still in the process of reviewing all of those, whether they can be given the authority to do all those things.
Chairperson: I have two names here on the list and one member is allowed ten minutes, would you like to take a break right now or would you like to go on.
Okay , let’s take a five minute break.
>>Committee recessed at 2.38 and resumed at 2.54 pm.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you for returning to the table.
Right now Mr. Iqaqrialu has a question.
Mr. Arvaluk, you raised your hand first, you may speak.
Hon. James Arvaluk (interpretation): Ms. Levi has to go to Gjoa Haven tonight so I had to get a replacement.
This is Murray Horn, who deals with capital and especially finances, and Phoebe Hainak is also here.
I would like to welcome them.
As we mentioned earlier we have an employee from Arviat, Ms. Joy Suluk, she is the Nunavut Education Development Officer.
David Freeman, information officer for Adult Education Programs, and Nancy Highland is also a manager.
Chairperson (interpretation): Welcome to the meeting.
We can start Mr. Iqaqrialu.
I am glad you have your staff with you.
First of all I would like to make a comment in relation to my community.
At present we are above average in looking at the population of Nunavut, Clyde River is the highest rate of students on a yearly basis.
Because of this I would like to request more funding for bussing services for my community.
I know that there are a number of people from my community who would like to attend university or secondary education.
I would like to request that Clyde River be a community base for Arctic College or for a university for the future.
The funding that is designated for secondary education programs are usually managed in Iqaluit so it becomes cumbersome for the small communities.
I was wondering whether that will still be the case.
I will raise another question after you respond.
Hon. James Arvaluk (interpretation): I noticed two questions but I will answer the first question first.
I would like every member to know that we will not be dealing with these kinds of issues alone as a department.
We will be consulting the appropriate agencies and the regular members as well as the whole education system.
If we are going to hire upper level or middle level management we will have to pick the appropriate candidates to fill those kinds of positions, furthermore we have adopted programs that have been adopted from the GNWT to the present government.
At this moment we are assessing all of those programs and policies.
After the divisional boards are dissolved then we will be able to give more authority to the community education committees, so they would be able to make decisions that effect them directly.
So in that manner we will be hiring appropriate people for the positions in the communities.
Chairperson: Thank you. Mr. Iqaqrialu.
I believe that we will be consulted appropriately and you will not be making decisions alone as a department.
For the longest time at present the students when they are attending Arctic College or University they have to make essays and when they are drafting their essays they have to consult with the elders in order to understand certain parts of the knowledge that they are seeking.
Perhaps the elders that are being consulted as experts, perhaps they should be hired as expert consultants by Arctic College, in Nunavut.
I know that we can make the system better for the people in that manner.
Yes, I know that not only the divisional boards but also Arctic College, and the government of Nunavut will be using traditional knowledge, the experts more and more and I know that the Department of Sustainable Development, is also working on this.
So during our review we will be developing a streamline, a baseline to pay through contract, perhaps we can hire the Inuit consultants.
We still have to review those areas and we will be doing them more in the future.
Mr. Iqaqrialu (interpretation): I understand what you are saying but the teachers have to have certification or a diploma in order to teach elementary or secondary levels.
I know that in the future Inuit teachers will have to get more education.
When the teachers don’t have diplomas, even though they have more experience they don’t fix their income appropriately and it has effected the staff in the Education system.
The morale of the staff have been impacted by that.
When you hire an Inuk for example who has completed University or College down south, because they have been away from their home and their culture for too many years, while attending schooling they have to be taught again.
It seems that this issue will have to be dealt with while you are doing your overview, since up north everything is very expensive and staff have to be paid according to their experience and according to their education.