EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
This year’s submission requests $9,748,000 in capital funding and $500,000 from the project initiation envelope. The focus is to build infrastructure which allows program delivery in all communities.
(interpretation ends) You will see on the plan that construction continues on the Kitikmeot Residence and Daycare Centre in Cambridge Bay at $5,172,000.
Student accommodation and services is a foundational piece for program delivery at the [campus] level.
This supports the continued planning and development of the Mine Training Centre/Kitikmeot Campus in Cambridge Bay and will allow the enhancement of health and education programs in the region.
This project also provides us with great opportunities to build relationships with the Canadian High Arctic Research Station, which is scheduled to be completed by 2017.
The future design and construction of the Kitikmeot Campus and Mine Training Centre will ensure each region has a campus facility and the ability to deliver innovative and diversified programs.
Design money for this facility is requested for 2015 in order to be completed by 2019.
(interpretation) Nunavut Arctic College’s roots are the services provided to our students in the communities. The core of our program delivery is in the community learning centres.
There are three new CLCs in the planning stage: Iqaluit, Grise Fiord, and Whale Cove.
Completion of these three facilities will provide a physical space for CLCs in all Nunavut communities and strengthens the number of new initiatives which can be offered at the community level.
Increased delivery at the community level is a strategic direction of the college.
These community learning centres have been in the capital planning process for several years and are moving forward.
The Grise Fiord CLC is a renovation to the existing hamlet building in the community at $326,000. The start date of the project is dependent upon the completion of the new hamlet facility, allowing us to renovate the existing building as a CLC.
The new hamlet office is scheduled to be completed April 2014.
Whale Cove planning continues and a site has been selected.
Design of the facility was initiated and will be completed by 2014-15. Construction of the new facility is scheduled to be initiated in 2015-16 at $2,750,000.
Our plans to develop a CLC in Iqaluit are in progress.
Site selection was completed in 2013 and design of the facility initiated with completion of the design in 2014-15.
The site work and materials will be ordered in 2014-15 at $2 million. The project is intended to be completed by 2015-16.
(interpretation ends) Small capital of $250,000 is also being requested in order to ensure that we are able to meet growing demands for the replacement of equipment and vehicles. This allows Arctic College the flexibility to address aging equipment for effective program delivery in the college but also Piqqusilirivvik and the Nunavut Research Institute.
The aging infrastructure requires significant attention which is currently not being addressed by the minor capital budget.
Nunavut Arctic College is requesting an additional $1 million per year for ongoing lifecycle maintenance.
This additional funding will provide the college with some of the resources necessary to tackle the larger projects that have not been addressed with our current minor capital budget.
In the pre-planning process is a project we feel worthy of mention. The equipment training centre provides the delivery of equipment operation and maintenance programs as planned in the Nunavut Trades Training Strategy of 2006.
The equipment training centre builds continued capacity in Nunavut to deliver these important programs in our own territory. We will be able to meet the needs of industry in heavy duty and automotive mechanics and heavy equipment operators needed by industry.
Initial planning dollars of $500,000 is indicated in the capital plan.
(interpretation) Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to be here today to discuss Nunavut Arctic College’s capital plan for 2014-15 and the subsequent four years.
This is a critical government investment in training Nunavummiut for employment. I look forward to your questions, comments, and discussion.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you very much, Minister Quassa. (interpretation ends) Do you wish to have staff at the witness table?  Hon. Paul Quassa: Mr. Chairman, yes, I would.
Chairman: Does the committee agree to let the minister’s officials go to the witness table?
Sergeant-at-Arms.  For the record, minister, please introduce your officials.
I would like to thank my officials.
On my right is Michael Shouldice, who is the President of Nunavut Arctic College, who is located in Rankin Inlet.
On my left is Eric Corneau, who is Dean at Nunavut Arctic College.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Are there opening comments from the Regular Members’ Caucus?
Please proceed, Mr. Joanasie.
I am pleased to provide opening comments on behalf of the Regular Members’ Caucus as the Committee of the Whole begins its consideration of the proposed 2014-15 Capital Estimates for Nunavut Arctic College.
Nunavut Arctic College’s proposed capital budget for 2014-15 is $9.7 million which will be allocated to four community-specific projects as well as towards two minor capital projects which will include upgrades and renovations to current facilities.
Funding is also included within the 2014-15 capital estimates for the Department of Community and Government Services for two projects under the ‘Initiation Envelope.’
Mr. Chairman, members support Nunavut Arctic College’s role in providing educational opportunities to adults across Nunavut. It is important that the college has the basic infrastructure from which to deliver the relevant programs.
Mr. Chairman, members have noted that Nunavut Arctic College’s biggest proposed project for 2014-15 is $5,172,000 for ongoing work on the Kitikmeot Residence and Daycare Centre in Cambridge Bay to support services at the regional campus.
Three community learning centre projects are planned for the communities of Grise Fiord, Whale Cove and Iqaluit.
Mr. Chairman, members have noted that while community learning centres support Nunavut residents in working towards their educational advancement and employability while in their home communities, it is also important that sufficient daycare spaces are available in those communities to enable parents to take advantage of learning opportunities.
Members encourage college officials to make efforts to ensure that the need for daycare is taken into consideration when allocating space in all college infrastructure, both at the community level and at the regional campus level.
Mr. Chairman, the regular members would appreciate receiving regular updates on partnerships that are being considered in conjunction with mining companies and other entities to invest in Nunavut-based infrastructure which can lead to employment and careers within the mining industry and other sectors.
Mr. Chairman, members have noted that plans are under consideration through the initiation envelope of the Department of Community and Government Services to work towards delivering more trades training, such as heavy equipment operating courses, within Nunavut.
Given the high capital costs for basic heavy equipment, members encourage Nunavut Arctic College officials to work with hamlets and other organizations to access previously used equipment for this purpose.
Mr. Chairman, that concludes my opening comments on the proposed 2014-15 Capital Estimates of Nunavut Arctic College.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you very much, Mr. Joanasie.
Do my colleagues have any questions on the opening comments?
Minister, you mentioned in your opening comments that you are going to have three new community learning centres. When will these facilities be open and how many students will these centres hold?
Chairman (interpretation): If the regular members don’t have any general comments, (interpretation ends) do you have any questions on the minister’s opening comments?
Ms. Angnakak: We will try again.
You mentioned in your opening comments that there are three new community learning centres.
When will these facilities be open and how many students will these centres hold?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you very much. (interpretation ends) The Hon. Minister of Nunavut Arctic College, Minister Quassa.
Hon. Paul Quassa (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also thank my colleague for asking a good question.
In regard to the three community learning centres that she mentioned, Gjoa Haven, Iqaluit, and Whale Cove are the only three communities in Nunavut that do not have a community learning centre.
We’re expecting to have it completed by 2016-17. Please note that they will be different sizes. Looking at Whale Cove and Iqaluit, these are two different communities, but they should be completed by 2016-17.
Ms. Angnakak: Qujannamiik, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation) Will all of those community learning centres include a daycare? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.  Chairman (interpretation): Thank you very much.
Ms. Angnakak.  Ms. Angnakak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Are all of these current facilities to be constructed going to include daycare centres?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Hon. Minister of Arctic College, Mr. Quassa.
That is a good question to ask and I want everyone to remember that some of our adult education centres also house daycare centres, albeit not every facility will include daycare space.
Just to look at Iqaluit as an example, there are various daycare centres already in existence.
So based on current space, the building in Iqaluit won’t include a daycare, but definitely Whale Cove would need daycare space as no facility exists there.
That is currently our only identified facility to include a daycare.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Ms. Angnakak.
You mentioned small capital of $250,000. What kind of equipment and what will the vehicles be used for?
These are all quite good questions I have been hearing.
As per our earlier response, the $250,000 is for purchasing different equipment such as computers. Perhaps 325 computers would be purchased, and further, there are different needs such as (interpretation ends) student records system.
(interpretation) Those are the types of systems we would be establishing, but for fiscal year 2014-15, there are no funds earmarked specifically for vehicles. Vehicles are included in this category.
Ms. Angnakak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) You mentioned $1 million for ongoing lifecycle maintenance. Can you expand on what kind of larger projects you are speaking of?
It will be used for different projects.
Perhaps you will be able to get more details if you allow Mr. Corneau to answer the question.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation) Mr. Corneau.  Mr. Corneau: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The funding for this $1 million next year, we are looking at different options.
One of them is, here in Iqaluit, with the Q-units, which need to be re-levelled, because they are not in very good shape.
There are some issues with the Taloyoak community learning centre, as well as with the Gjoa Haven community learning centre.
We are also looking at the option of relocating part of the CLC, where the CLC in Nuiyak School in Sanikiluaq.
Those are the projects being looked at and considered.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation) Ms. Angnakak.
Ms. Angnakak: Last question. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
You talk about building capacity in Nunavut for the trades.
Would people get their Red Seal in the facility you are talking about?
I would like to ask you to have the president of the college provide a proper response.
In the trades training strategy, the first round, I guess to call it that, phase 1 would be the construction trades, so Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet, and Cambridge Bay, and those are all Red Seal trades.
Of course, there’s an exception with housing maintainer because it’s a trade unique to the north, but still, it’s a licensed trade within our territory and in the Northwest Territories.
Heavy equipment is not a Red Seal trade, but it’s a certified trade, so there would be training that would come to national standard.
In the mine training centre, in an ideal world, as that moves forward, there would be millwright and welding, and both of those are Red Seal.
Currently, Nunavut Arctic College partners for the trades beyond the first and second level with other institutions.
However, we do up to the Red Seal with carpentry/oil burner mechanic, and we do the completion of the Housing Maintainer program ourselves.
Just to take one of my colleague’s questions a little bit further, she had asked some questions on the ongoing lifecycle maintenance, you had mentioned the Q-unit re-levelling, the Taloyoak flooring, windows, and paint, and Gjoa Haven with further flooring, water pump, window, air exchange replacement, according to the substantiation sheets.
You had also mentioned the Sanikiluaq relocation of the CLC into the school.
I don’t see an amount associated with that. Have there been some preliminary estimates on the cost of that within the lifecycle replacement, $1 million?
If you will allow, the official to my right, Eric, can provide a proper response to my colleague.
Mr. Corneau.
There have been some preliminary estimates for your questions about the Sanikiluaq relocation and that varies between $200,000 and $250,000, which means that one of these other projects will have to be reconsidered or downsized depending on if we choose to prioritize that project.
I guess that’s what I was trying to get into. There were amounts associated with the other three projects that were already in the substantiation sheets totalling $1 million.
What is the college’s plan if something unforeseen arises on an emergency basis that needs repairing?
I don’t see any emergency type fund associated with any of these budgets.
We believe the question is directed more towards CGS.
They are the department that provides information on whether an emergency occurs.
Our department just follows the set up laid out to deal with these issues.
I certainly hope that is understandable or if you understood my response.
Mr. Hickes: Thank you for that response, Minister Quassa and I do understand it, but it also leads me to another question that it raised.
Are these projects in consultation with CGS to determine the priority on the budget allocations for these projects?
I would like to ask Mr. Corneau to provide a detailed response.
We do work very closely with project officers and project managers with CGS to prioritize the urgency of intervening in some of these projects and tend to make the technical assessments on the work necessary on the projects.
My question is directed at the minister based on my understanding earlier when you spoke about pre-employment training in our adult education centres.
In the past, there have been students who have graduated from adult education courses with certificates provided upon graduation.
The students provided with this certificate state that when they include it in their resume, it doesn’t have the same effect as other diplomas.
I wonder whether or not the current system could be changed so that students graduating from the pre-employment courses can have better chances to be employed than their predecessors who graduated from this course with a more meaningful certification process?
We are discussing the capital estimates at this time, but I’ll leave it up to Minister Quassa to respond.
This question isn’t related to the capital estimates we are reviewing, and even though that is the case as the Chairman stated, the member asked the question about certification programs that have existed for quite some time through the community learning centres for adults and students receive certificates upon completion.
That is our expectation that there will be more certification courses, as that is part of our departmental goal.
The students who graduate sometimes find that there are no employment openings, but as part of our mandate, we want more people to get certifications, then it becomes possible to use that certificate for applying towards job openings in the future.
We want to share those expectations about proper certification especially as mines are being developed as well as other sectors.
The students receiving certificates should have a better chance of being hired and I hope that our expectations will be reached.
My colleagues, I would like to remind you to keep your questions on the capital estimates.
Are you done, Mr. Shooyook?
In the minister’s opening remarks, he indicated the Nunavut Trades Training Strategy and they plan to have the heavy equipment operator and heavy duty technician.
When do they plan to start this program?
This forms part of our future plans and it shows what needs to be undertaken for these programs.
As per my earlier opening comments, the mining sector has several projects on the verge of opening along with other developments, and we have prepared that strategy towards that goal. Perhaps my official can provide a bit more detail on this issue as he is the President of Nunavut Arctic College, Mr. Shouldice, with your permission Mr. Chairman.
The Trades Training Strategy speaks of a phase 2 for the development of an equipment training centre. This includes heavy equipment operator and two trades; the heavy duty mechanic and the automotive mechanic.
The plan is dependent upon capital construction, of course.
I think that it would be a two-year build, all things being equal. It’s most likely 2018-19 before that would be realized, if indeed that went forward.
We are at the stage right now of looking for the design or planning for this facility to move the trades training strategy forward. Very much so is what we are doing with a mining centre in Cambridge Bay.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Mr. Savikataaq.
My questions are on the opening comments too, almost same as my colleague, Mr. Sammurtok.
The Nunavut Trades Training Strategy of 2006, heavy equipment operators and heavy duty technicians remain high in demand.
Is that because the strategy is not producing enough certified heavy equipment operators and mechanics or is it that the demand is just too high that they cannot keep up to capacity?
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Minister Quassa.
We did a thorough review, ran those programs, as I stated before, we get good support as to what kind of training programs at Arctic College.
They can make that recommendation and we follow their recommendations, and also they are prepared a year in advance, the training programs are prepared a year in advance and even with that we have recognized, as I have stated, that heavy equipment operators and heavy duty technicians remain high in demand.
We need to have more certified heavy equipment operators and heavy duty technicians and we recognize that.
Perhaps I will have the President of Nunavut Arctic College, Mr. Shouldice, respond or supplement my response, through you, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Mr. Shouldice.
Mr. Shouldice: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 2006 is when we started.
The second phase of the plan was heavy equipment operator.
That was the decision that was made within cabinet at that time.
So I would agree with you.
We are playing a bit of catch-up in terms of trying to get people trained in heavy equipment.
The pattern has been to send them south. There are two organizations, one in Alberta that people use, but the majority of them are going down to Morrisburg, Ontario, and as you have mentioned earlier in the House today, you know those resources are better spent in the north. I think building our own infrastructure to do so.
We are at the stage of trying to move the facility forward. It remains a high-demand occupation, I think, because of the opening of the mines.
If you look at their HR plans, those change from time to time. There are a significant number of operators and there are a significant number of heavy duty mechanics that we need to train for.
Mr. Savikataaq: Thank you.
This is borderline O&M but its part of this here.
Is there any thought of partnership with mines in order to produce more journeymen technicians and heavy equipment operators?
That’s a very good question and I thank the member for asking it.
As these mining companies start developing their projects, they have queried our department about possible partnership with our department. We expect that to succeed, at least that seems obvious at this point.
Furthermore, our Inuit organizations also have the right to negotiate agreements with the mining companies so they (interpretation ends) negotiate (interpretation) impact and benefits agreements for the communities.
That is another opportunity to have partnerships with these organizations.
Also, that is part of our overall goal, to work with the mining companies and Inuit organizations to create (interpretation ends) partnerships (interpretation) with emerging projects.
That is what we can create, and as per my earlier response, we have already received partnership requests from mining companies as well as other development sectors.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you very much. (interpretation ends) Are there any more questions to the minister’s opening comments?
We will now proceed to the page-by-page review of the capital estimates starting with… .
Members, I would like to note that Arctic College is under the auspices of the Department of Finance under page C-3. However, the details of the college’s proposed budget can be found on page M-3 and the detailed breakdown is on page M-4.
I have a couple of questions on M-4, if that’s okay.
You touched earlier a little bit on what you’re trying to accomplish in Sanikiluaq with additional classroom space for Arctic College.
The community learning centre is a one-room, standalone building in our community and there is a need for additional classroom space.
Right now, the college is running two programs, one at Arctic College and one elsewhere in the community.
I know that in the past, there was communication between Community and Government Services, DEAs, and the college to plan renovations at Nuiyak School to accommodate Arctic College classrooms.
So my question is: what is the current status of this plan and why was it not included in the 2014-15 capital estimates?
That’s a very good question and I thank my colleague for asking it.
I would like to ask you, Mr. Chairman, to have Mr. Corneau provide a detailed response.
When we were looking at the options of moving into the school, the estimates grew quite significantly to the point where we didn’t have the minor capital or the ongoing lifecycle budget in our 2013-14 capital plan.
Therefore, we could not proceed with the plan. We decided to wait until we had further funds to proceed with the project, which is what part of this ongoing lifecycle budget is about.
We just didn’t have the capital to go forward with the project at that point.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you very much. (interpretation ends) Nunavut Arctic College. Branch Summary. Headquarters.
Total Capital Expenditures. $9,748,000. On M-3.
I did have a couple of other questions.
You stated that this ongoing lifecycle, the $1 million, could possibly accommodate the renovations to the Nuiyak School under this budget.
Would you be anticipating that we would see these renovations happen this fiscal year or are we talking two years down the road? I’m just wondering if you can give us the status of when this construction will take place.
That’s another good question.
My response to you is yes. It is one of our priorities that you were asking about. It’s up there in our priorities.
I can’t give you a date, but it is one of the priorities.
When you stated that you would be putting some funds from the $1 million towards this project, it makes a person thinks that if we approve this budget, then part of this $1 million would be used for the renovations at the school.
So can the minister clarify whether this renovation will happen this summer?