EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Mr. Chairman, Nunavut’s community learning centres are the frontline resources when it comes to addressing issues, such as literacy, numeracy, and the promotion of skill sets that can improve an individual’s employability and progress towards training or career-oriented programs.
In order to address poverty and other social issues, investment in community-based learning is critical.
Although funding had previously been allocated in 2010-11 towards planning for new community learning centres in Grise Fiord, Iqaluit, and Whale Cove, committee members were disappointed not to see these projects included in the college’s capital plans for 2011-12.
The standing committee was, however, pleased to note that the new community learning centre in Qikiqtarjuaq is almost complete.
Mr. Chairman, the three regional campuses of Nunavut Arctic College located in Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet, and Cambridge Bay have seen a number of infrastructure developments over the past several years.
The standing committee congratulates the minister and officials from Nunavut Arctic College on the most recent successful initiative, the completion of the Nunavut Trades Training Centre in Rankin Inlet.
Members look forward to updates on the implementation and success of the various training programs to be offered at this facility.
Mr. Chairman, the largest share of the college’s 2011-12 capital funding request for minor capital will be allocated to resolving problems with the foundation of the married student residence in Iqaluit.
Many students attending Nunavut Arctic College in Iqaluit are accommodated at the Federal Road residence in Iqaluit and members were surprised to note that the minister had very little information regarding the status of this facility, including its age.
Members encourage the minister to closely monitor the status of all student accommodations and to address student concerns in a timely manner.
Mr. Chairman, committee members have noted that the Mine Training Centre project for Cambridge Bay’s Nunavut Arctic College Campus is not included in the college’s 2012-16 five-year capital plan.
However, during his presentation before the standing committee, the minister did indicate that planning for this project was ongoing with monies to be carried over from the current fiscal year.
Standing committee members encourage the minister to continue in his efforts to secure funding for this project, possibly in partnership with the federal government or other entities. The mining industry has already demonstrated its potential in providing jobs and income to Nunavummiut.
On a final note, Mr. Chairman, standing committee members have noted Nunavut Arctic College’s success in accessing federal infrastructure funding for the construction of the new Nunavut Research Institute, which is just down the road from us here in Iqaluit, and for the college’s territory-wide telecommunications network.
Committee members would welcome the opportunity to support the college in further efforts to secure infrastructure funding that will support adult education across the territory.
Mr. Chairman, that concludes my opening comments on the proposed 2011-12 Capital Estimates of Nunavut Arctic College.
I suggest to members that wherever possible you ask your detailed questions during the page-by-page review of the department’s estimates.
I just came from this month, the month of October, I attended the Kitikmeot Inuit Association’s meeting in Cambridge Bay and I was pleased to hear from the presidents of the organization and the Kitikmeot Corporation that the mining industry is developing in the Kitikmeot region.
There is a great potential, Mr. Chairman, for young people to take advantage of the development and there is a great potential for training.
I am very happy to hear that the Minister responsible for Nunavut Arctic College stated that mining is a major employer in Nunavut, I think mostly in the Kitikmeot region.
We appreciate, Mr. Chairman, that there is a mine training facility in Cambridge Bay, not only with a classroom but also accommodation for students.
On behalf of the people of the Kitikmeot region, I would like to state my appreciation of the minister for making sure that we have the facilities that we need for the young students.
I am hoping that some of these accommodations will be able to accommodate families of maybe three or four.
A lot of times, in the region, I am told by young people who wanted to attend programs and training programs but not able to bring their families because of not having accommodation for their families.
So we appreciate the efforts made by the Minister of Arctic College and his officials.
I think that was a comment, but if you want to comment on that, Minister Shewchuk.
I would just like to make a comment that I totally agree with the member’s statement, and it is very important that adult learning is accessible to all communities and all Nunavutmiut across the territory.
I just would like to say that he says and encourages us, in our planning stages of any new facilities, to develop them with family residences and also with daycares.
That’s very important that we do that and we are going to do that.
I would like to welcome the minister and his official. During the appearance of the minister and his officials before the committee, I asked them about the old residence. It is now currently used for Arctic College students who board there.
I know that it is much older than I am, but I would like to know exactly what year that building was built.
That was my previous question.
We do have the exact year, and we sent the letter to the regular member and he hasn’t received it yet.
I don’t have a copy of that exact letter, but the residence is between 55 and 60 years old, as far as I can recall, but the exact year that it was built and the age of it, there is a letter going to him.
Wow, I did not know it was that old.
It’s still being utilized today. However, it is used only by people who have no other alternative but to live in that residence.
Is the Arctic College making plans to look at other sources of accommodation?
That building should not be used since it is getting old and Arctic College has finished construction of the new residence near the college.
What are the minister’s plans on building a new residence?
As the member indicated, it’s a very old facility.
However, it’s a facility that we have available to us and that we need to use it at this time.
The main floor is used for programming and delivery of courses and instruction in the Arctic College.
We realize that the facility is very old and we would like to plan for the future into replacing that facility at some point in time.
Part of the planning and part of the feasibility of a new location is tied in with the development of a new airport, also.
Because a new airport may mean that they acquire that space where the residence is at present, we would look at some partnership in trying to replace that facility at that time.
I boarded in that building in the past, so I am quite familiar with the building.
It provided an essential service in those years, but we have to look at the new infrastructure and new buildings.
My question at this time is about the funding that has been allocated. There is only $100,000 set aside for Nunavut Arctic College and they were in the plans last year for Iqaluit, Whale Cove, and Grise Fiord. My question is: could the minister give us an update on what’s happening with those community learning centres?
The funding that was allocated for the planning and design for those three projects, as the member listed, is exactly what’s happening.
The planning and design phrase is being done this year. Once that is done, we will have better costing of all of the facilities to be constructed into the future.
It is a priority of Nunavut Arctic College and me, as a minister of the college, to pursue those avenues of getting those buildings built, and that’s what I will do.
I will, of course, need government approval, cabinet approval to move forward, but I intend to make that a priority of mine, as the Minister of the Arctic College.
Yes, I like what I heard. It is very good to hear that the minister has made those plans.
I want to assure the minister that we will lobby with the government to make sure those activities are carried through.
Those are the issues that I wished to speak to at this time, Mr. Chairman.
This was partially referred to by my colleague, but I wanted to ask a question about the old residence.
It is a very old building as I lived there for two years and that’s about 40 years ago already that I have not returned. I did not expect to enter it again, but I have had to visit on several occasions.
The paint is still the same, the smell is still lingering, the floor is still the same, and it is not very scenic.
It seems to have never changed even up to today.
We still have students living at the old residence and some students from Pangnirtung are living there. One of the students passed away in that building just recently.
Ever since that residence was opened, there have been a number of suicides.
Residents talk about ghostly encounters with invisible spirits and I believe that they are true because we hear occasionally about ghostly encounters.
I would like to find out about the closure date of this building.
It has been well utilized by our people, but in some ways, I think it’s best to completely construct a new residence.
There are some people from Nunavut who had bad experiences at the student residence while they were there, but not all people underwent those experiences.
I am urging the minister and his officials to look for an alternate building or to build another facility to house the students because that building is decrepit and I would like to hear about the closure date.
As per some of the comments, that old residence is quite dilapidated. I just wanted to add that further to my colleague’s comments.
On the first page of the opening comments, the minister was talking about the old married student residence in Iqaluit.
I just wanted clarification. Is that the Q units or the one that is known as the Q units?
That is correct, it is known as the Q units, yes.
Could he elaborate in terms of what is happening with the shifting of the foundation? Are the piles sliding out or is it built on sand?
We are assessing why they are shifting and waiting for a technical assessment to see exactly why they are shifting.
Before that residence was built, was there not a technical assessment done on that beforehand?
Yes, there was a technical assessment when it was built, but there are things that happen for no reason at all sometimes, Mr. Chairman.
The new family residence that is there, it’s behind it in the same location. Is the technical assessment going to look at that new area as well or are we going to have similar problems with the new facility that is being built?
No, there will be no technical assessment done on that other area.
We are just looking at where there is a problem occurring right now.
But before that new area was built upon, there was a technical assessment done on that, so we shouldn’t have the same problem.
Yes, there was and there was on the one that is shifting now, but we can’t guarantee anything into the future, but yes, there was.
It would be like Mr. Tootoo’s crystal ball from before.
In terms of students that you have this year, how many are in… . There was a mention made to the old res. How many students are in the old res., how many are in the Q units, and how many are in the new family residence?
We don’t have those exact numbers right now, but we would be more than willing to offer that information to the member in a letter.
I guess one of the questions I was trying to get at was: is the residence sufficient enough for the number of students we are having applying to go to the programs? Is everyone being given a house or are we going to run into problems with needing more facilities?
All of the facilities that we have for housing in Iqaluit are full and there is more demand than we have available.
In the third paragraph of his opening comments, he was talking about the new trades training centre in Rankin Inlet and the grand opening is on November 16.
When do we anticipate having students involved?
Are there students in the program already and people accepted?
Yes, there are students in the new trades centre, there has been for some time, and there are four programs being offered there right now.
In terms of Grise Fiord, is the project dollars that were allocated for this year… ? Is that going to be a capital carryover project so that it will be in next year’s?
That will be carried over until we have access to the hamlet office that needs to be vacated.
Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On page 2, the minister was talking about the $11 million that came as federal dollars for the Arctic Research Infrastructure Fund.
I’m just wondering if he could give us an update as to… he didn’t in his member’s statement. Is there any idea of when the building will actually open?
It’s good to report that the building is on schedule, on time, and on plan.
We’re shooting for an opening of the building some time before the end of March 2011.
In terms of what the new facility has to offer, is there laboratory space for researchers, office space for researchers, office for the Nunavut Research Institute, and are there accommodations there as well?
The member is quite right. There is laboratory space, there is office space, there are research areas, there’s everything that you want to do when you’re doing science and research on something.
There is no accommodation in the facility.
How many researchers can the facility accommodate at one time?
My understanding is it can accommodate approximately eight to ten researchers at one time.
Originally when the funding was announced and in terms of the information that we were given, it was my understanding that it was just going to increase the research capacity here in Iqaluit.
But in his opening comments and also in his Minister’s Statement, he had talked about four field research support units in Arviat, Cambridge Bay, Igloolik, and Rankin Inlet.
I was wondering if the minister could expand on those facilities.
Yes, those facilities are in the communities. I believe they are all constructed.
The facilities in Arviat and Igloolik are accommodation facilities for researchers who go there.
In Cambridge Bay, they are laboratory facilities that researchers can use.
So these are sort of funds that were channelled through the $11 million to go to those communities. I guess I’ll start with Arviat.
In Arviat, are these attached onto the community learning centre or is there already a research facility in Arviat?
No, they are independent buildings. They basically look like double-wide trailers and they are built on their own, so they are independent of any building.
So in Igloolik as well, they are double-edged trailers. Is that like an Atco trailer?
Yes, I suppose you can compare it to an Atco trailer, but I did see the one in Arviat completely constructed and it does not even look like a trailer or a double-wide trailer when they are completed.
In Arviat and Igloolik, how many researchers do they accommodate?
I believe the accommodations are adequate for four researchers in each of those units.
In Arviat, where would those individuals who come into town to do research do their research? At the community learning centre, or is there an actual research building for them to work in?
I am not a researcher, but there is available space in the units to do various degrees of research.
A lot of research that I have seen that goes on is done through the HTO and with the HTO facilities that are provided, whether it is outside or inside, and community freezers are involved too.
The researchers will be accommodated through an application process that is looked after and run by the Nunavut Research Institute in Iqaluit here.
For Cambridge Bay and Rankin Inlet, you said that there were laboratory facilities that were built. Is that within the community learning centres or were those separate trailers with lab facilities?
No, they were separate facilities just like the accommodation facilities.
How did your department or how did the corporation decide on Arviat, Cambridge Bay, Igloolik, and Rankin Inlet as the communities to receive the infrastructure?
Historical information provided information on where, typically, most of the research was taking place and that is how the locations were decided upon.
Do you have dollar values for each of the communities, how much went to each of the communities, or was it the same amount for each community?
We don’t have those numbers in front of us, but we can definitely get the numbers for the member.
In the second last paragraph where the minister is talking about the Knowledge Infrastructure Program and the idea of improving telecommunications and connectivity for establishing a communication network, what types of programs will the college be offering in terms of online learning?
The first thing we do is have to get this program completed and the fibre optics in place. We are working with Community and Government Services and doing that under the timelines that we have under the infrastructure fund.
As far as programming, there is going to be many. I cannot comment on that at this time because there will be consultation with the communities on what type of programming will be provided in certain communities.
It says that the work will be completed in March of 2011.
That’s only five months away, which, to me, I would hope that the college would have some programs in mind as to which ones would be offered online.
I know that a lot of concerns that my colleagues have raised is with the fact that, a lot of times, there are people within the communities who want to learn and further their education and move on but don’t necessarily want to leave their community.
This type of technology is an excellent way to be able to allow them to be able to learn at home and be able to get their qualifications that we’re always talking about in terms of the Auditor General’s reports and build the capacity within the communities.
I’m just a little shocked that there isn’t any foresight in terms of planning of the programs.
I know Arctic College has a lot of programs that are excellent programs that probably could be transferred to online or be delivered online.
I’m just wondering if the minister could possibly look into or maybe comment on what specific programs he would target to have offered within the communities online.
We do have foresight and we are looking to the future.
We do have committees struck that are working on this as we speak, into seeing what programs we are going to provide online.
So there is nothing established and written in stone, and I think it would be premature for me to comment on what I think the types of programs that should be offered online.
If I could offer a couple of suggestions. I think the Prior Learning Assessment Recognition Program is just about ready to be up online and be able to be delivered in an online capacity, so that might be a place to start.
Another one possibly would be the pre-trade math and science course that’s offered to be able to get people ready to be able to become apprentices.
Again, there have been millions of dollars spent by the Nunavut Housing Corporation to try and get our apprentices into the trade fields.
So that might be a possibility of where the minister could start looking in terms of programs to be offered online.
I welcome the member’s suggestions and we will take that information with us.
In terms of any new facilities that are being constructed, I guess there is the Qikiqtarjuaq one that’s going to be opening. Does that have daycare facilities?
No, it does not have daycare facilities.
It was an addition to the existing school, so it does not have daycare facilities.
Welcome to the Hon. Minister of Nunavut Arctic College and Nunavut Arctic College President.
I am very pleased to see in the minister’s opening comments on paragraph 5, the recognition of child care for those advancing in education.
It’s a fact that if Nunavummiut can provide and support child care, it simply allows more Nunavummiut to have the opportunity to further their education as well as advance in the workplace knowing child care is available.
As it is, too few Nunavummiut have the resources to advance and child care is a critical component.
With that, child care can and will contribute to advancement if and when child care is implemented. I am glad to see that the minister and his department is considering child care for those who are choosing to advance their education.
That was just a comment, but if you want to comment on it, Minister Shewchuk.
As has been mentioned by several ministers, we understand and acknowledge that child care is a very important part of adult learning.
That is why we have the commitment, when we do any future planning with learning centres or any infrastructure from the college for adult learning, that we consider doing a child care assessment in the community and see what needs are met or needed, and try and meet those needs and provide child care for adult students into the future.
We will now proceed to the page-by-page review of the departmental estimates starting with page B-3.
Capital Expenditures. Total Capital Expenditures. $100,000.
Details on B-4.
Chairman: We will go back to page B-2.
Department Summary. Finance.
Speaker: Is the committee agreed that the Department of Finance on behalf of the Nunavut Arctic College is concluded?
Thank you. I thank all of the members for their input into the Arctic College.
I know we have very little capital here this fiscal year.
However, as Mr. Elliott has shown, adult learning is very much of a concern to him and I think it is to all of us across Nunavut.
Adult learning is very important. We see a more increased demand for that type of learning and we are addressing that need through the Arctic College.
I think it’s very important that now we can offer adult in all 25 of our communities and move towards higher education, better education, and more skilled people.
So thank you very much, Mr. Chairman and your members, for having us here today.
Chairman: I would like to thank you for appearing here and answering the questions.
I would like to ask the Sergeant-at-Arms to escort the minister and the witness out.
Sergeant-at-Arms, can you bring the Speaker to the witness table.
I will now ask the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut to make his opening remarks.
Bill 38 – Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2011-2012 – Legislative Assembly – Consideration in Committee
Yes, I have opening comments to make. It is a pleasure for me to appear before you and members today to present the proposed 2011-12 Capital Estimates of the Office of the Legislative Assembly.
As members will note, the 2011-12 Capital Estimates of the Office of the Legislative Assembly amount to less than 1 percent of the Government of Nunavut’s total planned capital spending for the coming fiscal year.
The Assembly’s capital estimates for 2011-12 continue to include an annual allocation dedicated to planning for our long-term vision of a new facility.
Our other priority areas for the coming fiscal year include ongoing investments in equipment, furniture, and fleet renewal for the Assembly and members’ offices, in addition to further enhancements and upgrades to the Legislative Assembly’s audiovisual, Hansard, and information technology systems.
Yes, I would like to bring in witnesses.
Mr. Speaker, please introduce your witnesses.
To my right is John Quirke, the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut, and to my left is Mike Rafter, Director of Corporate Affairs.
Before we proceed, I would like to remind members of the following: according to Rule 77(1), you have 10 minutes to speak. I suggest to members that whenever possible you ask your detailed questions during the page-by-page review of the department estimates.
Mr. Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Additionally, I want to thank the Speaker and his officials for presenting their report in front of the committee.
Prior to moving on to our page-by-page review, I want to make some additional comments.