EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
I would like to express my appreciation also for the hard work that is done at the community level through our community justice committees.
I didn’t get an opportunity today to mention that the community justice committees do divert a lot of people from our communities to alternative justice measures quite successfully. Large numbers, in fact, are diverted and don’t end up in the facilities.
Facilities aren’t very nice. If you’ve ever toured BCC or Millhaven or Fenbrook or Central East like I have, you just don’t want to get into these places. Any time we can prevent people from going to jail is good for us.
I would like to express my appreciation too to the folks that I met in the facilities down south. They told me that they would like to be in Nunavut. They don’t get visits from relatives down there.
They don’t get very many visits from elders. They miss country food. They miss the healing that they think could get in Nunavut if there were proper facilities.
They see that the First Nations people in the south have elders who come in and work with them on traditional healing through sweat lodges and smudges, and things like that. They don’t have that opportunity. That’s the kind of stuff we have to start thinking about up here: how to provide proper counselling, rehabbing, and in facilities that are modern so we can reintegrate folks successfully back into their communities and make our communities safe.
Mr. Chairman, I would also like to thank my officials who appeared with me today, Mr. Garson and Mr. Dingle. I would like to also express my appreciation to the two folks in the Gallery. I neglected to mention them earlier.
Mr. Doug Strader works pretty closely in Corrections and I would like to thank Christine Bens. She is an intern for the director of corporate services. Eventually, one of these days, she will be sitting here beside me and replacing Mr. Dingle.
Invite her to the standing committee meetings and Committee of the Whole so that she gets some practical experience. I think this has been a good learning experience for her.
With that, Mr. Chairman, I thank you for your time and I thank everybody for this good debate.
Chairman: I would like to thank you and your officials for showing up. Could the Sergeant-at-Arms please escort the witnesses out.
Thank you, Mr. Schell, for chairing the Committee of the Whole while we took a break and also for practising pronouncing last names.
I’m sure you will learn as we go on when you’re chairing the Committee of the Whole later on.
We will move on to the Department of Education. I would like to ask Minister Tapardjuk if he has any opening comments. Minister Tapardjuk.
Bill 08 – Appropriation (Capital) Act, 2010-2011 – Education – Consideration in Committee
I am pleased to be here today to discuss the proposed 2010-11 Department of Education capital projects budget.
Our government has many capital priorities in the area of education. With 42 schools throughout Nunavut, there is a substantial capital investment in educational infrastructure in every community in Nunavut.
Our student enrolment for the 2009-2010 school year is as follows: Kitikmeot, 1,613; Kivalliq, 2,957; and Baffin, 4,710, for a total enrolment of 9,280 students from kindergarten to grade 12. We will continue to take measures to maintain these facilities. These priorities are made all the more challenging with the recent dramatic increase in construction costs.
The Department of Education’s proposed 2010-11 capital budget is $12,910,000, with an ongoing project budget of $57,463,000 from 2011-12 to 2014-15.
Our proposed 2010-11 budget complies with the current necessary fiscal restraints while incorporating some practical programs which will lead to long-term savings for the Government of Nunavut.
Mr. Chairman, my department gathers information from hamlets, district education authorities, school staff, and the Department of Community and Government Services to develop, plan, and manage our capital priorities.
Through our comprehensive facilities capital database, we are able to analyze school utilization and their physical condition, along with planned program requirements to determine our capital requirements.
The Department of Education is guided by the principles of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit in our capital planning and design phases, as well as supporting multi-purpose facilities, partnerships, and student training as fundamental elements in our construction contacts.
Mr. Chairman, I believe my department will move forward in a fiscally responsible manner.
I believe this plan provides the residents with the best affordable educational facilities this government can currently offer.
Mr. Chairman, over the past few years, my department has been faced with unforeseen life cycle repairs requiring immediate action.
Repairs, if left undone, will affect the health and safety of our students and staff.
Life cycle repairs are all of the building components, such as boilers, flooring, wall finishes, and windows, which need periodic replacement as per their intended life.
Action to get these life cycle repairs done must be taken as soon as possible. If a school closes, there is lost instructional time and our children would suffer.
The proposed ongoing life cycle repairs initiative will allow my department to identify repair items not noticed during regular repair cycles in our schools and plan in a proactive manner to address these repairs.
These funds would be allocated on an as-needed basis, with the life cycle repair projects being approved by the deputy minister.
Mr. Chairman, this initiative will cost approximately $1.5 million for this upcoming year.
Mr. Chairman, we are also proposing a computer replacement and upgrading program to determine our computer requirements as software becomes more demanding, the need to recycle computers on a regular basis is needed.
I believe we need a program whereby every three to five years, the computers in our schools are assessed, upgraded, and/or replaced in order to keep up with technology changes.
Mr. Chairman, this initiative will cost approximately $100,000 for this upcoming year.
Mr. Chairman, we are also proposing to plan for a school addition for Repulse Bay’s Tusarvik School. The school is overcrowded, utilization is currently at 103 percent, capacity is 263 students and enrolment is 272 students.
Mr. Chairman, this initiative will cost approximately $50,000 for this upcoming year.
The Department of Education has budgeted $1 million for the upcoming fiscal year to complete the construction of the school addition.
Mr. Chairman, here in Iqaluit, the Inuksuk High School Renovation project began this past June. Work done over this past summer included asbestos remediation, cleaning of the air handling system, energy efficient lighting upgrades, and a major washdown of the entire school.
This renovation work will continue being done over the school’s summer breaks. This method ensures the safety of students and staff while providing adequate time to complete projects over a four-year period.
The planning for the summer of 2010 has begun.
Work being planned includes floor replacement and painting. The Department of Education has budgeted $3,450,000 for the upcoming fiscal year.
Mr. Chairman, my department issued a school assessment request for proposals with the desired outcome being the selection of school assessment teams to visit all Nunavut schools to conduct an overall physical assessment of each facility, including special needs assessment.
The facility assessment will cover:
Heating systems
Interior systems
Cleaning methods
Staff concerns
Daily maintenance and upkeep  Special needs requirements
Develop a plan for each school’s future requirements
The findings of these assessments will enable my department to plan and maintain our facilities in a more responsible, operational manner.
The Department of Education has budgeted $875,000 for the upcoming fiscal year.
Inuksuit School in Qikiqtarjuaq requires an addition and renovations to the existing school. Construction on the addition/renovations begin in the summer of 2009 with an anticipated completion date of September 2010.
Nuiyak School in Sanikiluaq is now too small for the number of students attending the school. Construction on the new school began this summer with an anticipated completion date of December 2010.
The Department of Education has budgeted $5,100,000 for the upcoming fiscal year.
Mr. Chairman, I have said this in the past and I want to re-emphasize that we cannot spend more than our means.
As a government, we must work within the budget framework.
There are implications to project costs, including staffing, associated housing requirements, building utilities, and ongoing maintenance that must also be considered as we look at creating new facilities as well as adding to existing structures.
As this government goes into its new mandate, I look forward to working with all members to set priorities and help navigate a new direction for our territory.
I am confident that we can work together in the best interests of Nunavummiut and deliver the best possible services and programs for our students.
Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to be here today to discuss the Department of Education’s capital budget for 2010-11 and the subsequent four years.
I look forward to your questions, comments, and discussion, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Do my colleagues agree to bring in the witnesses?
Sergeant-at-Arms, could you escort the minister’s witnesses, please.
I think we’re ready.
Minister Tapardjuk, your witnesses are no strangers to us, but for the record, I would like you to introduce them.
On my left is Deputy Minister Kathy Okpik and on my right is Murray Horn, Director of Corporate Services.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Minister. Welcome all.
Does the Chair of the Standing Committee on Social Wellness have any comments?
Mr. Aupaluktuq, you can proceed.
Mr. Aupaluktuq (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) I am pleased to provide opening comments on behalf of the Standing Committee on Social Wellness as the Committee of the Whole begins its consideration of the Department of Education’s proposed 2010-11 capital budget of $12,910,000.
Mr. Chairman, the Department of Education’s capital estimates for 2010-11 include five community-specific projects and seven projects for which no specific communities or regions are identified.
Members note that work on the school projects in Cape Dorset, Igloolik, and Sanikiluaq will all become close to completion in the 2010-11 fiscal year.
Members recognize that the school renovation project in Iqaluit is a multi-year project that can only be worked on during the summer when there are no students on the premises.
At the present time, all of these projects appear to be proceeding according to schedule.
The standing committee encourages the minister to keep members and communities up to date with any delays or changes in plans.
Mr. Chairman, the school addition project in Repulse Bay is the only new school project to be included in the department’s 2010-11 capital estimates with funding of $50,000 to be allocated for planning work.
Members believe it is important to emphasize that when the department undertakes such planning initiatives, the expectations of the impacted community are inevitably raised.
The standing committee encourages the minister and his officials to maintain close communication with the community and its district education authority regarding ongoing progress on the project and any reasons for changes or delay.
As we have noted from the experience of other communities such as, for example, Coral Harbour, significant frustration and resentment can emerge when the department does not follow through with planning initiatives and does not clearly and candidly advise community representatives of a project’s status.
Mr. Chairman, when the standing committee initially reviewed information accompanying the Department of Education’s proposed capital estimates for 2010-11, a number of the supporting documents were either unclear or contained inaccurate information.
The standing committee appreciates the department’s willingness to clarify and correct various points of information and members were pleased to receive updated materials for their use and reference.
Mr. Chairman, the standing committee recognizes the critical importance of education in the future development of Nunavut.
The physical condition of our schools as well as related issues, such as overcrowding, have a significant impact on the overall success of our education system.
Members support the minister in his efforts to ensure that the most favourable conditions for learning are made possible within all of Nunavut’s schools and encourage him to revisit projects which were identified as necessary in the past but continue to be deferred in the present capital plan.
Mr. Chairman, the standing committee further recognizes that other aspects of infrastructure development can support and enhance the provision of education services.
For example, ensuring that adequate staff housing is available for teachers is often a factor in teachers accepting positions in a community.
The standing committee is aware that Nunavut Housing Corporation’s proposed capital budget does include a number of units for staff housing as well as identifying which communities have expressed a need.
However, it has not been made clear which other communities may be receiving new housing units in 2010-11, which will be allocated for educational staff.
Mr. Chairman, the department’s 2010-11 capital estimates propose three projects that focus on assessment activities. Assessing computer needs, special needs, and overall life cycle repair needs for Nunavut schools in 2010-11 is projected to cost just under $1 million.
Members recognize the importance of being proactive when it comes to identifying potential adverse situations, such as mould or faulty ventilation systems, which may cause school closures.
While the standing committee is pleased that the department is being proactive in preparing to meet identified needs and recognize that it is not always possible to predict areas of expenditure without first undertaking assessments, members are uncomfortable with the idea of approving over $3 million of funding without more detailed information on what will specifically be accomplished with these dollars in the 2010-11 fiscal year.
This includes blocks of funding allocated for minor capital projects, ongoing life cycle repairs, and school busses.
Mr. Chairman, the standing committee encourages the Department of Education to work closely with the Department of Community and Government Services, which routinely undertakes and compiles information from technical assessments of many of the government’s capital assets, such as schools and health centres.
Members look forward to receiving clear assurances that the Department of Education’s work in this area will not turn into a costly duplication of work and effort.
Mr. Chairman, that concludes my opening comments on the proposed 2010-11 Capital Estimates of the Department of Education.
I am confident that individual members will also have questions and comments as we proceed. (interpretation) Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Ningark (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. You are now coordinating the meeting.
I thank the minister for making his opening comments because I think he believes… . Well, he’s well aware that the school population is growing.
It says Repulse Bay here, but maybe you meant to write it down as Resolute Bay. It says Repulse Bay here and it says the Tusarvik School.
I thank you very much and I would like to recognize the people of Repulse Bay.
We hear that there is a capacity of 263 students and enrolment is at 272. I commend the parents for making sure that their children are being sent to school.
I really don’t have much to add to my comments and I will make sure that I make my comments when we are going page by page.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also thank the minister and his officials.
We’re having Christmas presents here already.
I would like to welcome Minister Tapardjuk and his officials. Thank you, Minister Tapardjuk, for being able to visit Coral Harbour to look at the school and to consider our proposal.
I thank you once again.
On page 2 of the minister’s opening comments, it says that there is a total student enrolment in the 2009-2010 school year for the Kitikmeot, Kivalliq, and Baffin. How old is that total enrolment of 9,280?
When we were talking about the Coral Harbour school, they had used old enrolment numbers and the staff had indicated that the enrolment was a lot higher.
I want to know if these are recent enrolment totals or if they are outdated, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Arvaluk… I apologize.
If you would respond, please, Minister Tapardjuk.
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): From what I understand, the total enrolment was taken from September 2009, Mr. Chairman.
When the minister was in Coral Harbour, it was obvious that there are a lot of needs.
Usually, the total enrolment is very important when you are requesting a school. We can use Repulse Bay as an example here.
It’s also one of the factors in getting a school. Again, if you’re going to request a school and there were students not attending, it usually decreases the total number enrolled. That has an effect on your request for a school.
Again on page 4, it talks about renovation projects for the Inuksuk High School and in Cape Dorset, I believe.
Mr. Chairman, my question is: are there other schools in Nunavut that have asbestos and need remedial work?
Please be aware that you can ask those questions at your leisure and separately if you want.
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): I will have my deputy respond to your question, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman (interpretation): Ms. Okpik, if you would respond.
From what we understand, there is asbestos present in two schools. I don’t know of any other schools that have asbestos.
There are special facilities that we’re looking at.
In there, we will also be looking to see if they have asbestos.
To use Inuksuk High School as an example, it is currently 40 years old and the other school, Nakasuk School, had that material in its walls. These two facilities are among the oldest facilities in Nunavut.
In those days, we were not aware of the risks of asbestos and it was fairly common.
Today, none of the construction materials contain any asbestos, especially in our new school construction materials.
However, we will be conducting inspections of all schools to ascertain whether there is any asbestos contained in them.
Chairman (interpretation): I certainly hope all members are on the same page since we have no term for asbestos in Inuktitut.
Most are aware, though, of its potential health risks if you breathe too much of the asbestos, and I wanted that English word understood by our unilingual Inuit.
Mr. Ningeongan, do you have any other comments?
He’s done.
Are there any other general comments? I have no more members on my list for general comments.
We can now proceed to the page-by-page review of the capital estimates starting with page E-3.
Total Capital Expenditures. $12,910,000. Education. Branch Summary.
That includes E-4 and E-5. Are there any questions on those pages?
Since there are none, Total Capital Expenditures. Education. Total. $12,910,000.
Chairman (interpretation): Total Department of Education.
I apologize. Mr. Arvaluk.
Prior to completing the review of these items, I would like to say that ever since the government was created, it seems that we are not constructing very many new schools. Further, this government has stated that they did not want excessively large school facilities.
Has the department taken this idea into consideration?
To use Pond Inlet as an example, we have a separate school from kindergarten to grade 5, the middle school students are sent to the high school, and students in grades 7 to 12 are also sent to the high school.
Many of us have noted that when the student population is overflowing, students start picking on others to the point where even the parents become involved. They have to walk their students to school so that they can protect them from the bullies.
Has the department considered downsizing the schools so that there could be a middle school, such as what they have here in Iqaluit, for each of the smaller communities like Pond Inlet?
The purpose for my question is the effect the transition has on the students. Let me rephrase that. When these students leave the elementary school, they are the biggest and eldest students there, but when they arrive at the high school, they are the smallest students in the school, although some of them are almost equal in strength and education.
I believe that this abrupt transition causes too much stress to the students. Therefore, I am asking whether the department has considered smoothing this transition by having a middle school to ease the transition of our students when they undergo this change in communities roughly the size of Pond Inlet.
Minister Tapardjuk, can you try and respond to the question?
With respect to his question, under our new Education Act, we will be transitioning to the requirements listed in this legislation as we start implementing it over the next three years.
We will now be relying more on the DEAs.
So if the DEAs make a request, we can look into it. We want to work closely with the DEAs and work closely with them when we are making plans to construct new schools or others, Mr. Chairman.
I have a second quick question. The minister earlier today was not able to respond to my question and he took it as notice.
I know that he will answer me some time, but wouldn’t it be more convenient right now?
Maybe his officials are able to tell me.
When the school requested two small buses, they were only sent one.
I was just simply wondering what the explanation is. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Arvaluk. (interpretation ends) According to our Rules of the Assembly, that question was taken as notice and the minister has a set time to answer that question.
So it is only fair for his officials to focus on the capital projects for now that’s before us.
(interpretation) Are there any further questions?
I would like to ask a question while they are here on the Inuksuk High School renovations. When the Inuksuk High School was first built, they constructed it with very small windows.
When you enter the high school, it seems like the building has no windows.
I know that it can increase the cost of electricity, but I was wondering if you were going to work on the windows.
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): My deputy will respond to that, Mr. Chairman.
I have asked this question to my officials. They will not be changing the windows at this time because it’s very expensive to replace the windows and they will have to change the outside siding as well.
It’s going to be very expensive to change the windows, so we are not going to change the windows.
Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. I’m sorry to hear that and I apologize to the students who will be going there.
Are there any further questions while the officials are here?
Total Capital Estimates for Education. $12,910,000.
Chairman (interpretation): We have concluded with comments and questions on the Department of Education.
Minister Tapardjuk, do you have any closing remarks?
I would like to thank my officials for working hard.
Since the funding has been approved, we will be able to conduct a special facility assessment in Nunavut and we’re looking forward to that assessment in the upcoming year for all schools.
We have heard that some schools can’t get doors or windows. These are some of the issues that we have heard and we’re not happy to hear that.
So once we get all of the information from the special facility assessment, we will probably be making more funds for capital projects.
The department is concluded and I would like to thank the officials for appearing before the committee. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses out.
Those are the items that we are to deal with for today.
I move a motion to report progress.