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This is in addition to four levels of carpentry already available in Iqaluit. All of us look forward to the official opening of the Nunavut Trades Training Centre in the fall of 2010.
Mining has become a major employer in Nunavut.
To that end, the new Pond Inlet Community Learning Centre will support non-technical training for the Mary River mining project. Though currently deferred, the mine training centre proposed as the core of the new Kitikmeot campus in Cambridge Bay remains a high priority for the training of mine workers, millwrights, and welders. And we are hopeful that the training centre in Rankin Inlet will be expanded in the future to train heavy duty and auto mechanics, and the heavy equipment operators needed by the mining industry.
Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to be here today to discuss the Nunavut Arctic College’s capital plan for 2009-10 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. (interpretation) Thank you. (interpretation ends) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Shewchuk.
Hon. Daniel Shewchuk: Yes, I do, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman (interpretation): Sergeant-at-Arms, (interpretation ends) could you escort the witnesses in?
To my right, I have Dan Vandermeulen, the President of the Arctic College, and to my left I have Barry Cornthwaite, Manager of Capital Planning for the Department of Education.
Chairman: Does a member of the Regular Members’ Caucus have opening comments?
I am pleased to provide opening comments on behalf of the Regular Members’ Caucus as the Committee of the Whole begins its consideration of Nunavut Arctic College’s proposed 2009-2010 capital estimates.
Nunavut Arctic College’s proposed capital budget for adult education related programs in 2009-2010 is $19.85 million.
This is the first time that the college has been a separate entity, distinct from the Department of Education, for the purposes of the capital budget review process.
In previous fiscal years, the Department of Education had allocated $10.5 million in 2008-09 and $6.25 million in 2007-08 for adult education related projects.
Members note that the college’s proposed funding is allocated to four projects which are ongoing from previous years and include accommodations for Nunavut Arctic College students, the construction of the Nunavut Trade School, and the construction of the Pond Inlet Community Learning Centre.
Members have noted that while projects such as Nunavut Arctic College’s student accommodations in Rankin Inlet and Iqaluit will allow for more students and their families from the outlying communities to move to the regional centres to take advantage of post-secondary educational opportunities, programs such as Financial Aid for Nunavut Students are still administered by the Department of Education.
Members encourage the Minister responsible for Nunavut Arctic College and the Minister of Education to work closely together to ensure that adequate funding is budgeted for a potential increase in costs for FANS benefits, especially in the area of travel for students and their dependants to the regional campuses.
Members were pleased to note that the new student accommodations in Iqaluit should be ready for occupancy in time for the fall semester.
The issue of security was raised as a concern, especially as many students will be coming to a larger regional centre for the first time as well as sharing accommodation with individuals whom they may not know.
Members urge the minister and his officials to consider the installation of security devices to provide as much protection as possible for students and their families.
Although many Nunavut Arctic College students will still be accommodated at the Federal Road residence as well as in some privately leased units, it is anticipated that the new Nunavut Arctic College housing units will improve the current housing situation for students.
Mr. Chairman, the recent federal budget contained funding of $2 billion for maintenance and repair projects for post-secondary institutions.
Members urge to minister to act swiftly and decisively to access a share of this funding.
Priority will be given to projects that will improve the quality of research at a given institution and the Nunavut Research Institute would be an ideal candidate for this type of infrastructure development.
This Arctic College institution has not received any substantive upgrading in several years.
Mr. Chairman, in order for many Nunavummiut to be able to take advantage of post-secondary programs such as those offered at the regional Nunavut Arctic College campuses, a great deal of groundwork needs to be covered at the grassroots level in our communities.
Community learning centres are enormously important to helping residents access the upgrading programs that they need in order to get into more specialized training programs.
Members note that the funding proposed for the community learning centre project in Pond Inlet will go towards a final year of construction.
This is the only community learning centre project on the college’s capital plan.
Members recognize that there are cost-saving opportunities to partner with other departments to include community learning centres in other capital projects, such as schools or municipal infrastructure.
Members encourage the minister to work closely with his officials and counterparts in other departments to ensure that these adult education needs are met while also ensuring that other sectors of the population, such as our school age children, do not end up with less space than is optimal in their newly-built or renovated school.
Mr. Chairman, members fully support the ongoing work at the Nunavut Trade School in Rankin Inlet.
The proposed construction costs for this facility in 2009-2010 account for more than half of Nunavut Arctic College’s entire capital budget.
Members encourage the minister to provide regular updates on the progress of this facility and, as he pointed out in his opening statements, on the types of trades training that will be offered in order that Nunavummiut can prepare themselves accordingly to take advantage of the opportunities once they become available.
Members also recommend that the minister give consideration wherever possible to opening small trade-specific facilities in some of Nunavut’s smaller communities, especially where the circumstances are particularly conducive to training for a specific trade such as heavy equipment operating and activities that are in demand such as gravel processing or mining. Again, this was mentioned in his opening comments, so we thank the minister for working on that.
On a final note, Mr. Chairman, the change in ministerial responsibility for Nunavut Arctic College from the Department of Education has led to this capital budget being subsumed under the Department of Finance.
Members recognize that this is a transitional step.
At the same time, it is important to recognize that the governance, mode of operations and even the fiscal year of Nunavut Arctic College are all significantly different from other GN entities.
Members urge the minister and the government as a whole to proceed with caution in determining Nunavut Arctic College’s new status within the government’s structure.
Mr. Chairman, that concludes my opening comments on the proposed 2009-2010 Capital Estimates of Nunavut Arctic College.
I am confident that my colleagues will wish to offer further comments of their own.
Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Shewchuk… sorry about that, Mr. Elliott.
I wish to remind members: to allow time for the interpreters, please speak slowly.
Mr. Ningark: Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
I am very happy to hear that the new facilities in Rankin Inlet and Iqaluit will include or have included already day care facilities.
I think that this is something that has prevented many young families from attending the post-secondary educational facilities in their region.
However, I have not seen such a plan for the Kitikmeot region in Cambridge Bay.
I have no question at this time, but I do wish that such arrangement for the Kitikmeot region will be considered seriously within the coming months.
Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Ningark.
Do members have any general comments? I have no more members on my list for general comments.
We will proceed to the page-by-page review of the capital estimates starting with page C-3 and Appendix A-II-5.
I don’t want to make a general comment with respect to the Arctic College, but I observed that based on this paper, the Pond Inlet Community Learning Centre is the only one scheduled for construction, although Qikiqtarjuaq was also mentioned.
Have we undertaken a plan to start replacing the really old infrastructure in our communities? For instance, we have heard of several communities where the Arctic College doesn’t even have its own building. I used to reside in Coral Harbour, so I don’t know if that facility was ever built, however... apparently the member is not listening to the dialogue.
Yes, as I noted earlier, I do not wish to make a general comment, but looking at the funds listed here, we saw that Pond Inlet will be the only community receiving a new community learning centre and it’s being constructed and should be completed this spring.
Pond Inlet residents are grateful for that new building.
However, this current building was originally built to house government teachers in 1960.
I actually know, as I resided in Coral Harbour, that there was no standalone building for Arctic College and they had to try and utilize the school in the community.
I imagine that there are a few more communities in that category in Nunavut.
How useful is the Arctic College for drop-outs from high school? It’s a very useful tool for these people to upgrade their educational skills.
My question is: how committed or dedicated is the Arctic College to construct a community learning centre in communities that currently either do not have a building or are operating out of very old Arctic College buildings? What kind of plans does Arctic College have to build new learning centres where there are none or replacement plans where the buildings are very old?
My colleague is right that the Pond Inlet Community Learning Centre is under construction and will be finished hopefully this summer.
We do have another community learning centre that is being constructed.
However, it’s administrated by Education because it’s going to be part of a new proposed school infrastructure that’s taking place in Qikiqtarjuaq.
Community learning centre plans will be reviewed in 2009-2010 and we would like to move forward and ahead in including community learning centres and any major capital infrastructure that may be built in communities and partnership with these construction projects.
It’s a concern because approximately 50 percent of the students complete high school, but the rest who don’t complete high school face a lot of challenges.
They might think about becoming conservation officers, plumbers, or carpenters, but they can’t take the training because they didn’t finish high school.
When you finish high school or receive your GED through Arctic College, you can finally receive further education.
So I see it as a priority to build community learning centres because if students or their parents aren’t working hard enough, they don’t complete their education and regret it later in life.
You can only get your GED through community learning centres, where there’s an opportunity to make accomplishments and get into occupational stages.
However, there are communities that don’t have these types of buildings at all or have buildings that are deteriorating from age and becoming too small. So I would like to have this reviewed by your department as soon as possible.
I agree with my colleague that the community learning centres are very important in communities and I agree that we have to look at upgrading and keeping these facilities going. At present, we have a community learning centre in every community, except in Grise Fiord at this time.
So we do have them established.
To maintain them and upgrade them is going to take funding and time, and through a review that we will do, community-by-community, we will establish a priority list on the replacement schedule.
The minister was speaking to the fact that Pond Inlet is receiving the last year of construction for their CLC and Qikiqtarjuaq is combined with the Department of Education.
I believe Grise Fiord is the only other community that doesn’t have a community learning centre. I’m just wondering if he could update how high of a priority is that and when could they actually see something coming about for them.
As I stated before, Grise Fiord is the only community right now that does not have a community learning centre in place, so obviously it is a number one priority.
At this present time, we are looking for a short-term solution in acquiring space, a place where we could have this, but it will be a number one priority in the future to hopefully get a new establishment there.
Along that line of questioning, I was just wondering if they have been in touch with the community. Through Community and Government Services, there’s an $8.5 million project being put through under the Building Canada Fund for a hamlet office/community hall and I thought that perhaps the community learning centre might be an ideal situation in terms of partnering with.
The member raises a very good point and we are and we will be in discussions with Community and Government Services to see if we can partnership on this project.
I would just like to advise too that we do have an adult education position established in the new Arctic College budget for Grise Fiord.
That’s great to hear and I’m sure the people in Grise Fiord will be really happy to hear that.
In your Member’s Statement, you had mentioned that “Mining has become a major employer in Nunavut. To that end, the new Pond Inlet Community Learning Centre will support non-technical training for the Mary River mining project.”
That’s a benefit for Pond Inlet, but most of the work that’s being done with the Mary River project and the communities that are involved, including Clyde River, Resolute Bay, and Arctic Bay, are also being included for some of the impact review and whatnot, and some of the benefits through the IBAs.
Will members in my communities of Grise Fiord, Resolute Bay, and Arctic Bay be allowed to apply for those non-technical training courses that you mentioned?
Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Shewchuk or Mr. Elliott, sorry about that.
Yes, of course, we feel this training should be a priority for all communities, not just Pond Inlet. There will be introduction to mining safety modules that are going to be available to all communities; they will have access to those. But I assure you that, through community learning centres, training in all communities in the different mining fields is a priority.
I would just like the minister to clarify that. I don’t know if he was saying yes, Arctic Bay residents will be able to go to those non-technical training courses being offered.
What we will try to do is take training modules and training to the communities.
Chairman: Again?
Mr. Elliott: … turned my light on.
Chairman: Members, I would like to remind you to please put your hand up if you have more questions so I will know that you have more questions.
Mr. Elliott: Oh, there you go.
I was just too eager to ask these questions.
Thank you for answering those questions.
I have a question in regard to student financial assistance.
Has the minister been speaking with the Minister of Education in terms of the possibility of increased travel for having family members come to stay at the new residence that is being constructed?
I have not yet spoken and had conversations with the Minister of Education about this.
However, the member knows that this is a mandate of the Minister of Education.
Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Shewchuk.
I’m used to keeping my hands down now because I’m being told to keep them down.
The question is in regard to the new residence that is being constructed behind the Nunatta Campus.
Is that intended for family units or for single units?
Yes, the new residence in Iqaluit is targeted both for single and family units and more family units that can be reverted to be used as single units too.
Will the White Row units or Cedar Creek, I’m not exactly sure of the terminology, will those units still be in use or will they not be needed anymore?
Yes, those units will be used for a minimum of one year at the present time.
During that one year period, there will be a review on all Nunavut Arctic College housing.
Mr. Elliott: Mr. Chairman, in terms of the food services, I ate there many times and I’m just wondering: will that service still be provided to the students once the residence has been constructed? I know that they will within their own unit. At the new residence, they will be allowed to, but will they have the option of a meal plan?
The quick answer is yes, they will.
Chairman: Thank you. Mr. Elliott.
In the minister’s statement to the COW, he mentioned housing maintainers, oil burner mechanics, electrical and plumbing as trades that would be done in Rankin Inlet’s new training centre.
Let’s say an oil burner mechanic goes through all of the years through the apprenticeship program. Will they receive something that is called the inter-provincial or the ticket that allows them to be able to practice their trade not just in Nunavut but in any province or territory across Canada at the end?
Thank you for that question, my colleague.
All of Nunavut Arctic College trades programs require and use red seal approvals or curriculum, which means that, yes, the credentials are good right across Canada.
In the Minister responsible for Housing’s Member’s Statement today, he mentioned that 51 Nunavummiut are involved in the apprenticeship program. How closely is Nunavut Arctic College working with the Nunavut Housing Corporation on this project?
Yes, there’s a very good relationship with Nunavut Housing and we work very closely with them in reviewing the demand for tradespeople.
And in regard to this, because of the demand that is needed in construction projects that are happening, the trades school in May is going to be double the number of people enrolled in that program.
Once again, this is great news that two departments are working so closely on providing these training opportunities for the people in the communities.
It’s often very hard and there are so many stumbling blocks for them to go through to actually become a qualified apprentice. And often times, I know, in Arctic Bay, in doing research and finding out that for the Nunavut Housing Trust project, $500,000 has gone to southern staff and $300,000 has only gone to our local residents, which stays in the community.
Something in terms of foresight is the project for Nunavut Housing Trust is going to be finishing in one year. I’m just wondering whether the college has thought of or if there’s a plan in place.
What are they going to do with those 51 apprentices, after the Nunavut Housing Trust is completed, to continue to train them and also provide opportunities?
I guess employment is not going to be happening, so they won’t be able to get to the next level in terms of the apprenticeship program.
Yes, that is a concern to everyone to what is going to happen to these tradespeople that want their training after construction projects run out.
But we do have, for the next couple of years anyway, an abundance of houses that are going to be built in Nunavut and we need people, beneficiaries, hopefully Nunavummiut to do this.
So by doubling the intake of trades in the carpentry program this May, we will address hopefully part of that challenge and also, we will have to continue to work with Housing and CG&S to look for projects to have these people employed after our housing boom is over.
It looks like from your Member’s Statement that 2010 is when you actually hope to have the trades school up and running. Are you starting to source out and look for qualified staff to be able to instruct the courses in oil burner mechanics, electrical and plumbing?
We noticed, and I’m sure the minister is well aware since he has the portfolio of HR, that it’s hard finding qualified and good people to take on the responsibilities and make the commitment for more than one or two years.
Chairman: I would like to remind the members again that we’re on capital estimates, so stay on topic of the 2009-2010 capital, please.
Hon. Daniel Shewchuk: In that case, I won’t answer that question… no.
Yes, the curriculum staff is being recruited right at the present time before construction is completed.
Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Shewchuk. Thank you.
We are discussing or reviewing Nunavut Arctic College.
About a month ago, we had people from the regional Arctic College office in Kugaaruk and we recognize that Nunavut Arctic College is a gateway for the opportunity for young people looking for a career in their lives.
We held a meeting at the Arctic College in Kugaaruk and some people from Cambridge Bay commented that the building was kind of out of date. We were told that perhaps Kugaaruk would be a priority for building and replacing the Arctic College in the community and in the region.
I’m wondering, loudly I suppose, if people from the Cambridge Bay Arctic College have communicated with the good office of the minister about replacing the old Arctic College building in Kugaaruk.
I thank the member for his question, very valid question. I have been informed that the community learning centre in Pelly Bay is in very poor condition and under our review, when we are reviewing all communities, we are aware that it will be one of the higher priority places to be looked at.
Mr. Ningark: Mr. Chairman, I don’t know where Pelly Bay is.
I’m talking on behalf of Kugaaruk.
I am speaking about Kugaaruk.
Mr. Ningark: Mr. Minister, thank you for that respect.
Mr. Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) I appreciate the minister’s commitment to continued learning and it’s one way to tackle a real problem in our territory is to get our adult population educated so that we can tackle poverty throughout Nunavut. I’m glad to see commitments for community learning centres in a number of communities throughout Nunavut. And to my colleague from Kugaaruk, I look forward to more commitments throughout Nunavut.
There used to be one here in Iqaluit. I’m a product of the community learning centre here in Iqaluit. When I was working, I was able to get my grade 12 at the community learning centre that used to be directly across from what is now Northmart.
And I have been asked to see if it’s possible once again to have a dedicated community learning centre here in the community of Iqaluit.
There is one currently at the main campus and they coalesce with the rest of Nunavut’s students, but they would like to get more attention from the community.
So that is one area that I would ask the minister to try and see if there are possibilities of creating a small local community learning centre here in Iqaluit. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Yes, he’s absolutely right that there is currently a community learning centre at the Nunatta Campus.
We do hear his concern and it will be part of our review process and we would appreciate his input on that review process of us dealing with community learning centres in all communities.
Mr. Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) I appreciate your response and I look forward to taking part, and it’s something that has been missing in our community here in Iqaluit and it has real potential for improving services and improving our potential as a territory for adult learners.
I applaud the minister and I look forward to working with my colleagues in making sure that all of the communities have community learning centres throughout Nunavut because it’s one area where it can really have a very positive impact in our territory. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Okalik. (interpretation) Did you ask a question?
Mr. Okalik (interpretation): No, it’s okay.