This is page numbers 643 - 675 of the Hansard for the 12th Assembly, 7th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was chairman.

Topics

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 662

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The general direction that was given was first to divide the college into two colleges. Secondly, it was to maintain the programs that were in existence in the locations where they were located. Thirdly, there was a need for the development of a college development strategy that would outline the general direction that each college would take, of which trades in Nunavut would be one of those components. So in that sense, we need a plan of action as to which direction we were going, then from that would stem the whole issue of the investment decisions that needed to take place so we could incorporate the general strategy and direction that was being undertaken or being given and received from the plan. That's the direction in which we were going.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 662

The Chair Brian Lewis

Thank you, Mr. Nerysoo. Mr. Patterson.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 662

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Just to be very specific, Mr. Chairman, is the trades complex in Thebacha the designated trades training institution in the territories right now? The only one? Is that correct?

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 662

The Chair Brian Lewis

Mr. Nerysoo.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 662

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Mr. Chairman, yes. It's the only location at this particular time that has the equipment to deliver the courses. One component that the honourable Member should be aware of is the strategy of the college may indicate a need to move in the trades area. The next thing is to develop an operational component that deals with the investment decisions as to how we implement the general trades programs in Nunavut Arctic College. Once we know that, then we can make our long-term plans to coincide with those kinds of decisions. That includes the matter of assessing what we're doing in Aurora College at Thebacha Campus.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 662

The Chair Brian Lewis

Thank you, Mr. Nerysoo. Mr. Patterson.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 662

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

I've given some notice of this question to the Minister. For this territorial facility, what proportion of students are attending that facility from the regions of the Nunavut Arctic College?

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 662

The Chair Brian Lewis

Mr. Nerysoo.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 662

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

I can give you the statistics, Mr. Chairman, for 1993-94, and I think it will be a reflection of the general amount. It may vary depending on how many we have. I think the only difference would be a bit higher numbers in the west.

In 1993-94, the amounts were 70 apprentices from Nunavut and 78 apprentices in the west. That was the number.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 662

The Chair Brian Lewis

Thank you, Mr. Nerysoo. Mr. Patterson.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 662

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

How about the success rates of the students from Nunavut? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 662

The Chair Brian Lewis

Mr. Nerysoo.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 662

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. If I could back as far as 1990-91 and then come forward to 1993-94, I think it would give you a reflection. In 1990-91, it was 67 per cent; in 1991-92, it was 61 per cent; 1992-93, it was 72 per cent; and, 1993-94 it was 62 per cent.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 663

The Chair Brian Lewis

Thank you very much, Mr. Nerysoo. Mr. Patterson.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 663

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Mr. Chairman, I'd like to ask the Minister, it looks like there's a one-third attrition rate, roughly. Are those acceptable rates of success for those students? Thank you.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 663

The Chair Brian Lewis

Thank you. Mr. Nerysoo.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 663

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It's not unusual, Mr. Chairman, for apprenticeships. Generally speaking, that seems to be the national trend; about 30 per cent loss in apprenticeships. Actually, it's about 30 to 50 per cent.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 663

The Chair Brian Lewis

Thank you, Mr. Nerysoo. Mr. Patterson.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 663

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I fully understand, especially with some trades and especially with the more advanced years of trades training you do need fairly sophisticated equipment, like welding equipment, like electrical. But in almost all of our communities, certainly our larger communities, we have excellent shops in place in fields like carpentry, mechanical, automotive. We have excellent basic facilities. It seems to me that, even without establishing sophisticated equipment, if the will was there that we could offer at least trades training in the initial years in communities closer to home for those Nunavut students. I would submit that experience with the teacher education program and other programs that have been repatriated closer to home is that your success rates would only improve.

I would like to ask the Minister, what plans are in this budget that is before us to allow trades training to take place in Nunavut, especially in the early years without sophisticated equipment being required, using resources that are already in hand in our communities: housing association warehouses and shops, those sorts of creative approaches that have been the way the college at Smith developed. Thank you.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 663

The Chair Brian Lewis

Thank you, Mr. Patterson. Mr. Nerysoo.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 663

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just so there's no confusion about our position, I want to at least be able to ensure that we have a capacity to deliver educational programming at the community level. There are some things that we're already doing that allow for the pre-trades training. I think the building and learning initiative that we've undertaken in the community, which includes the matter of actually formal education, is something that I think we have been very successful at, along with Public Works and Services and the Housing Corporation. So in that sense, I think we have an ability to move in that direction.

I think the problem that seems to arise around this whole issue of trades training -- and I think the Member has pointed it out -- is simply there seems to be a pure debate on the issue of facilities, and not necessarily how we might be able to improve the programs and services at the community level. I think you've highlighted that and said there are other ways we can do it. It's our view that we can do those kinds of things. There's the possibility of module-type training opportunities; the issue of moving instructors from one community to another community on a rotational basis; different types of instruction, whether or not it's heavy equipment or whether or not it's plumbing, whether or not it's home maintenance; whatever it is, I think we have that opportunity.

The debate sometimes gets bogged down purely in the issue of facilities. My concern would be if we are to worry about facilities in order for us to deliver programs, then we would not be offered a lot of adult programs in our communities. In other words, that would have been the basis of our argument. So I think the honourable Member has pointed out an issue that, if we could sit down with the Nunavut education leadership and the Nunavut Arctic College and see that there are opportunities in the short term that can provide for these training opportunities in the Nunavut communities. I think we can solve the problem.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 663

The Chair Brian Lewis

Thank you, Mr. Nerysoo. Mr. Patterson.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 663

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I agree that it is not the facilities that are important, it is creating training opportunities using what is already in place. I would like to ask the Minister...And I believe the Minister has power under the appropriate legislation to provide not only leadership but, if necessary, direction to the college boards flowing from advice given by this Assembly and by Nunavut education leaders and others who have a stake in education.

I would like to ask the Minister if he is prepared to initiate discussions with the college boards to take steps to meet what I understand is a clear priority of the Nunavut Arctic College board -- and I know the new board has only met once, but they have already written the Minister and said trades is a priority, understand -- is the Minister prepared to provide leadership, get the boards together and look for constructive solutions?

I don't care whether PYs and dollars are transferred or seconded, whatever the device is, but I would like to see trades training starting closer to home, in Nunavut. Now that we have a separate college and now that the Thebacha College no longer has the mandate to serve the whole Northwest Territories. And I suspect, as the heavy equipment program has done in taking the program to the people, the good people at Thebacha College and in the Aurora board would be open to making those person years available to students in Nunavut who want to take their training closer to home. Will the Minister initiate meetings towards that end? Thank you.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 663

The Chair Brian Lewis

Thank you, Mr. Patterson. Mr. Nerysoo.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 663

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just so that Members know, I have already initiated the issue of meeting with the boards. I have sent a letter to them indicating that I wanted to have a discussion with departmental officials and with the board to discuss first of all, the strategic plans that they have submitted. And secondly, to try to address the issue of general programming and services that would be offered including the whole matter of investments and innovative methods by which we could provide programming and services to both Aurora College and Nunavut Arctic College. That meeting is being planned for mid-April

.