(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the students who attend Arctic College are increasing in number and I'm grateful that Arctic College is available to them and they are able to attend; some from Iqaluit and some from Cambridge Bay. But, many times, people who want to further their education who aren't fluent in English or don't speak English at all can't attend because there are no instructors who speak the language and, a lot of times, they're not provided with interpreters even though they're quite willing to get more training; for example, in mechanics, carpentry, and plumbing.
The people who work in these fields are quite capable in their work, but they don't understand English and that stops them from further training. Considering their ability to work, in the eastern Arctic, especially, the instructors should be able to speak the language or have interpreters available. I'm grateful that students from Nunavut are able to go to the Fort Smith Arctic College but a lot of times the students are not eager to leave their home communities to further their education, as is the case in Kitikmeot, Repulse Bay, Taloyoak and Gjoa Haven. Some go to Cambridge Bay but there are courses not offered there and students have to go to Iqaluit and other communities.
I'm grateful that the training is available, but when they have to go to different communities, they have to leave their children behind and when they get homesick, they don't continue their education. They go home without finishing the course they were taking.
Children used to be provided with breakfast and this doesn't happen any more. I'm sure a majority of students are fed in the morning by their parents or guardians before they go to school, but I'm sure there are some children in the communities who go to school without having a proper breakfast. It's not that their parents don't love them; they are loved by their parents, but there are families who can't afford it, especially if the parents aren't working and dependent on social assistance. Even though the parents love their children deeply, because there is no food in the house, they are not provided with breakfast because of lack of money. Prices are going up everywhere.
Often, country food is available -- a lot of people who are on social assistance don't have hunting equipment -- but kids nowadays don't want to eat native food all the time. Even as adults, we don't particularly want to eat meat in the morning. Maybe the community education councils are aware who those families are. Maybe, if the parents are on social assistance, those children can be provided with breakfast in the schools, because I am sure the teachers and the community themselves know which students they are.
We all know that if we do not have a proper breakfast, we tend to get tired faster. For adults, if we skip breakfast, it seems okay. I want the Minister and his department to give more consideration to how they can assist further, the students who cannot be provided with nutritional meals in the mornings. I am sure that there are not that many students, there might be two or three students; do you understand? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.