Qujannamiik, Uqaqtii. I rise today to express my concern about a shortage of one unit of staff housing in Grise Fiord, which may jeopardize the community grade extension in that community unless the problem can be quickly solved. I also wish to comment on this situation to show how complex our government has become today and to give this as a very good example of why I think the GNWT needs a regional director on the scene in the Baffin region to solve exactly these kinds of problems on the spot in the region without me having to bring this issue up on the floor of this Assembly.
Here is the story, Mr. Speaker: School grades have been extended in Grise Fiord. Grade 10 is now in place and the community is looking forward to grade 11 being put in place next year. These grade extensions have put real pressure on the school for additional classroom space, but especially on the requirements for staff housing. Three years ago, the Baffin Divisional Board of Education was granted what was described as emergency lease funding by Public Works and Services, to house their new school principal. A house was leased from the Grise Fiord co-op for that purpose. Now the board has been told that the emergency lease funding has run out. The divisional board then requested the Department of Education, Culture and Employment to provide what is called "build-to-lease' funding in order to get an additional house, since teachers had to live in the nursing station because nothing else was available. Although the board was promised that funding, the lease was never tendered. Now the board is told that to replace the emergency lease funding, which has run out, they can use the "build-to-lease" funds. That leaves Grise Fiord one unit short for their school staff requirements next year. I understand that the Grise Fiord Co-op has sent a proposal to the Housing Corporation to build a small, new unit for lease, but they have been told there is no money available.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.