GN opens third legislative session with promises galore

Education Minister, and minister responsible for Nunavut Arctic College, Paul Quassa, said a university feasibility study, and a law school, are both in the works for Nunavut. (FILE PHOTO)

As she opened the third session of the Nunavut Legislative Assembly, the deputy commissioner of Nunavut, Nellie Kusugak, delivered a commissioner’s address — equivalent to a throne speech — outlining ambitious upcoming new projects and legislative changes.

One big announcement is a feasibility study for a Nunavut university.

“The purpose is to enable access to higher education at home that represents our diverse land,” Kusugak told the legislative assembly June 2.

The commissioner’s address — in this case delivered by the deputy commissioner, since Nunavut is still seeking a replacement for former commissioner Edna Elias — lays out the government’s upcoming mandate.

Education Minister Paul Quassa confirmed later the university feasibility study will be conducted by a third party, to be named later.

“We need to investigate whether we have student demand. Certainly there is that. What governance structure it will have, what type of programming we would deliver if this university comes about, physical infrastructure. All these are areas where we have to look at,” Quassa told Nunatsiaq News.

But the university “would be in Nunavut, that’s for sure,” Quassa said.

And “this would be a stand-alone university in Nunavut,” Quassa added — meaning not in collaboration with the other two territories, he said.

The feasibility study would also examine possible funding options, the minister said.

And speaking of education, the deputy commissioner also mentioned how the GN plans to implement, by 2017, a degree-granting law program through Nunavut Arctic College.

Quassa, also the NAC minister, said a request for proposals for the new law program is on its way.

“We’ll be looking for partnership with a Canadian university and we will be issuing an RFP solidifying the concept of delivering a degree-granting program,” Quassa said.

The law school announcement and the university announcement aren’t related, Quassa said.

He said the government still needs to look at student housing, classroom space and demand for the new program.

“From what we have heard so far, numbers could go up to 25 students for 2017,” Quassa said.

“And certainly law is one of the professions that we see is inadequately fulfilled by Inuit beneficiaries,” Quassa said.

The deputy commissioner announced a few other goodies in her speech June 2.

Kusugak said the GN wants to launch a pilot project to test solar power on a new building by the end of 2016.

“While we continue to promote conservation of our wildlife, we must also meld conservation philosophies within the confines of modern society, such as conservation of our environment through infrastructure that is energy efficient,” Kusugak said.

No location was indicated for the pilot project, however.

And texting drivers beware: check your rearview mirror for new distracted driving laws.

Kusugak said the GN is seeking to amend the Motor Vehicles Act, “which will include measures to curb distracted driving and reconstitute the Motor Vehicle Act into a broader Traffic Safety Act.”

That item came with no deadlines, however.

And in an ambitious statement, Kusugak said the GN wants to open a heritage facility by 2021.

Kusugak said a new Nunavut Heritage Centre “would hold our historical records, archaeology and museum objects and allow for space for new acquisitions.”

Such a centre might even hold objects from the Franklin expeditions, she said. That should please Rankin Inlet South MLA Alex Sammurtok who raised it in the assembly May 28.

“We are actively working with the heritage society and external partners to raise funds and establish new partnerships in the anticipation of the opening of a heritage facility by 2021.”

Other announcements in Kusugak’s speech include:

• beginning consultations on exploring Roman orthography as a standard guideline for teaching Inuktitut in 2015;

• by the end of 2015, income assistance clients will automatically be referred to a career development officer for transition from training to employment;

• this fall, a full review of income assistance at the upcoming poverty reduction roundtable;

• changes to the senior fuel subsidy program;

• changes to the day care subsidy;

• repurposing infrastructure in Rankin Inlet into a residential mental health facility;

• by 2016, providing training for more beneficiaries in the area of addiction treatment;

• by next session, tabling the Nunavut Suicide Prevention Strategy evaluation report;

• coming soon: new wildlife regulations with a rollout expected July 1, 2015;

• a review of the Saillivik policy for funding family violence shelters to enhance safe shelters; and

• the launch of a hunter education program, with focus on sustainable harvesting skills.

If you want to read the commissioner’s address, click here.