Hargrove’s visit upsets education minister

Manitok Thompson, the minister of education, is upset that she was not notified that Buzz Hargrove, president of the Canadian Autoworkers Union, was in town last week to donate $50,000 to the breakfast program in four Iqaluit schools.

Hargrove was invited to Iqaluit by Hunter Tootoo, an MLA who is seeking re-election in the riding of Iqaluit Centre. The half-hour event took place on Feb. 4 in the library of Nakasuk School.

On Feb. 5, Thompson sent a letter to Andrew Tagak, chair of the Iqaluit District Education Authority, which administers the breakfast program, informing him of her concern.

“I am disappointed that as minister, there was no effort to notify me of this important event. I have been informed that the department of education, headquarters, was not notified that this was taking place within one of our schools,” the letter says.

“As I am the minister of education until the new minister is sworn in (following the election), I would have thought it would be within protocol to at least extend the offer of attending. In discussions with my staff it appears this process was very irregular and this appears to have been a ‘closed’ event.”

Several members of the IDEA attended the meeting, along with three principals, the president of the Nunavut Federation of Teachers, and Premier Paul Okalik.