Nunavimiut spurn construction training and jobs

Many Nunavimiut are eager for new low-cost housing, but they haven’t been rushing out to help build Makivik’s new social housing units.

Three years ago, Makivik Corporation started managing a five-year government-funded program to build $10 million worth of new social housing every year.

The plan was to hire Inuit to build the units — instead of workers hired from the South by Quebec’s housing bureau.

But finding and keeping local workers interested in learning construction skills hasn’t been as popular an idea as Makivik’s leaders hoped.

The first year, a scheme to have Inuit build housing components near Montreal bombed. Then, the materials needed for housing construction arrived late in Nunavik and turned out to have many structural problems.

Southern workers were finally hired to complete the buildings, months behind schedule.

Last year, Makivik came up with a new design, a compact two-bedroom duplex. The building materials were delivered early to make the most of Nunavik’s short construction season and give trainees as much time as possible to practice their skills.

Eight duplexes went up in Kuujjuaq where trainees were supposed to build one unit, but the turnover in workers was constant.

In Akulivik, where four duplexes were finished by March, a construction supervisor said he hadn’t been able to find any local workers to work on them, due to the long hours, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and the cold working conditions.

Makivik’s annual report said 67 Inuit had received work through its construction program.

But at Makivik’s recent annual general meeting in Tasiujaq, delegates scolded Makivik executives, saying they should have had a greater presence at the construction sites to make sure workers stayed motivated.

But Aatami said he doesn’t feel as if he has to hold anyone’s hand.

“If they really want to work, even if we didn’t go there, they would be there. We’re not babysitters, we support Inuit, and we want Inuit to work, but if they want to work, they have to do it,” Aatami said.

Others delegates rapped various aspects of the new houses. They said the duplexes were cold, subject to frozen pipes, and noisy.

“It’s not fun to live in a duplex when you hear violence,” a woman said. “If it’s the only way to build houses, they should consider putting in some soundproofing.”

Aatami said if the social housing program is renewed, three- or four-bedroom houses could be built.

This summer, 25 additional duplexes will go up in Nunavik: eight in Puvirnituq, six in Salluit, six in Inukjuak, two in Kangiqsuaq and three in Tasiujaq.

A delegate from Puvirnituq said he was sure workers in his community would be eager to work on the construction project.

Paulusi Novalinga told Aatami Puvirnitumiut had been frustrated at seeing imported workers putting up sheds in his community when they felt their local workers could have done a better job.

Novalinga said Puvirnituq is proud of its stock of skilled local workers.