Nunavut MLAs decry state of community adult learning centres
“It seems nothing concrete is actually being done”
Tony Akoak, Nunavut’s MLA for Gjoa Haven, tells the minister responsible for Nunavut Arctic College that his community’s adult learning centre has a collapsing floor. While it is now housed in another building temporarily, its current lease expires in four months. (Photo by Courtney Edgar)
Nunavut’s regular MLAs described in the legislature on Wednesday what one called the “sad state of affairs” of Nunavut Arctic College’s community adult learning centres.
In Gjoa Haven, the facility’s floor has collapsed, causing programming to be moved to an old nursing station. In Sanikiluaq, the centre’s lease inside a school runs out in June, and it remains unclear where it will move next. And Kugluktuk’s centre has been closed since the New Year due to staff turnover.
The MLAs called on Patterk Netser, the minister responsible for the college, to help improve these conditions in their communities.
It began with Gjoa Haven MLA Tony Akoak mentioning that he hoped Netser would add his community to a planned tour of the three regional campuses.
“I have been raising urgent need for the state of the Gjoa Haven community learning centre for quite some time,” said Akoak.
He asked for an update.
Netser replied by saying that if he can reroute his ticket for Gjoa Haven, he will.
He added he cannot share any updates now on the state of learning centres but is looking to visit the communities.
“The building which houses the Gjoa Haven learning centre is very old and in a bad state,” said Akoak.
Building in disrepair
Last year, the MLA had noted windows were boarded up, stairs were damaged and it had mould.
Since then, the windows were replaced with Plexiglas and new stairs were installed, Akoak says.
But now the floor has collapsed.
“The building is unusable,” said Akoak.
So, he asked what the minister is doing to ensure the community has a safe place for adult education.
Netser told him an old nursing station is housing the learning centre while his staff assesses the building’s needs.
“Staff has travelled around to all Nunavut communities to assess the status of each community’s learning centres and prioritized which ones need immediate attention,” said Akoak.
“However, it seems nothing concrete is actually being done.”
Meanwhile, program delivery is affected and residents lose opportunities for employment training.
When he asked if Netser would commit to replacing the Gjoa Haven learning centre, the minister told him again the building is being assessed.
Once there’s more information, he’ll be able to answer that.
Sanikiluaq campus needs new home
Following that exchange, Hudson Bay MLA Allan Rumboldt shared similar concerns.
“Like my colleague, there’s a sad state of affairs for our community learning centre,” said Rumboldt.
His community’s campus is currently located in another school.
However, the lease expires end of June.
Rumboldt said he wrote to the minister responsible for Nunavut Arctic College and to the minister of community and government services over a year ago. Those letters sent December 2017 explain the need for a new location.
“I have also asked a number of questions in the house since then,” said Rumboldt.
“And it’s still not clear if a location has been identified for Sanikiluaq’s community learning centre after June 30.”
When asked for an update on this, Netser responded that he does not have that information but will get back to him when he does.
“Is he willing to visit the community and see with his own eyes the state of affairs that our community is facing when it comes to the community learning centre?” asked Rumboldt.
Netser told him that he or the vice-president already plan to visit Sanikiluaq for graduations this spring.
However, when asked if he’d commit to finding a new location before the lease expires, Netser said he cannot make any commitments like that.
“But I am certainly willing to work with the member on how we can move forward with this request,” said Netser.
Rumboldt says the continued delivery of adult education programs is critical to promoting employment and self-reliance.
“Sanikiluaq residents have a right to learn and improve their career options.”
Kugluktuk campus closed
The third MLA in a row to grill Netser about concerns with community NAC campuses was Mila Adjukak Kamingoak.
Kugluktuk’s learning centre has been closed since the new year due to staffing shortages.
However, she says she knows people are willing and able to fill the adult educator position.
She asked Netser when her community’s campus will re-open.
“I am pretty new to this department and we have a new president,” explained Netser.
“I haven’t to date been given an update on this issue. My staff is aware and listening. In regard to the question, as soon as I find out I’ll respond to her.”
Netser was shuffled into the role of Minister of NAC on Nov. 8.
When she pressed on, asking what he is doing to recruit, Netser told her Rankin Inlet had a similar situation.
It was solved by hiring indeterminate workers—and this is something he is considering.
While Netser did not commit to any specific actions, he did say he was committed to the idea of the programs.
“It’s in our best interest to ensure that we have a training program in our communities … to have our youth take over our Nunavut,” said Netser.
“It seems nothing concrete is actually being done”
This could be a banner over most of the learning centers in Nunavut
I refuse to be discouraged but I believe your comment cuts close to the bone, “nice Catch”:
Nunavut-in-a-nutshell in a headline! “It seems nothing concrete is actually being done”
Further down the page, a more appropriate sub-headline than “Building in disrepair” could be: “Building despair”
Shamelessly using time IN THE LEGISTLATURE to ask a minister a question about broken floor boards, while those whom he probably knows intimately and who could have easily and capably fixed the damage – days, months, or even years ago when it was a small crack – were repairing their quads or sleds, planning a trip to their self-built cabins or taking one of multi-time-daily hour-plus breaks.
Tony, please, go back to your community, TODAY, roust whomever needs rousting, and get that floor repaired. No more hiding behind collectives, collective agreements or land claims agreements.
I could go on and on about collapsed floor structures, mold, boarded windows, broken stairs and leases or staff turnover, productivity and attendance. For the majority of Nunavummiut existing in Nunaslums, and for the few of their fellows who would help, their hopelessness multiplies. People are hurting needlessly.
I refuse to be discouraged but I believe your comment cuts close to the bone, “nice Catch”.
Nunavut-in-a-nutshell in a headline! “It seems nothing concrete is actually being done”
Further down the page, a more appropriate sub-headline than “Building in disrepair” could be: “Building despair”
Shamelessly using time IN THE LEGISTLATURE to ask a minister a question about broken floor boards, while those whom he probably knows intimately and who should have fixed the damage – days, months, or even years ago when it was a small crack – were repairing their quads or sleds, planning a trip to their self-built cabins, sitting in their idling trucks before taking multi-times-daily hour-plus breaks.
Tony, please, go back to your community, TODAY, roust whomever needs rousting, and get that floor repaired. No more hiding behind collectives, collective agreements or land claims agreements.
I could go on and on about collapsed floor structures, mold, boarded windows, broken stairs and leases or staff turnover, productivity and attendance. For the majority of Nunavummiut existing in Nunaslums, and for the few of their fellows who would help, their hopelessness multiplies. People are hurting needlessly.
GN should focus instead on retaining and ensuring students graduate from high school. I know there are way too many drop-outs throughout Nunavut thus the need for Adult Education. However, these MLAs’ focus on Adult Education centres seem to imply it is okay to drop out from school. Your educational needs will be taken care of by your local Adult Education centre.
Pretty harsh attitude, but this is about Nunavut Arctic College.
Also,you say:
“these MLAs’ focus on Adult Education centres seem to imply it is okay to drop out from school.”
I don’t see how it implies that at all. The learning centers are there for more than just adult grade 12 education, but even so offering people a chance to get an education and improve their position in the workplace, and in life is an important function for Nunavut as a whole, don’t be short sighted.
Thanks ir. The learning centres are basically there as institutions for adults to: obtain basic literacy; complete the PASS (Pathway to Adult Secondary School) program to obtain high school accreditation; and attend the GREAT (Getting ready for Employment and Training) program. I am familiar with all three and have instructed and mentored students in all three programs. These are good programs. There are four formal NAC campuses – one in each of the regions and the main one in Iqaluit.
The state of the buildings and the state of NU are a direct reflection of the state of self-serving uncaring leadership. It is not funny. Don’t you be shortsighted.
Back in the nwt days there were so many more programs available through the Arctic college, so many cuts today, one program that should be brought back is the recreation leadership program, having a good trained recreation coordinator in the communities really make a difference with having different kinds of rec programs running in the communities, we always hear there is not much to do in the communities, this is one of the reasons why. Today the hamlets don’t need a educated and trained rec coordinator in that position, it shows in the communities, not enough is going on besides hockey.
Hey Peter. Thanks for your post. I appreciate reading what you said and feel your meaning.
The Recreation Leadership program is still offered through NAC. It’s one of the specialized streams within the Municipal Administration, along with a bit of finance, economic development, operations,…
It may be offered in a segment through another program or with another program but it’s not the same rec leaderships two year program it used to be, Inuvik used to hold that program and it was a two year program. Specializing in community recreation.
I don’t think it’s the same what NAC is offering today.
That’s right