Ottawa gives QIA $2.1M for job training
Funding comes from Natural Resources Canada through Indigenous Natural Resource Partnerships program
Qikiqtani Inuit Assocation is getting $2.1 million from the federal government to buy heavy equipment simulators for the Pond Inlet Research and Training Centre, among other items. (File photo by David Venn)
The federal government is giving Qikiqtani Inuit Association $2.1 million to help train Inuit to work in the natural resources sector.
Federal Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson made the announcement in a news release Nov. 21.
The money will go toward the costs of heavy equipment simulators for the Pond Inlet Research and Training Centre, which the government says will help Inuit receive training in Nunavut.
It is meant to reduce “systemic barriers” to Inuit participation in the natural resources sector and advance “meaningful partnerships and engagement” in the critical minerals sector, the release said.
Natural Resources Canada is giving the money through its Indigenous Natural Resource Partnerships program.
“Today’s investment is about fostering Inuit mining expertise to create more jobs and drive economic growth in ways that advance economic reconciliation,” Wilkinson said in the release.
LOL.
There are schools all over the planet for things like this.
The only “systemic barriers” are ourselves and lack of basic education.😂
I find this interesting, the feds usually deal with NTI as it’s the territory’s Inuit organization, instead the feds are working with a regional organization instead of NTI.
What’s up with h that?
Trying to make as many headlines as they can with an election less than a year away.
NTI has devolved responsibility for Impact and Benefits Agreements, which cover things like training, to the regional Inuit associations. Since this sort of training is for working at mines, it makes sense to have it in Pond Inlet, and so QIA.
The funds come from an Inuit Benefits Agreements that are negotiated and sign by RIA. In this case it’s QIA
“Today’s investment is about fostering Inuit mining expertise to create more jobs and drive economic growth in ways that advance economic reconciliation,” Wilkinson said in the release.
True economic reconciliation would be to fund careers and education that Inuit are passionate about, not careers we resort to because they are easily assessible and required for these large mining companies to operate.
I hope the next government cuts this kind of funding entirely. QIA earns billions in royalties and should be funding all training, whatever it is.
One wonders how someone can make a statement like that which is so easily proven wrong.
Up to 2020, Baffinland, the only source of royalties for QIA, $41.1 million in total. In 2021, it was $9.2 million, in 2022 $6.4 million and in 2023, based on their annual report, Baffinland paid QIA $6.9 million in royalties. That’s a total of $63.6 million in total since the mine started shipping ore.
That’s 6.36% of a billion dollars over 10 years. So where, exactly, are these “billions in royalties” that QIA is, according to your statement, earning coming from?
Yea, pretty sure there’s FANS for whatever other training you want.
So what initiatives have QIA fostered with that mere pittance of 63 million. That’s not just chump change, that is a significant amount of money. Add in the other two regions royalties. Where is it going.
QIA is using funds for training programs and upgrade skills for any Inuit residing in Qiqiktanni!
Job hiring and within the work environment, it needs to be every family involve. Here in Arviat, it’s very family oriented and only hires family related individuals. Hamlets, gn jobs, mining hiring, it’s all family related. Nothing for other families.
Government is obligated under the Nunavut Agreement a modern day treaty! Why do you want it cut!? It ‘s not affecting you!