Pay raise could pay for new teachers

Finance Minister Kelvin Ng announced on Monday that the Federation of Nunavut Teachers, the union that represents the territory’s 630 teachers, had ratified a new collective agreement with the government

Teachers voted 91 per cent in favour of the deal, which will give them a 9.5 per cent increase in salary over three years, an increase in northern allowance.

However, on Tuesday, James Arvaluk, the MLA for Coral Harbour and Chesterfield Inlet, asked Peter Kilabuk, the minister of education, where the government found the money for the pay increase if it can’t find funds for new teachers.

“If you can afford to give them that raise, can you look for funding to get more teachers?” Arvaluk asked.

Kilabuk said school funding is based on enrolment and that while the funding formula is under review, any changes would have to be approved by the legislative assembly.

“After it is approved in the house, we will tell them if we will be giving them new funding,” Kilabuk said.