What MLAs want for Nunavut schools

IQALUIT — Recommendations made by committee of the whole on the Department of Education’s capital budget.

Jobie Nutarak: I move that this committee recommends that the Department of Education prioritize those capital projects for schools which have health and safety or maintenance needs which have been resulting in school closures, overcrowding, and the lack of basic facilities such as gymnasiums and libraries within schools.

Motion carried.

Levi Barnabas: I move that this committee recommends that any capital projects that are planned which include extra items such as heritage centres in schools, larger gymnasiums in schools, or additional architectural designs which add expenses to the building without adding significantly to the core school function should be deferred until a full 20-year development plan is completed for education facilities in all communities in Nunavut and these issues of safety, overcrowding and lack of basic facilities have been addressed first in every community in Nunavut.

Motion carried.

Jobie Nutarak: I move that this committee recommends that those communities that wish to include extra elements in their school such as heritage centres or larger gyms or additional architectural design elements should do so by raising additional funds for those elements from bodies other than those that are funded in whole or in part by the Nunavut government.

Motion carried

Peter Kattuk: I move that this committee recommends that the following capital projects be reviewed seriously by the Department of Education for possible inclusion in the 2000-2001 capital budget, because of pressing and demonstrated need within the communities, and in light of the $9.1 million surplus which was contributed by the Department of Education from the 1999-2000 fiscal year.

* Hall Beach school addition;
* Pond Inlet school renovation;
* Pelly Bay school gymnasium;
* Iqaluit schools;
* Baker Lake school replacement;
* Grise Fiord school addition;
* Resolute Bay school addition;
* Cape Dorset community learning centre.

Motion carried.