No means no
Ell says education funding decision likely final

Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

IQALUIT (July 26/99) - The Kakivak Association president is making no apologies for the association's decision to not grant the Baffin Divisional Education Council $1 million in funding.

Association president and vice-chairman of its board of directors, Jerry Ell, said that though the proposal had merit, it did not meet the criteria Kakivak is obliged to use by contribution agreements it has in place.

The agreements require that Kakivak give funding based on how many jobs and how much training programs will deliver to Inuit. The education council's proposal did not meet those requirements, said Ell.

Neither did the project meet the requirement of benefitting Inuit exclusively, said Ell.

"The dollars channelled through Kakivak are to be used for the benefit of Inuit," said Ell. "To channel a significant portion of that money to a public institution would set a dangerous precedent."

Kakivak's funding sources include the Qikiqtani Inuit Association, the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, and Human Resources Development Canada. Kakivak is a subsidiary of QIA.

Executive director of the education council, Lorne Levy, said the council's executive was trying set up a discussion about the issue with Ell for sometime this week and did not wish to comment further until after the meeting.

"Obviously, there's a large gap between where we're at and where Kakivak is at," said Levy. "But I'm still optimistic we can resolve this. It will probably mean meeting somewhere in the middle."

Asked whether Kakivak ever agreed in writing to supply the funding, Levy responded, "Our legal advice is we do have an agreement."

Ell said he has seen no written agreement.

"I think the education council has better uses for its money than trying to challenge the Kakivak board's decision in the courts," said Ell. "Their money would be better spent buying books for the children in the schools."

Ell said he would answer any questions the education council had about the board's decision, but added, "I don't think the board will reverse its decision."

The decision was made at a June 29 board meeting in Pangnirtung.

Ell said he was also disappointed that the education council chose to air its grievances in public.