Karen Mackenzie
Northern News Services
Published Monday, September 17, 2007

ARCTIC BAY - A shortage of staff housing in Arctic Bay left Inuujaq school scrambling for teachers this fall.

Grades 2 and 7 positions still remain unfilled, after two newly hired staff headed elsewhere when they discovered there was no housing available to them, according to Daniel Aola, chairperson for the Arctic Bay District Education Authority. One teacher previously left for a similar reason.

"It's an ongoing problem, getting the housing and getting the teachers," he said.

Aola outlined the situation in a letter sent to MLA Levi Barnabas on Sept. 10, stating that the "Government of Nunavut should be embarrassed that they have allowed housing in our community to deteriorate to such an extent."

Although Barnabas has yet to respond to the letter, one more dwelling has now been made available for two teachers, Aola said.

"They're hoping to have two teachers who want to live together, like spouses, but if they're not spouses we would probably be stuck with only one teacher," Aola said. "We re-advertised the positions not too long ago, hopefully we won't end up with no housing again."

There are currently about 47 Government of Nunavut workers in Arctic Bay and 10 staff residences. Of those units, seven are being used to house 11 teachers, according to Archie Pronger, manager of staff housing, Nunavut Housing Corporation.

"People are doubled and tripled up because there's not enough staff housing available," Pronger said. "By and large a lot of small communities in Nunavut are experiencing similar situations, and there's a real lack of staff housing in non-decentralized communities."

The new unit for teachers was formerly used by the Department of Health and Social Services for a social worker. As the department has been unable to fill that position full time, a social worker will continue flying in but stay at the health centre or a hotel when needed, Pronger said.

While Inuujaq's situation is not very common, "it is ongoing in Chesterfield Inlet, Hall Beach and Arctic Bay in particular," said Jimmy Jacquard, head of the Nunavut Teachers' Association. "There just isn't enough housing. The town is growing, and they will eventually need more GN employees. They will need more GN housing, but more housing in general."