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Legislative Assembly briefs
Study says no to university
Laws governing mobile phone use while driving also expected this year

Stewart Burnett
Northern News Services
Monday, June 13, 2016

NUNAVUT
A standalone university for Nunavut is not going to be possible, is the concludes a feasibility study presented to the legislative assembly June 8.

Education Minister Paul Quassa said the study, produced by KPMG, found that Universities Canada has certain criteria that Nunavut would not be able to meet.

"After careful review of the feasibility study, this government decided to pursue a joint venture partnership with an established university," said Quassa through an interpreter.

"A joint venture partnership would allow us to deliver quality education here in Nunavut and meet Universities Canada criteria through the sharing of expertise and staff from a partner university. Partnering with an existing university would also help us meet the full-time student and academic staff requirement."

Choosing to have Nunavut Arctic College partner with an established university is the best plan, he added.

"It will allow us to develop a vision and strategic plan moving forward as well as begin to implement a partner selection process for our own joint venture partnership," said Quassa. "By pursuing this joint venture partnership option, Nunavummiut will, in time, be able to enroll in a variety of recognized university programs that are being delivered in Nunavut."

Conditions said to be better at correctional centre

Conditions at the Baffin Correctional Centre are much improved, said Quttiktuq MLA Isaac Shooyook.

He toured the facility last year and called it an unpleasant experience. On June 6, he visited again and found the situation had improved.

"This second time around, I saw a vast improvement to the facility and to its inmates," he said through an interpreter in the legislative assembly. "I am truly proud of this achievement made in just a year."

He also toured the Makigiarvik Centre and was pleased with the facility.

"Since Makigiarvik was created on the basis of the Inuit culture, a lot of elders go to the Makigiarvik Centre," said Shooyook. "Elders who go there tell me a lot of inmates show up to learn about Inuit traditions. This truly is something to be proud of, Mr. Speaker, and I watched inmates being given employment training at Makigiarvik Centre while earning a little bit of spending money as they learn."

Community airports a hot topic

Airports have been a hot topic in the spring legislative assembly sitting.

Tununiq MLA Joe Enook hearkened back to the politicians' winter sitting and the 20-year Infrastructure Needs Assessment report, which discusses the concept of developing a jet-capable airport centrally located at or near Pond Inlet.

The report recommended a feasibility study be undertaken to determine the costs and benefits of constructing a new High Arctic hub airport in the community.

Economic Development and Transportation Minister Monica Ell-Kanayuk said the discussion originated from the hamlet's 2002 plan to study the concept of becoming a transportation hub.

Referencing the 2002 study, Ell-Kanayuk said the estimated cost for a jet-capable runway and airport ranged from $24 million to $74 million.

On May 31, South Baffin MLA David Joanasie asked for an update on how Ell-Kanayuk's department was addressing a suggestion that Kimmirut's airport terminal building requires immediate replacement with a new building until a new airport is constructed in the 20-year Infrastructure Needs Assessment report.

"The Kimmirut Airport terminal building has not been approved yet in the capital estimates but when we're dealing the capital plans, we will make sure that we make another submission," said Ell-Kanayuk through an interpreter.

"We know that the Kimmirut Airport terminal building is 37 years old. We will make sure that our staff reviews what we can do and looks at whether we will be moving the airport. We don't want to build a new air terminal building when the airport might be relocated to another site. We have to look at all these avenues, but that's currently what we're doing at this time."

She said her department anticipates costs to move the Kimmirut Airport at approximately $50 million.

On June 8, Shooyook brought up Grise Fiord's airstrip, saying that periods of strong winds make pilots loathe to land in the community and scare passengers.

"I have asked the minister previously about Grise Fiord and the airplane schedules and whether improvements could be considered," said Shooyook through an interpreter.

He asked whether the Department of Economic Development and Transportation completed a review on whether improvements could be made in the flight schedules.

Ell-Kanayuk said she doesn't have any documentation on the airstrip in Grise Fiord, so took it as notice.

Suicide prevention budget set at $24 million

Health Minister Monica Ell-Kanayuk said the Government of Nunavut has significantly increased its intervention and mental health capacity, with child, outreach, mental health and psychiatric nurses in many of the communities.

"We now have two mental health facilities with residential treatment, out-patient programming, and drop-in support for mental health clients," she said in the legislative assembly June 8.

"In March of this year, we added another 22 positions across the territory, bringing our budget up to $24 million."

The government has also trained 2,000 people to be interveners.

Iqaluit airport more accessible

Wheelchair users will be able to have barrier-free access to all public areas of Iqaluit's new airport. That doesn't mean they'll be able to board an airplane independently.

"According to transportation legislation, it is thought of as 'conveniences'," Economic Development and Transportation Minister Monica Ell-Kanayuk told legislators May 31. "The airlines would have to pay the expenses. If the airlines wanted a convenience such as if a wheelchair-bound person needs to board a plane and they wanted access ramps, this is left up to the airlines themselves."

The comments came in response to concerns by Aivilik MLA Steve Mapsalak.

"A number of Nunavummiut and my constituents are disabled and face mobility challenges, including the use of wheelchairs," Mapsalak said. "I have received concerns that the airport terminal buildings in Naujaat and Coral Harbour require improvements, such as the installation of ramps, to make them fully accessible to the disabled."

"We are looking at ways of making it more accessible for the disabled and to have more comfortable access to the airlines," Ell-Kanayuk said. "As of yet, we haven't seen any results, although we undertook a review of the equipment that would allow for easier access."

Regarding the $298-million Iqaluit airport, which is scheduled to open next year and is expected to have a 30-year lifespan, more money would be needed to make true barrier-free access happen.

"Down south, you are able to walk into the airplane without having to take the stairs," Ell-Kanayuk said. "You can walk right into the cabin of the plane, but the terminal we are building is not being set up as such. We will have to come up with additional funding if we want to have similar access to planes."

- Casey Lessard

School children help Fort Mac

As thousands of residents of Fort McMurray clean up after the devastation caused by wildfires, a handful of children at Kugaardjuk Ilihakvik in Kugaaruk are doing their part to pitch in.

Witnessing the wildfires on television, Grade 4 students at the school decided to do something about it, and within hours "had raised several hundred dollars in donations from community residents," Netsilik MLA Emiliano Qirngnuq said at the legislature May 30. A generous individual matched the donation total, Qirngnuq noted.

He also thanked teacher Sandra Angutingurnik Niptayuq for showing her students "the reward in helping others."

- Casey Lessard

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