Nunavut Canada LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF NUNAVUT 2nd Session 6th Assembly HANSARD Official Report DAY 78 Saturday, March 9, 2024 Pages 4899 – 5008 Iqaluit Speaker: The Honourable Tony Akoak, MLA

Legislative Assembly of Nunavut Speaker Hon. Tony Akoak (Gjoa Haven) Officers Clerk John Quirke Deputy Clerk Stephen Innuksuk Law Clerk Michael Chandler Sergeant-at-Arms John Topic Hansard Production Innirvik Support Services Box 1200 Iqaluit, Nunavut, X0A 0H0 Tel (867) 975-5000 Fax (867) 975-5190 Toll-Free (877) 334-7266 Website: www.assembly.nu.ca Hon. David Akeeagok (Quttiktuq) Minister of Economic Development and Transportation; Minister of Justice; Minister responsible for Labour Hon. P.J.

Akeeagok (Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu) Premier; Minister of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs; Minister responsible for Immigration; Minister responsible for Indigenous Affairs Bobby Anavilok (Kugluktuk) Janet Brewster (Iqaluit-Sinaa) Hon. Pamela Gross (Cambridge Bay) Deputy Premier; Minister of Culture and Heritage; Minister of Education; Minister of Languages; Minister responsible for Seniors George Hickes (Iqaluit-Tasiluk) Deputy Speaker and Chair of the Committee of the Whole Hon.

David Joanasie (South Baffin) Government House Leader; Minister of Community and Government Services; Minister responsible for the Utility Rates Review Council Joelie Kaernerk (Amittuq) Mary Killiktee (Uqqummiut) Hon. Lorne Kusugak (Rankin Inlet South) Minister of Finance, Chair of the Financial Management Board; Minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation Adam Lightstone (Iqaluit-Manirajak) Hon.

John Main (Arviat North-Whale Cove) Minister of Health; Minister responsible for the Qulliq Energy Corporation; Minister responsible for Suicide Prevention Solomon Malliki (Aivilik) Deputy Chair, Committee of the Whole Hon. Margaret Nakashuk (Pangnirtung) Minister of Family Services; Minister responsible for Homelessness; Minister of Human Resources; Minister responsible for the Status of Women; Minister responsible for the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission Hon. Karen Nutarak (Tununiq) Hon.

Daniel Qavvik (Hudson Bay) Minister of Environment; Minister of Energy; Minister responsible for Nunavut Arctic College Joanna Quassa (Aggu) Inagayuk Quqqiaq (Netsilik) Alexander Sammurtok (Rankin Inlet North- Chesterfield Inlet) Joe Savikataaq (Arviat South) Deputy Chair, Committee of the Whole Craig Simailak (Baker Lake)

Table of Contents Opening Prayer .......................................................................................................................... 4899 Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters ..................................... 4899 Report of the Committee of the Whole ..................................................................................... 5007 Orders of the Day ...................................................................................................................... 5008

A. Daily References Saturday, March 9, 2024 ........................................................................................................... 4899 B.

Bills Bill 37 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2024-2025 – Family Services – Consideration in Committee ............................................................................................... 4900 Bill 37 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2024-2025 – Education – Consideration in Committee ............................................................................................... 4914 Bill 37 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2024-2025 – Justice – Consideration in Committee ........................................................................................................................... 4942 Bill 37 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2024-2025 – Finance – Consideration in Committee ....................................................................................................................... 4975 Bill 37 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2024-2025 – Economic Development and Transportation – Consideration in Committee ............................................................. 4985

Saturday, March 9, 2024 Nunavut Hansard 4899 Iqaluit, Nunavut Saturday, March 9, 2024 Members Present: Hon. David Akeeagok, Hon. P.J. Akeeagok, Hon. Tony Akoak, Mr. Bobby Anavilok, Ms. Janet Brewster, Hon. Pamela Gross, Mr. George Hickes, Ms. Mary Killiktee, Hon. Lorne Kusugak, Mr. Adam Lightstone, Hon. John Main, Hon. Margaret Nakashuk, Hon. Karen Nutarak, Hon. Daniel Qavvik, Ms. Joanna Quassa, Mr. Inagayuk Quqqiaq, Mr. Alexander Sammurtok, Mr. Joe Savikataaq, Mr. Craig Simailak. >>House commenced at 9:59 Item 1: Opening Prayer Speaker (Hon. Tony Akoak): Good morning, everyone. I ask Mr.

Anavilok to lead us in prayer this morning. >>Prayer Speaker: Good morning, Inuit. Katimajiuqatikkat, good morning. I recognize the Member for Iqaluit- Tasiluk, Mr. Hickes. Mr. Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to go directly to Item 19 on the order paper. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker: The member is seeking unanimous consent to proceed directly to Item 19 on the order paper. Are there any nays? There are none. Item 19. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters. Bills 37, 38, 39, and 40 with Mr. Savikataaq in the Chair.

In accordance to the authority provided to me by Motion 29 – 6(2), the committee will remain in session until it reports itself out. I ask that all members at their desks so that we can proceed immediately to the Committee of the Whole. Sergeant-at-Arms. Item 19: Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters Chairman (Mr. Savikataaq): Good morning. I would like to call our Committee of the Whole meeting back to order. In Committee of the Whole, we have the following items to deal with: Bills 37, 38, 39, and 40. What is the wish of the committee? Mr. Hickes. Mr. Hickes: Thank you, Mr.

Chairman. We wish to continue with the review of the 2024-25 Main Estimates for the Department of Family Services and then return to the Department of Education. Mr. Chairman, then we will commence the review of the departments of Justice, Finance, and Economic Development and Transportation and, if time permits, we will proceed to Nunavut Arctic College. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Are we in agreement that we first deal with Bill 37? Some Members: Agreed.

Saturday, March 9, 2024 Nunavut Hansard 4900 Bill 37 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2024-2025 – Family Services – Consideration in Committee Chairman: Agreed. I would like to ask Minister Nakashuk: do you have any officials that you would like to appear before the committee? Minister Nakashuk. Hon. Margaret Nakashuk: Yes, please. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Does the committee agree to let the minister’s officials appear before you? Some Members: Agreed. Chairman: Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the officials to the witness table.

For the record, Minister Nakashuk, please introduce your officials. Hon. Margaret Nakashuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and good morning. To my right and your left is my Deputy Minister, Jonathan Ellsworth, and to my left and your right is (interpretation ends) Director of Corporate Services, Dwayton Tonge. (interpretation) Thank you. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) This morning we’re going to be going to the Family Services’ operations and maintenance budget. We’re on the Branch

Summary of Income Assistance. Following the names on my list, we will just continue off from where we left yesterday, Mr. Anavilok. Mr. Anavilok: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just want to welcome you firstly back in here. Noting that we were going to come back today, I called my community’s income assistance and asked them if they had any concerns and the only concern was that they need support. There is only one individual working right now and she stated that it’s very hard to work alone and I asked her, “How many more would you need?” She mentioned three; two other individuals to work there would help.

I just wanted to get that out first. I just have two questions, Mr. Chairman. The funding allocated for income assistance payments was increased in 2023-24 when basic allowance benefits were increased by 34 percent. Will income assistance benefits be increased again in 2024-25? (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Nakashuk. Hon. Margaret Nakashuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also thank the member for the question. (interpretation ends) I’ll first just go back to the employee.

What we’re trying to do for Nunavut communities is we understand there’s only one employee in a lot of them and there are some employees that we have that are casuals who might be working half time. The request that we are presenting, the $124,000 that’s in there, is to increase our income assistance workers to become indeterminate employees. If this goes through, that would be 11 new indeterminate income assistance workers throughout Nunavut. I’m not sure it’s specific to the

Saturday, March 9, 2024 Nunavut Hansard 4901 community that you are representing, but that’s something that we are working on. Also, in terms of the income assistance benefits, that is still under review. That is still fairly new at this time, so we will continue to monitor that. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Mr. Anavilok. Mr. Anavilok: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. One of the department’s priorities for 2024-25 is to implement training and cross-training matrix for income assistance workers. What cross- training does this refer to? (interpretation) Thank you, Mr.

Chairman. (interpretation ends) That’s my last question. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Nakashuk. Hon. Margaret Nakashuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) I might have missed some of the question Mr. Anavilok had asked, but with the income assistance database they use, we’re trying to ensure that all IA workers understand what programs and services the department provides, which could be career development or other things that could be under the department that income assistance workers may not be familiar with, whether it be senior fuel subsidies.

That is the one we are referring to in terms of training and ensuring that all the income assistance workers are aware of what is available within the department. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Next name on my list is Mr. Simailak. Mr. Simailak: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good morning, minister and to your officials. I think I only have a couple of quick questions here for clarification. On the senior fuel subsidy, it has been noted over the last number of years that thankfully people are living a lot longer now; longer lives.

Your budget isn’t changing for the next few years on the senior fuel subsidy. If it should happen where there’s an influx of new eligible elders that are now 60 years old that would qualify for this senior fuel subsidy, would the department be able to accommodate them if there’s a higher percentage of new applicants for the fuel subsidy? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) I know the minister did talk about the senior fuel subsidy that they’re looking at to streamline and make the application process simplified, but this is a little bit different line, so Minister Nakashuk. Hon. Margaret Nakashuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) To the question, yes. (interpretation) Thank you. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Mr. Simailak. Mr. Simailak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) Thank you, minister. The other thing too I would like if the department would

Saturday, March 9, 2024 Nunavut Hansard 4902 consider is perhaps, since this is income tested, still on the senior fuel subsidy, if there are some elders that are just a bit over, like their income’s a bit too high maybe but not by very much, has the department looked at perhaps a laddered approach? Instead of 4,000 litres a year they provide, would the department look at maybe 2,000 litres a year if someone is over the income requirement? If they don’t qualify because their income is a little bit too high, would the department look at maybe a laddered approach, like 2,000 litres a year for 60 and over?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) I know the minister did talk about they’re looking at the income threshold, but if the minister can just comment on that portion of a laddered approach. Minister Nakashuk. Hon. Margaret Nakashuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also thank you for that question. In regard to the senior fuel subsidy for elders who are homeowners, there is a threshold set on the income. If they’re over the limit, they do not qualify, but we’re including the fuel subsidy for elders as part of the review with the increased cost of living.

We’re currently reviewing the fuel subsidy. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Mr. Simailak. Mr. Simailak: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, minister. Just to remind me whether it was mentioned yesterday or not, when would the review be complete and when would we see something in writing based on the review? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Nakashuk. Hon. Margaret Nakashuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also thank you for that question.

The review will be completed this year, possibly this summer, and we will have a clearer picture at that time. Thank you. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Next name on my list is Mr. Quqqiaq. Mr. Quqqiaq: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation) Good morning, Nunavummiut. (interpretation ends) Mr. Chairman, I’ll follow up with the questions I had asked the minister during my oral question period.

First of all, I still would like to apologize to the minister for missing her email back on December 15. (interpretation) I do apologize, madam minister. (interpretation ends) One of the objectives is “To identify, review and evaluate policies and procedures surrounding the delivery and administration of income assistance programs in Nunavut.” It is to my understanding that two pieces of ID are required to receive your income assistance payments.

Like say for example, if a client went into the office and did receive income support before, prior to their IDs being expired or to having no birth certificate, I believe you need your ID and birth certificate to receive income support. Can there be a policy in place, like say for example, when the client doesn’t have their ID or, the other way around, like their birth certificate, can the

Saturday, March 9, 2024 Nunavut Hansard 4903 income assistance office give them six months to acquire their ID or their birth certificate? It’s a known fact that the documentations are there and they’re eligible for income support. That’s just my question, Mr. Chairman. Thank you. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) I know the minister did state that they ask for the IDs just once a year at the beginning of the year, but if the minister can elaborate on that. Minister Nakashuk. Hon. Margaret Nakashuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

If it’s okay with you, I would like to refer this to my deputy minister. Thank you. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Mr. Ellsworth. Mr. Ellsworth: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good morning, everybody. With respect to your enquiries, Sir, we have now instructed income assistance staff to exercise levels of discretion, recognizing that it might have been very long ago that they collect this documentation.

I anticipate that as we move forward, the discretion will be exercised more frequently and certainly, policy will follow in terms of if we have this individual’s documentation on file, we should be able to ensure that they receive income assistance so that their financial security is maintained. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Mr. Quqqiaq. Mr. Quqqiaq: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

The reason I asked these questions is for the general public’s information and not just my constituents but all of Nunavut, just so that information gets out to the public and so they will know what to do to prevent the barriers and gaps so that they do receive the income assistance payments. I’ll move on, Mr. Chairman. I understand that the department is to provide financial and other supports to satisfy basic needs for shelter, food, and clothing and to assist in the transformation towards employment. Now that being said, I do have a lot of constituents that are homeless.

They don’t even have a home to call home. My question to the minister: can the assistance office support the homeless with basic needs, let’s say for example, for shelter, for clothing? Can they receive extra income to purchase their naphtha and warm clothing due to the fact that they’re homeless? That’s my question, Mr. Chairman, and that’s my last question. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Nakashuk. Hon. Margaret Nakashuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I also thank for that question. (interpretation ends) In terms of the income assistance benefits they do receive, under the assistance, they do qualify for clothing that they could purchase as well from the assistance they get and also, the department does provide naphtha for people who request it that are homeless so they could utilize it in their cabins. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Saturday, March 9, 2024 Nunavut Hansard 4904 Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Following my list of names, Ms. Brewster. Ms. Brewster: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good morning, everybody. Minister, in a response to a question regarding the seniors’ burial benefit yesterday, you mentioned that some of the funding has been re-profiled to help repatriate elders and seniors who pass away down south, which I commend the department for. I know that this is an issue that many families face.

What I’m wondering is: with the knowledge that there are so many Nunavummiut that move down south, is there any thought towards helping other cohorts of age groups in being repatriated after they pass away for burial? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Nakashuk. Hon. Margaret Nakashuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr.

Chairman. (interpretation ends) Because this program is specific to elders 60 and over, we haven’t considered that, but we could certainly look into it, not that we will promise to say that we will make changes, but it hasn’t come to our attention. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Following the names on my list, Mr. Lightstone. Mr. Lightstone: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just kind of one topic that I wanted to follow up on career development and it is youth trades.

Provinces across Canada are ramping up their youth trades program as an attempt to address the severe labour shortage. This is a matter that I raised a number of years ago with… . Chairman: Just a moment, Adam. Just a moment, Mr. Lightstone, we’re still on income assistance and career development is the next one. Do you have any questions under income assistance? Mr. Lightstone. Mr. Lightstone: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Sorry; I haven’t had enough caffeine yet this morning. I just want to follow up on one issue under income assistance, and that’s We Financial.

In the past, I have raised concern about the exorbitant charges that they charge, and previously I have asked how many income support recipients receive their income support through direct deposit. I’m wondering if we can get an update on that. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Nakashuk. Hon. Margaret Nakashuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also thank you for asking that question. (interpretation ends) We don’t have those numbers for clients that have We cards.

Just recently in the last year, a couple years maybe, we have started depositing into their direct bank accounts instead of a cheque. That has helped to increase some of the clients to start getting their bank accounts, so I think that has been a good step in doing that. We would have to get back to the member in terms of that specific list. (interpretation) Thank you.

Saturday, March 9, 2024 Nunavut Hansard 4905 Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Mr. Lightstone. Mr. Lightstone: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, minister. That won’t be necessary. I don’t need any numbers with regard to how many income support recipients receive direct deposit through We Financial. I just want to ask the minister to consider focusing on this area, especially in communities that have the in-person banking services to try to encourage them to get away from We Financial in the communities where it’s possible. It’s just a comment. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) That was just a comment. I have no more names on my list. Family Services. Income Assistance. Branch

Summary. Family Services. Income Assistance. Total Operations and Maintenance. $71,642,000. Agree? Some Members: Agreed. Chairman: I would like members to go to the next one, L-7. Family Services. Branch

Summary. Career Development. Ms. Brewster. Ms. Brewster: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Minister, your department delivers labour market programs with funding support from the federal government. How are different target groups for these programs identified and what kinds of programs are delivered to each group? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Nakashuk. Hon. Margaret Nakashuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I also thank you for that question. (interpretation ends) With the agreement that we have with the federal government, we do provide reports back to the federal government because they do want to know as well as we do how many Nunavummiut are work-ready or have been working under the agreement. Specifically some of the programs that we do offer through that funding are heavy equipment programs that are offered, their training allowances, their daycare allowance, tuition, and equipment in terms of boots they need to use or other stuff that could be needed for the specific training.

I could definitely get maybe my DM to respond more if you will allow. (interpretation) Thank you. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Mr. Ellsworth. Mr. Ellsworth: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We have several programs that are designed for the Targeted Labour Market Program, including assisting Nunavummiut with the Skilled Trades Worker Program. We have assisted EDT as well with the mine training. We have, of course, the Nunavut Apprenticeship Program in addition to the support for persons with disabilities; many programs.

As I understand it, in ‘22-23, our targeted labour market programming, there were 22 different training providers and we reached 2,390 Nunavut participants who benefited from that program, Mr. Chairman. In ‘23-24, although we’re not quite done with that

Saturday, March 9, 2024 Nunavut Hansard 4906 fiscal period, there have been 19 training providers and we have supported 2,816 Nunavummiut through different training opportunities, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Ms. Brewster. Ms. Brewster: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for those responses. Those are great numbers. I have a couple of follow-up questions on that. I think what I heard is that safety gear is provided to the trainees. Are those trainees able to keep that safety gear after the training is completed? I see nodding yes.

My second follow-up question is completely escaping me, and I also haven’t had enough caffeine this morning, so I’ll move on and come back to that if I remember. Minister, one of the priorities in the business plan is to “Support government efforts to expand education and training programs that provide Nunavummiut with the necessary qualifications for professional and paraprofessional work in healthcare, mental health and addictions treatment.” We know that, especially with the new treatment centre getting ready to open up, these are extremely important trainings that should be taking place.

I’m just wondering: what specific initiatives does the department provide to recruit Nunavummiut into these fields? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Nakashuk. Hon. Margaret Nakashuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also thank you for that question. If it is okay with you, I will ask the deputy minister to respond. Thank you. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Mr. Ellsworth. Mr. Ellsworth: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

We have several initiatives, the details of which at the present time I don’t have with me, although I can say that generally speaking, a number of our initiatives go to, for example, mental health. We fund various programs to equip Nunavummiut with the tools to enter various levels of trade schools. In addition to that, we are working with the high schools. There is grant money available for the high schools, all through the lens of enhancing mental health. For the details the member has asked for, I would respectfully request that we make a submission on that at a later time, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.

Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Ms. Brewster. Ms. Brewster: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I actually started my morning off at the airport seeing the AWG athletes off and ran into a friend of my 18-year-old son, and he just started a casual position that was offered to him after a training program, so we know these things work. I think that’s great. I did recall what one of my follow-up questions was which is, I think, germane to both of these questions and that is: if a trainee is on income support or receiving income support, do these training programs impact their ability to continue

Saturday, March 9, 2024 Nunavut Hansard 4907 to receive income support? Do they enhance the income support? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Nakashuk. Hon. Margaret Nakashuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also thank you for that question. (interpretation) We have been doing a lot of changes or growing up from that as well because there were some programs that were offered or that we funded through Nunavut Arctic College and that was called the GREAT program. It was more towards upgrading and all of that and it was geared towards IA clients.

They would get their monthly income assistance benefits on top of a training allowance. We still continue that. There are some programs that are a bit outside of that program. I don’t think we have that program anymore, but we have kind of advanced in terms of providing financial support to IA clients when they are in college programs. That still continues. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Ms. Brewster. Ms. Brewster: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, minister, for that response.

I realize now that I said “income support,” not “income assistance,” and I appreciate the correction. I know that often, one of the mental and emotional barriers to accessing and seeking training and education is that mindset of “I’ll lose my income assistance” and without foresight about how people’s lives could improve in order to have a working income. I appreciate that there is some flexibility there.

Minister, one of the priorities in the business plan is to support government efforts to “Increasing opportunities for pre-employment work experiences for high school and post-secondary students…” We heard a little bit about that in a recent response. How does Family Services work with Education to provide students with opportunities for pre-trades training and work experience? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Nakashuk. Hon. Margaret Nakashuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr.

Chairman. (interpretation ends) Right now, the department is working jointly on three projects to prepare young Nunavummiut for future employment to improve and that’s including the Tuliniliara reading series, the Nunavut Adult Learning Strategy, and the high school trades training grant. We do provide those three specifically that are geared towards youth. (interpretation) Thank you. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Ms. Brewster. Ms. Brewster: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

We know that workers’ safety is extremely important and I mentioned earlier this week that the sooner and the more often we engage workers in safety training and building knowledge around keeping themselves safe is extremely important.

Saturday, March 9, 2024 Nunavut Hansard 4908 Minister, to your knowledge, does the department also work with the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission to help to educate young workers who are entering the workforce? Specifically, what we know is that often, trades are more risky work and so it’s really important to ensure that we train young workers right from the outset to work safe. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Nakashuk. Hon. Margaret Nakashuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr.

Chairman. (interpretation ends) Just to put on the other hat I wear in terms of the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission, one of the things that are offered there is working with different employers to ensure that young workers getting into the workforce are getting the proper training and safety reviews in any work field. I know that’s something that the WSCC offers to employers and they have that specific offer for the youth in employment and training and they work directly with the employers on that. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Ms. Brewster. Ms.

Brewster: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just to hammer that point home, I think it’s really important for, perhaps, the Department of Education to work within the training that they offer as well as with employers to ensure that every young person and, actually, every worker in Nunavut knows that they have the right to refuse unsafe work. That’s just a comment. Mr. Chairman, Minister Nakashuk, the Apprenticeship and Certification Act was amended to provide certification for skilled and experienced workers who did not complete a formal apprenticeship certification.

To date, how many Nunavut workers have been certified by attestation? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Nakashuk. Hon. Margaret Nakashuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also thank you for that question. I’ll have to get back to you with the response. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Ms. Brewster. Ms. Brewster: Thank you. Thank you, minister. The department will be implementing the updated Adult Learning and Training Supports, or ALTS, Program in 2024-25. How does the revised ALTS program differ from the previous program?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Nakashuk. Hon. Margaret Nakashuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also thank you for that question. (interpretation ends) The Adult Learning and Training Supports that we offer is very similar to the FANS funding, except this one is for less than a year program, so up to a year. It’s very similar to what Financial Assistance for Nunavut Students offers in terms of training benefits, tuition, books, and tutors. It’s very similar to that kind of

Saturday, March 9, 2024 Nunavut Hansard 4909 thing. We do have a good number, so it is quite popular and is the most utilized. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Ms. Brewster. Ms. Brewster: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have a two-part question. With the ALTS program, can individuals take virtual training and can they combine that ALTS program with other education programs that Family Services supports? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Nakashuk. Hon.

Margaret Nakashuk: With this program specifically, we do have to work with a designated registered college or university or whatever. It has to be a recognized training institution. When we’re talking about what we could provide for youth that want to get into online courses, it would have to be more of a client-by-client review with the workers. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Following the names on my list, Mr. Lightstone. Mr. Lightstone: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I only have one topic under this page and that is youth trades.

As I mentioned, provinces across Canada are ramping up the youth trades to address the severe labour shortage. In 2020, when we passed our updated or amended Apprenticeship Act, I pointed out that we were the only jurisdiction in Canada that didn’t have a youth trades program. The minister of the day had committed to work with Education to try to create a youth trades program. I would like to start by asking for an update on that. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Nakashuk. Hon.

Margaret Nakashuk: The apprenticeship field has been going slowly, so that’s not something we have started yet. I don’t know if there are plans to do that, but we can certainly look into it. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Mr. Lightstone. Mr. Lightstone: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. When we passed the Apprenticeship Act in 2020, I had to fight hard to get the age requirement reduced from 18 to 17 to allow more space for youth to participate in the trades field.

When I looked at the Department of Family Services website under eligibility for apprenticeships, it said individuals must be 18. Can you confirm if that aspect of the Act is coming into force and if that age requirement is actually still at 18? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Nakashuk. Hon. Margaret Nakashuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also thank you for that question. (interpretation ends) I would ask the deputy minister to respond to that. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Saturday, March 9, 2024 Nunavut Hansard 4910 Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Mr. Ellsworth. Mr. Ellsworth: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. To answer the member’s question, I understand that we’re on the cusp of brining in revised regulations for the Apprenticeship Act, Bill 65 I believe it was, the Apprenticeship and Certification Act. I’ll have to double-check on the age requirement. I don’t have that in my materials, but I would imagine that the new regulations, the whole idea behind the Act was to make it more efficient and more accessible to Nunavummiut with varying degrees of background.

I don’t want to commit and say yes, it is 17 or no, it’s 18, but I’m happy to again return a proper response in due course, Mr. Chairman. Thank you. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Mr. Lightstone. Mr. Lightstone: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. With regard to the youth trades program, I’ll follow up with Family Services on that issue on another date as well as Education. I think it is very important. The OAG did identify the need for alternative pathways to graduation and identifying careers in trades as an opportunity.

As I indicated in 2020, being the only jurisdiction that doesn’t have youth trades programs, we are really missing out and not providing adequate support and direction to our youth to open up that pathway. In December, Ontario had announced $63 million to expand their youth trades programs, and now they offered a new program, ONSTEP, Ontario STEP, whatever that acronym stands for, but it allows for students to enter construction for a semester and open new career pathways in trades.

Throughout the semester, they work with electricians, plumbers, drywallers, and painters, a really great experience for youth to identify what trade they want before they graduate high school. I think we are really missing out in that area. It’s just a comment. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) That was just a comment. Any more questions, Mr. Lightstone? Okay. Next one on my list: Mr. Simailak. Mr. Simailak: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

On the targeted labour market aspect of career development, first off, the career development officers in each community, I believe, work in this field. I’m wondering: how many vacancies does Family Services have with respect to career development officers and the assistant that works specifically on the trades? I know Baker Lake had two positions working on that. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Nakashuk. Hon. Margaret Nakashuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr.

Chairman. (interpretation ends) Just to go back a bit to the career development officers, the regional offices are located in each of the main centres like Cambridge Bay, Rankin Inlet, and Pangnirtung. In each regional office, they do have career development officers that represent the community. We do have career development officers in other communities as well like Baker Lake.

Saturday, March 9, 2024 Nunavut Hansard 4911 In recent years, we have also started adding apprenticeship specialists or something like that. I might be wrong in terms of the name of the position, but those are the ones that also work closely with the career development officers to help register clients that might be getting into trades specifically. In terms of how many career development officers we have, we have six vacancies right now. (interpretation) Thank you. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Mr. Simailak. Mr. Simailak: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, minister.

I’m wondering what the department is doing to address this issue. If they can’t hire someone indeterminately soon, what other avenues is the department taking or going to do so that our high school students or people who are not in school anymore who want to get into this field have someone to speak to in person to help get going on their new career? We’ve got Baffinland and Agnico Eagle Mines that need trades workers. We’ve got Nunavut 3000 that needs skilled workers, but Nunavummiut can’t do this if the point person is not there. I’m wondering: what’s the department doing to address this issue of the vacancies?

I’m glad it’s only six, but it’s important to fill these vacancies or come up with a contingency plan. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Nakashuk. Hon. Margaret Nakashuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) When we say there are six vacant positions, it doesn’t mean that nobody is in those positions.

The majority of them are casual employees and some of the casual employees are there because the person that’s in that home position may be an intern or going into a different position, not that they’re leaving, but getting training on educational leave, for example. We do have people in those positions. When we are able to advertise positions that are vacant, we do advertise them, and those positions are quite popular. I just wanted to explain that they may be considered vacant, but casuals are in there. (interpretation) Thank you.

Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) I have no more names on my list under Career Development. Family Services. Branch

Summary. Career Development. Total Operations and Maintenance. $11,567,000. Agree? Some Members: Agreed. Chairman: Okay. I would like members to go to L-8. Poverty Reduction. Mr. Hickes. Mr. Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. One of the department’s priorities has been to “support government efforts to enable elders to access more country food.” The department implemented an engagement plan to consult elders on this issue. How many consultations took place, and when will the results be made available? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Saturday, March 9, 2024 Nunavut Hansard 4912 Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Nakashuk. Hon. Margaret Nakashuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also thank you for that question. (interpretation ends) To date, like I had mentioned before, we are working with different departments on this because that’s in our mandate. In terms of how many community visits our staff have done at this point in time, we have site visits going to Igloolik, Baker Lake, Clyde River, and Iqaluit.

We are also planning more to travel to the Kivalliq and Kitikmeot regions to meet and discuss with elders, to discuss some gaps or issues they may see in terms of wanting more supports on that specifically. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Mr. Hickes. Mr. Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’m curious to know as to why this wouldn’t have been included with the efforts that were made to bring elders together for the elder strategy and what we heard documented. To me, you’re speaking to the same audience that would have participated in those consultations.

I’m kind of curious to know as to why this wouldn’t have been included in those discussions, just to piggyback and save resources, and it could have been completed. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Nakashuk. Hon. Margaret Nakashuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also thank you for that question. (interpretation ends) I can understand your point on that. We’ve had meetings here in Iqaluit, poverty reduction roundtables that we’ve had here and we included a number of community members to attend, whether they are from a society or elders.

We’ve had a number of elders attend that as well. We heard different issues that they face, but that was more of a broad meeting in terms concerns they may have about elder abuse. It’s more of a broad discussion on issues they may be facing. More specifically, with this term of government, this was the department directive that we get more information about what we can do to better support the elders in terms of food security. In terms of more in-depth information, I think my deputy could provide more information about that. (interpretation) Thank you. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Mr. Ellsworth. Mr.

Ellsworth: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think it’s safe to say that supporting elders is the primary objective of this government. To the member’s question, I think the two departments were working simultaneously but together at the same time, so the elder strategy, of course, the “what we heard” document contains a lot of information in there around what elders want in terms of access to country food and the improvements that are required to support that work. Our work, however, is specific to elders’ food security and it’s now sort of falling into the line of the elder strategy as well.

Saturday, March 9, 2024 Nunavut Hansard 4913 As we work to unroll and implement that strategy, it may become unnecessary to further engage on this specific point, but it may still be required because it is a very specific and important aspect of the elder strategy, Mr. Chairman. Thank you. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Mr. Hickes. Mr. Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. While I appreciate the response and I do appreciate Mr. Ellsworth’s comment that this consultation for the elder strategy may have made further consultations redundant, I think that’s the point I’m trying to make. You look at page 35 of the elder strategy and there’s a

section on “Ensure Elders Have Access to Country Food.” I know that’s not specific to food security itself, but the department’s priorities are to provide elders more access to country food. Again, I don’t understand why there would be any further need to waste time and resources and start putting into action some of the commitments that are being made in the elder strategy that I am just reading in detail still right now. It’s an extensive document, so I’m going through it as I can. I’ll just leave that as a comment. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) That was just a comment. I have no more names on my list under Poverty Reduction. Family Services. Branch

Summary. Poverty Reduction. Total Operations and Maintenance. $13,059,000. Agreed? Some Members: Agreed. Chairman: Members, go to L-3. Detail of Expenditures to be voted on. Family Services. Total Operations and Maintenance, to be Voted. $195,068,000. Agreed? Some Members: Agreed. Chairman: Do members agree that we have concluded the review of Family Services? Some Members: Agreed. Chairman: Brief closing comments from Minister Nakashuk. Hon. Margaret Nakashuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you for approving this and what we said lastly includes $2.25 million approved for food security in the communities and $1.9 million for homeless shelter funding. We did not talk about those, but the income assistance positions can start to be planned now. Our efforts to get more social workers are going to be part of the efforts of us trying to get more staff. Thank you for approving all these. I would like to thank all our staff who worked real hard, especially the social workers who have heavy issues to deal with.

We really thank the social workers and all the staff in our office who all worked to put together efforts to help people of Nunavut. We don’t have a capital planner, but our finance person has worked hard on that file. I know many of our staff are not visible here. I know we still need a lot of improvements to make and we do real, challenging work, but we will persevere and we have work to do that comes out of the report. I thank you all.

Saturday, March 9, 2024 Nunavut Hansard 4914 >>Applause Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The witness can leave the witness table and we will take a 10-minute break and continue with our review of the Department of Education. >>Committee recessed at 10:55 and resumed at 11:09 Bill 37 – Appropriation (Operations & Maintenance) Act, 2024-2025 – Education – Consideration in Committee Chairman: Good morning. I would like to call our Committee of the Whole meeting back to order. We’re here and we’re going to go through Education’s operations and maintenance budget.

I would like to ask Minister Gross: do you have officials that you would like to appear before the committee? Minister Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Quana, Mr. Chairman. Yes, I do. (interpretation) Thank you. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Does the committee agree to let the minister’s officials appear before you? Some Members: Agreed. Chairman: Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the officials to the witness table. For the record, Minister Gross, please introduce your officials. Hon. Pamela Gross: Quana, Mr. Chairman.

To my left, we have Deputy Minister Rebecca Hainnu, and to my right, we have Director of Corporate Services Ibrahim Suleiman. Quana, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) We’re going to go through the Corporate Services, which is G-6. Before I go to the names on my list, I will just remind everyone. To the members, keep your

preambles short and to the point, and to the minister, please answer to the point and only just include relevant information as to the questions being asked. We have many pages to go, so I would like to make the information exchange as informative as possible, but as short as possible. Branch

Summary. Education. Corporate Services. I’ll give members a few minutes. Total Operations and Maintenance. $6,255,000. Agreed? Some Members: Agreed. Chairman: Agreed. Okay, members go to G-7. That’s the Branch

Summary of Early Learning and Child Vare. I’ll give members just a few minutes to get to that. G-7. Mr. Hickes. Mr. Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just have a couple of questions here. With the early learning and child care monies through the federal government, the $10-a-day daycare and the wage subsidy, have there been any new spaces created through those initiatives? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Quana, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for the question. As of February 1, 2024, there have been

Saturday, March 9, 2024 Nunavut Hansard 4915 a total of 128 new spaces created for licensed child care across Nunavut. Thank you. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Mr. Hickes. Mr. Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In which communities are those spaces located? Thank you. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We have Cambridge Bay, Pangnirtung, Iqaluit, and Igloolik. Those are the communities that have licensed child care spaces. Those are the main ones that we have at this point. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Mr.

Hickes. Mr. Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Is the Department of Education still supporting the Child Educator Program through Nunavut Arctic College? Thank you. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, we do. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Mr. Hickes. Mr. Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

With the recent announcements especially with the wage, increased salary, increases for child care workers and spaces, has the department noticed an uptick in registration for those college programs and, if so, is there also any work being done to increase the accessibility of those programs into more communities? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for that question. The wage scale was implemented in the fall of 2023.

At this point, we haven’t seen any changes, but we will report in the future, hopefully within the one-year mark, when we do see more progress. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Mr. Hickes. Mr. Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I hope in the data collection of that as well they will track turnover across the industry of child care as well. I think it’s very important that these wage subsidies help bring more people into the program as a career choice and the intent is for them to stay longer. I would like to see some stats on that and how effective it is. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I’m done. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) That was just a comment. I have no more names on my list under Early Learning and Child Care. Mr. Simailak. Mr. Simailak: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good morning, minister and to your officials. On the early childhood resources, I’m wondering. More and more, I believe, school-aged children are going from

Saturday, March 9, 2024 Nunavut Hansard 4916 primary school to secondary school and they are finding that they have to go down to the general stream from academic. I’m wondering about the early childhood resources. Is that geared towards ensuring the students can do the academic stream? It has been a concern of mine for a while now. There are a lot of graduates going through the general stream now and I believe, if you can’t get to the root cause, it will continue. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) I know this is coming up further in the branches here, but if you can comment to that, Minister Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you to the member for that question. We are working towards the resource development being play- based but also having the importance of Inuktut resources available for this sector to prepare students that are in child care to start their success in school. The hope is that they will be prepared for the days when they enter the school stream. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) I have no more names on my list. Mr. Anavilok. Mr. Anavilok: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just have one question. The Department of Education’s Early Learning and Child Care Branch provides support for early childhood programs and facilities. I just want to point out that the one in Kugluktuk, the early learning childhood building, leaks every spring. Spring is the worst time when it starts melting. That’s when it really leaks, even when it rains. I was wondering: can those be priority too for early learning and child care? Quana, Mr. Chairman.

Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) This is connected in terms of it’s an O&M budget and they may need O&M to get it going. Minister Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you to the member for that question. The Department of Education does not own any buildings that are licensed child care facilities other than the ones that are in high schools. At this point, we can provide assistance to the not-for-profit or hamlet that runs the child care facility to support renovations.

I would like to note that we also have funding from our early learning and child care Canada-wide agreement that pertains to the creation of new licensed child care spaces and gives some support, not full support, to the creation of a new licensed child care facility. We do have funding available and we look forward to more communities accessing that funding to create child care spaces in our territory. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Following my list of names, Ms. Killiktee. Ms. Killiktee (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I wanted further clarification as it relates to the matter of home daycares and this is listed in the priorities for 2023-24 on the fourth bullet. It reads, (interpretation ends) “The department engaged with a variety of early learning and child care partners

Saturday, March 9, 2024 Nunavut Hansard 4917 and stakeholders to inform the development of the action plan…” (interpretation) Further down…no, I apologize; I made a mistake. (interpretation ends) In the status, first I’ll say that “Further increase the number of licensed child care spaces in Nunavut, including licensing home day cares, and investigating the use of community venues.” The status, “As of December 2023, 120 new child care spaces were licensed in November in 2023-2024.” As of today, (interpretation) I would like more information on what improvements have been made. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you to the member for that question. The funding does allow the Department of Education to support the creation of new licensed child care spaces across Nunavut and we are looking forward to more daycare facilities opening with the support of the funds that are available. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Ms. Killiktee. Ms. Killiktee (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. With the new funds available, I would like the minister or her deputy to respond.

My constituency community of Clyde River does not have a daycare. I would like to work with you in coming up with options to open a daycare in the community. That’s what I would encourage you to do and it’s not a question. However, in one of your priorities for 2023-24, we would like to see more culturally relevant things in a daycare like posters or Inuit-relevant things placed in the daycares. You touched upon it a little bit. I have noticed the need to increase the use of the Inuit language at the daycares. My question is: what is the Department of Education doing in providing that at the daycares?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for the member’s great question. For the member’s constituency of Clyde River, there’s a licensed after-school program. Right now, the hamlet and Kakivak are partnering together to determine if the old daycare building can be renovated and/or if a new structure is required. The Department of Education is currently involved in these discussions and we look forward to supporting them in the ways that we can.

We have been in direct contact to see how we can best support the needs for that community. In terms of the creation of relevant resources, the Department of Education has a number of resources available that are in our daycare facilities across the territory, and they’re wonderful and amazing resources that are there. It makes one feel so proud to see them being implemented in our spaces for our youngest learners to learn with and enjoy. Some of the examples include syllabics stamps, Nunasoup recipe games, language play programs, traditional wooden vehicle sets, and ice fishing gear.

We also have a number of 41 books, we have 24 teacher resources,

Saturday, March 9, 2024 Nunavut Hansard 4918 29 toys and puzzles, and these resources also include CDs, songbooks, videos, puppets, rugs, traditional wooden tools, and indoor camping scenes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Ms. Killiktee. Ms. Killiktee (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We have to make sure that those facilities are available. In my other constituency community, there used to be a daycare, but it has been closed for quite a number of years now. I would like to see that daycare open again and to make sure that they have funds available to reopen it.

I have a question regarding children under the care of the Department of Family Services who are preschool age. How is that to date? Are children under the care of departmental staff given priority for daycare spaces? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to ask my deputy to capture because there was a loss of translation, but she heard the whole question. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Ms. Hainnu. Ms. Hainnu (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, member, for your question. If I understood your question, I can respond by saying that the daycare board of directors are parents of our clients and we have funds available. We don’t give them direction on who can be in the daycare. It’s the daycare society that makes that decision. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Ms. Killiktee. Ms. Killiktee (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also thank you for that response. However, I have a concern about the daycare providers. We have to make sure that the children are protected and that they don’t fall through the cracks.

This probably happens more frequently in the larger communities. The reason why I asked that question is because it’s worrisome when there is only one person doing this work in the community. I believe that this needs to be looked at and more resources put into it. That’s just a comment and that’s it for me. Thank you. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Ms. Killiktee, are you done? I have no more names on my list. (interpretation ends) Education. Branch

Summary. Early Learning and Child Care. Total Operations and Maintenance. $6,130,000. Agreed? Some Members: Agreed. Chairman: Members, go to G-8. Advanced Education. I’ll give members a few minutes to get ready. Branch

Summary. Education. Advanced Education. Total Operations and Maintenance. $14 million. Anybody got any questions? $14,746,000. Agreed? Some Members: Agreed. Chairman: Members, go to G-10 under Education. Branch

Summary. K-12 School Operations. Mr. Lightstone.

Saturday, March 9, 2024 Nunavut Hansard 4919 Mr. Lightstone: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Earlier this morning, I mentioned one of the OAG reports, I think it was the supporting students and youth, identified the need for the Department of Education to provide alternative pathways to education, such as trades. That OAG report is a number of years old, so I would like to ask for an update on progress in that area. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you to the member for that question.

Can the member please explain what aspect of trades? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) It should be K-12 School Operations, but Mr. Lightstone. Mr. Lightstone: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Under K-12 School Operations, the OAG had identified the need to move away from the traditional university/college-level graduation streams and focus more on trades in our schools, K to 12. Since that OAG report was produced in the previous Assembly, how much work has been conducted or progress made to provide alternative pathways to graduation in the K-12 School Operations?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you to the member for that question and further explaining. Right now we do not have programs that are designated as post-secondary programs. However, we are working to see if we can get dual credits into the high school curriculum and we’re aiming for that work for the dual credits for high school students to access trades programs at Nunavut Arctic College this coming fall. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Mr. Lightstone. Mr. Lightstone: Thank you, Mr.

Chairman. Thank you, minister. This upcoming fall, just for further clarification, the Department of Education will work with Arctic College, I’m assuming specifically in the Rankin Inlet campus with the trade school there, to offer the dual credit program, just clarify that. I just want to seek further clarification whether it will just be in Rankin Inlet in the upcoming school year. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

For now, we are aiming for Rankin Inlet, but we are exploring other schools, and hopefully in the near future, we can expand to other schools across the territory. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Mr. Lightstone. Mr. Lightstone: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Earlier I had mentioned Ontario’s announcement in December 2023 to expand upon their youth trades programs to address their severe labour shortage in the trades. They also created the Ontario STEP to Construction program, which allows students to spend

Saturday, March 9, 2024 Nunavut Hansard 4920 a semester working with a number of different trades and in partnership with the private and non-profit sector to give teenagers hands-on experience as well as an opportunity to earn an income while learning. More specifically on that front, where is the department in line with creating youth trades curriculum? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you to the member for that question.

At the moment, we are focused on Inuktitut curriculum development from K to 12, but with the dual credits, we are working on that. We’re exploring revamping, sorry for the acronym, the NEAT program, which is the Nunavut Early Apprenticeship Training Program, and we’re looking to see how we can get that started again. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) If we can limit curriculum development, as that’s the next page, so if we can concentrate on K-12 School Operations. Mr. Lightstone. Mr. Lightstone: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Last question.

Since the OAG report on providing supports for students and youth, if I recall correctly, the Department of Education and the minister of the day had agreed with the recommendation and committed to providing alternative pathways to grade 12 graduation. Would the minister commit to providing a written response to the committee updating specifically on progress made to that commitment on the OAG report? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, we can commit to that. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) I have no more names on my list. Mr. Simailak. Mr. Simailak: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Regarding the kindergarten to grade 12 school operations, I am wondering: how is the department doing with the vacancies as well with teachers and school support staff? I know it’s near towards the end of the year already, getting there, but were there any schools in Nunavut on the brink of closure due to staffing challenges? First question. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you for that. For the long term, no, and for the short term, yes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Mr. Simailak. Mr. Simailak: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, minister. For the short term that was almost closed, are you able to say which community or which school it was in and, if so, what is being done to ensure that, as per your book here, it says you are supposed to “ensure that high-quality instructional, assessment and student support

Saturday, March 9, 2024 Nunavut Hansard 4921 practices…” If it was almost closed, how did you ensure that these students were receiving high-quality supports? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for that question. In terms of short term, it’s based on illness. There are times when communities go through waves of illness and that spreads through our schools. We can sometimes come up with a shortage of substitute teachers filling in for teachers that may be ill.

In that term, we have had short-term closure and I believe Igloolik was the community that had experienced that earlier this year, but that’s the primary reason. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Following my list my list of names, Ms. Quassa. Ms. Quassa (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I say “good morning” to you. (interpretation ends) On page 125 of the business plan, it indicates that community and school staff volunteers support school meal programs.

How will the Department of Education work with community-based entities to ensure that school meals will always be available in all Nunavut schools? (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you to the member for that question.

Every year, we obtain funds from the Department of Health to support the food meal program and we’re looking to expand that with our discussions with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, the Department of Family Services, and the Department of Health to put in a robust proposal to the Child First Initiative. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Ms. Quassa. Ms. Quassa (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also thank the minister for that response. (interpretation) One of the biggest challenges to student success is poor attendance at school.

The 2021- 22 annual report indicates that K to 12 attendance rates was at 74.5 percent. How do attendance rates differ by grade level and what specific initiatives are underway to address this? (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you to the member for that question. Currently we don’t track attendance based by grade; we go based by school and region, and some of these attendance rates vary. However, I can say that our attendance rates have increased since before the COVID pandemic.

Before, in the 2018-19 school year, the average attendance rate was 64.8 percent. We’ve had a remarkable increase and our total now as of January 2024, our attendance rate is an average of 71.74 percent. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Ms. Quassa.

Saturday, March 9, 2024 Nunavut Hansard 4922 Ms. Quassa (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) Since you briefly mentioned COVID, during the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of virtual education services were established. Does the department continue to offer support virtually and, if so, for which types of programs? (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you to the member for that question. Currently we don’t offer any virtual programs; it’s face-to-face right now.

However, if a student is enrolled in distance learning, they do have that opportunity to take courses from a distance. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Ms. Quassa. Ms. Quassa (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also thank the minister. This is my last question. (interpretation ends) In addition to the Nunavut Arctic College Teacher Education Program, education staff can participate in the Sivummuakpallirutiksat education leave program to become educators.

To date, how many staff have successfully completed their studies under this program to become educators working in Nunavut schools? (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for that question. We currently have a total of 16 employees accessing that stream. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Ms. Quassa. Ms. Quassa (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I also thank the minister. (interpretation ends) One of the department’s ongoing priorities is to “...support, monitor, and advise on effective school leadership practices and standards within Nunavut schools...” What specific challenges do principals, teachers, and support staff face in these areas? (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you to the member for that question.

I do know that our regional school operations work directly with our school leaders, our principals, and vice principals to support them with their leadership efforts to ensure that they align with the department policies. Also, in September 2023, we had a territory-wide in-person principals’ conference since this hasn’t happened since the COVID-19 pandemic. The conference supported learning, leadership development, and best practice sharing amongst school leaders.

We have also implemented the principal report and information that is gathered in there to have a more standardized way to access information across schools. Our regional school operations are able to ensure that Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and the departmental priorities are being met

Saturday, March 9, 2024 Nunavut Hansard 4923 in all schools across the territory through this report. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Just before I go to the next person on the list, I just want a clarification. Minister, you stated that attendance has gone up. Have there been any changes in how attendance is calculated? I do know there is a difference between absences and excused. Has there been a different way of calculating attendance from before COVID to after COVID? Minister Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I would like my deputy to answer that. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Ms. Hainnu. Ms. Hainnu: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That’s a very good question. Just recently we have a directive. We signed an attendance directive in hopes of collecting attendance more in a centred way. Now we have decided that all schools in K to 8 are a.m. and p.m. attendance, so it’s uniform throughout the entirety of Nunavut, not every school collecting data differently.

For those courses in high school and junior high where they have course codes assigned, their attendance is specific to the courses they are attending. By next year, our attendance record will be very true to the nitty gritty, detailed minutiae of detail. We have recently, so recently like last week, signed an attendance directive. Thank you for the question, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Following the names on my list, Mr. Hickes. Mr. Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate that information from the last response from the deputy minister.

When we look at the attendance rate and it’s less than 75 percent, it’s very alarming. I was surprised to hear that it wasn’t being tracked by grade. Under the new formula or the new system that’s being utilized, will that information be able to be gathered? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, it will. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Mr. Hickes. Mr. Hickes: Thank you for that because I am sure there are drop-off points at certain grade levels where attendance is even more of an issue.

I had a question last week and I had my notes here, but I didn’t show that I had had a response on it, so I can’t remember totally. One of the questions that I was looking for is: how many of the Nunavut Teacher Education Program grads, on a percentage basis, is employed by the Department of Education in the school system? Does the department have that information available? Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Gross.

Saturday, March 9, 2024 Nunavut Hansard 4924 Hon. Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you to the member for that question. We don’t have that level of detail in terms of how many graduates graduated. I can say, though, that we have hired four new Nunavut Teacher Education Program graduates into our schools this past school year who recently graduated. We have hired a total of 12 Nunavut Teacher Education Program grads all together and some of them are from previous years. Approximately we hire a total of 200 new teachers a year overall. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Mr.

Hickes. Mr. Hickes: Thank you for that. I think I might have been asking the Minister responsible for Nunavut Arctic College that question. It’s probably why it was tickling in my brain. It’s probably more anecdotal than anything, but we have heard numerous examples that the Nunavut Teacher Education grads, there’s still a fair bit of turnover in the school system.

Does the department have any tracking or any exit interviews or any information on what some of the challenges are for some of the new teachers and why they’re not continuing to teach and taking outside opportunities within other government departments or the private sector? In addition to that, what I’m looking for is: is the department satisfied with the graduates when they come into the school system? What type of support services are available to new grads and are there any indicators on turnover reasons? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Gross. Hon.

Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you to the member for those questions. I think I have captured them all, but I might have missed one. We do have data available through an exit survey that the Nunavut Teachers Association produces and they do provide us the reports on the reasons why a teacher may leave. One of the main reasons I understand is that a teacher may move to another job that pays them more money in a different field. We’re looking to improve that with the work that we’re going to be conducting as we go through reviewing the compensation and benefits package for our teachers.

We do have programs for new hires. We also have learning coaches in our schools that support new teachers and help them with the resources and learning the materials that they may need or any type of information they might need to know. We also have an onboarding program for new hires as well as working directly with the learning coach on any type of information that they may need. We have orientation packages as well, courses that individuals can take either online or self-directed. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Mr. Hickes. Mr. Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

One other component to the questions that I posed was the readiness of the Nunavut Teacher Education Program graduates to go directly into the

Saturday, March 9, 2024 Nunavut Hansard 4925 classroom and any challenges or any successes that could be mentioned. Thank you. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you to the member for that. We do fully hope that the teacher would be ready coming out of the Bachelor of Education program and be prepared. We do have the availability now to work directly with the students on the resources that are being created, the developed curriculum, and supporting them more directly with hands-on experience as they are still in school.

If there are any supports that are needed out there, we always welcome that information from the new teachers to bring that forward so that we can work to enhance that experience for them. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you, minister. (interpretation ends) The member asked if they were ready. I know you said you hope they’re ready, but the member asked if they are ready and capable of going straight into the classroom. Minister Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for that clarification.

Yes, they would be ready, and they are evaluated every year by the principal. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Mr. Hickes. Mr. Hickes: Thank you. The minister just mentioned during the work experience portion of the program itself, the Nunavut Teacher Education Program.

What type of reporting or what type of supporting documents or supporting report that a teacher in the classroom that has one of these students working under them or working with them or observing them, what type of back and forth does that have with the program director, I guess, or whatever with Nunavut Arctic College? Is there a grade component to it? How is that evaluation done? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Minister Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to direct that to our deputy minister. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. Ms. Hainnu. Ms. Hainnu (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, member, for that question. (interpretation ends) I do apologize; wrong language. You asked in English, so I’m going to respond in English. The Nunavut Teacher Education Program’s practicum portion that occurs in the school is supported by the Department of Education through additional pay for the practicum teacher.

The conduct of the student at the Nunavut Teacher Education Program is through NAC, so the instructor who is teaching the Nunavut Teacher Education Program oversees their practicum and the evaluation is stipulated through that

Saturday, March 9, 2024 Nunavut Hansard 4926 program. The practicum teacher or the teacher who is supporting the NTEP is just following what’s stipulated through NAC. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Nunavut Arctic College, NAC. Mr. Hickes. Mr. Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Just finally and it’s more anecdotal, but I have spoken to a few teachers over the years that during this practicum portion, some students are a little bit more engaged than others, where some students attendance even during the practicum portion is a concern, yet there doesn’t seem to be any ramifications or any accountability, I guess, maybe is the word I’m looking for, from the student side of things to make sure that when they go through these practicum experiences and the monies that are invested with the teachers and the time that’s invested to make sure that these students get that exposure in the classroom is very important.

To hear, even if it’s only a few, instances of students not attending and not taking it seriously, yet still graduating, to me, is a bit of a concern. I’ll just leave that as a comment or maybe if the minister has some experience of that herself, then maybe a comment back might be appreciated. Thank you. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Minister Gross, if you can comment on what used to be called social passing. Minister Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you to the member for that.

We can definitely have further discussion with Nunavut Arctic College on that topic. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) I will recognize the clock now and break for lunch and we will commence our committee meeting at 1:30. >>Committee recessed at 11:58 and resumed at 13:29 Chairman (Mr. Hickes): Thank you and good afternoon. I would like to call the meeting back to order. We’re on page G- 10. Department of Education. K-12 School Operations. Total Operations and Maintenance requested, $209,586,000. Ms. Brewster. Sorry; my apologies. Before we go to Ms.

Brewster, I did notice there was a change in the guard at the witness table. Minister, I will give you an opportunity to introduce your new official. Thank you. Hon. Pamela Gross: Good afternoon and thank you, Mr. Chairman. We have, to my left, Deputy Minister Rebecca Hainnu, and to my right we have Assistant Deputy Minister Martine St- Louis, Director for Support Services. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Thank you. Welcome, Madam St-Louis. Ms. Brewster. Ms. Brewster: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Minister, as a parent, I am very happy to be using the Edsby program.

I am wondering if the Edsby program is available to all Nunavummiut or is it just the Inuksuk High School. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Minister Gross.

Saturday, March 9, 2024 Nunavut Hansard 4927 Hon. Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, Edsby is available to all Nunavummiut. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Ms. Brewster. Ms. Brewster: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Is it possible for you to know how many parents have logged on and created accounts and how many parents are interacting and tracking their student’s progress? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Minister Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That would be something we would have to look into and get back to the committee. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Ms. Brewster. Ms.

Brewster: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am also interested in knowing how educators are using Edsby along with their students. I know that students and educators can set up specific Google classrooms for homework and class news. There are opportunities for educators to launch polls every day that are emotional check- ins. That gives teachers a chance to poll students at the beginning of the day. That portion of Edsby also allows students to avail of information that can help them to address any emotions that they have. I wonder how the department is tracking that kind of use. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Chairman: Minister Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you to the member for that question. Edsby is used in a number of different ways throughout our schools. It’s a great tool for our schools to utilize because it’s able to support remote learning and supplement learning with online tools. It also is a great way to communicate with students, parents, and teachers. It also gives students the opportunity to complete electronic assignments or submit assignments online. It can also be used to track attendance. Maybe I will ask our deputy minister to supplement the latter half of the question.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Thank you. Ms. Hainnu. Ms. Hainnu: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank the member for the question. We have 885 teachers whose ability levels on using technology vary from teacher to teacher. Although we are supporting the use of Edsby in enhancing education engagement with parents and students, it’s very difficult to say if it’s very standard. It’s very new to Nunavut and we have plans to keep supporting teachers on engaging with parents and students through Edsby. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Ms. Brewster. Ms. Brewster: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

It looked like you were going to weigh in there for a second. Just looking at the Edsby website, one of the themes is to “Enable educators and policymakers to take action,” managing care for students, “Students at risk, or that might benefit from extra care, can

Saturday, March 9, 2024 Nunavut Hansard 4928 be grouped together…for special educator attention. Edsby Monitor Groups, a long-established and appreciated feature of Edsby, can be set up as desired by educators.” Hearing the response to my previous question, I guess there are two things. Number one, is there specific training that’s offered to educators in order to make the best use of this asset? Are there any instances of educators using it to its fullest advantage that can be shared amongst peers? Can they teach each other how to use it? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Minister Gross. Hon.

Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you to the member for those questions. Yes to both of them. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Ms. Brewster. Ms. Brewster: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I wonder as well: the principal’s reports are being standardized and are the principals making use of the very useful data that comes from the use of Edsby? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Minister Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. At this point, we are not gathering data from the principals’ reports on Edsby. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Ms. Brewster. Ms.

Brewster: I would highly encourage the use of the data that’s contained within Edsby for every school and every principal. It seems like a great program. I know that it’s a great program for parents and guardians who want to engage and there are so many possibilities in tracking trends kind of across the board about students and student behaviour and about how well students are reaching standard achievement goals. It just strikes me as really odd that it wouldn’t be used to its full value. Can I get just a little bit more explanation about why that’s not happening? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Chairman: Minister Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We are into, I guess, phases. The principal’s report is in the pilot program and we are looking to see if we can put and integrate it into Edsby. At this point in time, we’re just using the information and we’re going on collecting the most robust amount of information that’s available and pertinent to the school operations and collecting that in a Word document and using it. We can further explore other avenues and see if it can be integrated into Edsby. At this point in time, we’re not there yet. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Ms.

Brewster. Ms. Brewster: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As a parental user or guardian user, I know what’s available to me and I don’t know what’s available to educators and specifically to principals and school leaders. However, I would assume, with any kind of program like this, one must be able to run queries and create reports out of the program. To me, starting from scratch, creating the

Saturday, March 9, 2024 Nunavut Hansard 4929 principals’ reports without using every single tool at hand, is counterintuitive. However, I will move on. There were some questions earlier today about attendance levels. I would just like to know whether or not every school has access to attendance officers. They used to be called truant officers way back when I was in school. I wonder if there is that kind of support to encourage student attendance and to gain an understanding of why a student may be missing school. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Minister Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Thank you Mr. Chairman.

Thank you for that question. We have had district education authorities avail of the funds that they get annually to put towards attendance officers. We don’t currently have any district education authorities using their funds this year to have an attendance officer, but I believe last year or the year before, we had one or two communities that were using the funds that they had to have and hire an attendance officer. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Ms. Brewster. Ms. Brewster: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

How does the Department of Education work with the district education authorities in that regard in terms of encouraging? Is there an attendance threshold that department officials might become aware of in terms of how many students are missing school, and is there a prompt to reach out to the local district education authority to encourage them to consider making use of those funds to hire an attendance officer? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Minister Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for that question or questions.

The Department of Education gives each district education authority funds to administer for their attendance policy, so those are incentives for areas where schools can celebrate or work to reward good attendance, perfect attendance, most improved attendance, whatever they see as an area they want to celebrate. They can do those monthly and they can also do them at the end of the school year. The department has also worked to create the registration and attendance tool kit for the district education authorities and the French school board to address student attendance and registration.

There are a few different areas where we are working to ensure that attendance is improving and that it’s a joint effort not only between our departments but also with the community and the schools to ensure that our attendance rates are going up and that we have increased attendance and have various ways to support and engage as well with our family engagement strategy and our on- the-land program, working with our elders, and activities to increase attendance and the learning that comes from other types of learning, not just in the school but out on the land, for example. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Chairman: If I may, what Ms. Brewster is asking is if there is a threshold or something that triggers the DEA to get more involved with the school if the

Saturday, March 9, 2024 Nunavut Hansard 4930 school notifies the DEA. Thank you. Ms. Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you too for that clarification. The district education authorities report to the principals every month and those are reported back to the regional school operations and then to the department. I can ask our deputy minister to further elaborate. Thank you. Chairman: Ms. Hainnu. Ms. Hainnu: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank the member for the question. The Department of Education has… .

Through the Education Act, the district education authorities have designated authority to have an attendance bylaw which is enforced by the district education authorities. Under the Act, the principal must report monthly to the district education authority attendance. That report is also shared with the superintendents and executive director. We have been very mindful of how we can use that data to improve attendance, especially this year and this coming fall. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Thank you.

I’m sorry, but it’s still not answering the question on whether there is a benchmark or a threshold or some type of a number or something actually which would trigger the DEAs to get more involvement from the principal. Thank you. I’ll go back to Ms. Hainnu. Ms. Hainnu: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Every district education authority, under their authority, has an attendance bylaw, so it’s based on the different bylaws that each district education authority has. That threshold would be different for each district education authority. We can work to standardize it, but for the education department, it’s zero to 100.

We’re interested in whether their attendance rate is zero or 100 and everything in between. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Ms. Brewster. Ms. Brewster: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I did hear the deputy minister state that we can work to standardize it. I think it’s really important to have a minimum threshold of attendance. When your truancy rate starts to climb, it’s extremely important for the entire community to know that the district education authorities are working to ensure that children and youth are in school. The long-term impact of that is that we will have more people who are employable.

I would very much encourage that work to happen as soon as possible and to also, of course, use the data that comes from the use of Edsby because I know that attendance is tracked in there. I’ll end at that. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Minister Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, we can look into it to see what we can do for that. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman (interpretation): Ms. Brewster, are you done? (interpretation ends) Mr. Savikataaq. Sorry. Mr. Savikataaq: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I don’t have very many, but my first question is: how many teachers

Saturday, March 9, 2024 Nunavut Hansard 4931 in this school year are teaching our students under a letter of authority Nunavut-wide? Thank you. Chairman: Minister Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I believe that number is 67. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Mr. Savikataaq. Mr. Savikataaq (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) How many of that 67 are outside of Iqaluit? Thank you. Chairman: Minister Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: I don’t have that number at the moment, but we can look into how many are based outside of Iqaluit.

For the 2023-24 school year, we had 74 teachers on letter of authority and the regional breakdown is: for the Baffin, 41; Kitikmeot, 12; Kivalliq, 21. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Mr. Savikataaq. Mr. Savikataaq: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Would the minister have the breakdown for the three schools in Arviat, the Levi Angmak Elementary School, the Qitiqliq Middle School, and the John Arnalukjuak High School, the breakdown of how many are teaching under the letter of authority? Thank you. Chairman: Minister Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for the question.

We don’t have that level of detail in front of us, but we can get back to the member with that information. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Mr. Savikataaq. Mr. Savikataaq: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The education of our youth and students is critical, and I find it disturbing that there are so many teaching under authority. These in general are people who are teaching with, to the best of my knowledge, no background in teaching. They don’t have certification for teaching and they’re expected to teach our children. It’s critical in their learning stages that our students are taught by a professional teacher.

Are there any letters of authority teachers teaching in any of the high schools in Nunavut? Thank you. Chairman: Minister Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you to the member for that question. Again, that’s a high level of detail that we don’t have in front of us, but we can commit to getting back with that information. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Mr. Savikataaq. Mr. Savikataaq: Thank you. I think this is under here too, about occupancy level, but if it’s not, then you can disregard it. What is occupancy level or the usage level of the three schools in Arviat? Thank you.

Chairman: Minister Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: For the John Arnalukjuak High School, it is 77 percent; Levi Angmak School, 93 percent; and the Qitiqliq Middle School,

Saturday, March 9, 2024 Nunavut Hansard 4932 it’s 110 percent. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Mr. Savikataaq. Mr. Savikataaq: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We have teachers teaching under letter of authority and we also have substitute teachers. I don’t think the minister would have that information too, maybe, but what’s the level of substitute teachers that are used on average within Nunavut? Thank you. Chairman: Minister Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

That level varies day to day, so we would have to gather that information and get back to the member, but there are various instances for teachers needing substitutes, for illness or for extracurricular activities, such as coaching or other means. The numbers do vary, but we can look into that information and also get back. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Mr. Savikataaq. Mr. Savikataaq: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As I stated earlier, our youth are just like a sponge and they absorb whatever they are taught. It’s so critical that they are taught by professional teachers.

The number of letter of authority teachers is bothersome. Is there a main reason or number one reason why there are teachers teaching on letter of authority? Thank you. Chairman: Minister Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you to the member for that question. There are, I think, maybe a few factors that relay into this point. There is a national teacher shortage across the country. We do our very best to recruit as many teachers as we can and we do go to many different events for the recruiting process.

Given that we also have a shortage of housing in our territory, but with Nunavut 3000 and the different types of housing that will be built and constructed, we did play a factor for some of the communities that we do know that do have a shortage of staff housing. The department has worked with the housing corporation to relay that information. There were a couple of communities identified over the past several years that have a teacher housing shortage.

I would also like to say that our teachers do have to share housing and they are oftentimes sharing with their colleagues and there can be hardships in some cases. Another area is also the cost of travel for holidays. I know that that can also play an area that is burdensome. Mr. Chairman, to get back to the member’s previous comments about how many letters of authority in Arviat, there are currently seven. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Mr. Savikataaq. Mr. Savikataaq: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I guess you didn’t see my hand signal.

That was my last question, but I would encourage the minister to try to get away from teaching our valuable students with a letter of authority. In their early years, whatever they are taught, it sticks with them. If they are

Saturday, March 9, 2024 Nunavut Hansard 4933 taught by a professional teacher, they will be way more professional and I believe they will have a better likelihood of graduating and going on to post- secondary. That’s it. Thank you. Chairman: Thank you. Next name I have on my list: Ms. Killiktee. Ms. Killiktee (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I heard some very interesting questions from my colleagues. I don’t know if I forgot to ask this question, but I would like to proceed with it. The funding for K-12 School Operations is projected to increase in 2024-25.

What specific initiatives account for this increase? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Minister Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: My apologies. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you to the member for the question. Our department increase for K-12 School Operations projected increased funding for busing, which is $2.5 million. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Ms. Killiktee. Ms. Killiktee (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Which communities are going to be receiving those buses? Are you getting new buses or are those replacement buses? That’s my next question. Thank you. Chairman: Minister Gross. Hon.

Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for the question. The cost of buses has gone up as well. It is hard for us to receive contracts for busing services and those have also increased. The new buses that are expected to arrive this coming sealift are for the communities of Igloolik, Sanikiluaq, Sanirajak, and Pangnirtung. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Ms. Killiktee. Ms. Killiktee (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

While we’re on the subject of school buses, do you go by the size of the population or what are factors for a community to receive buses and when do they qualify to get a bus in their community? Is it by population or is it for any of the schools? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Minister Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for the question.

We typically receive bus requests from district education authorities that send a letter to the department requesting a new bus attached with a motion from a meeting that they had that indicates that they do a new bus or an extra bus in their community to service the need for the school or the schools that are within the community. We do have a factor that we gather all of the applications together and go on a number of different factors. It depends on the number of students in the community that require busing services and the proportion of the number of bus seats that are available.

We also look at the presence of wildlife in and around the community which poses risk to a student’s safety. There is also the number of hours of daylight that is experienced in the community which also plays a factor. There’s also the average temperature in the community that is also looked at and the presence of

Saturday, March 9, 2024 Nunavut Hansard 4934 uneven terrain in the community. There are lots of hills or mountains that make it difficult for students to travel across their community to the school. We also look at the previous years of when the last buses were in the community and the age of the bus that is in the community. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Ms. Killiktee. Ms. Killiktee (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In your response, you stated that you have put the factors together, that you don’t really look at the population and that you look at the need for a bus. That’s how I understood it.

I would like to move on to another item. For K-12 School Operations in Nunavut, I would like to ask what the biggest challenge is in this area. If it’s an appropriate question to ask while we’re here, that is my question and this is for all Nunavut schools. Thank you. Chairman: Minister Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Sorry; I didn’t catch the question, if the member can please repeat. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Correct me if I’m wrong, Ms. Killiktee, but I believe you’re just asking: what are some of the biggest outstanding challenges that the department has? Ms.

Killiktee, do you want to clarify? Ms. Killiktee (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (interpretation ends) Yes, what are the biggest challenges in your department with education do they face under the Nunavut school operations? (interpretation) I think that clarifies it. Thank you. Chairman: Minister Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you to the member for that question and rephrasing it. With K- 12 School Operations, it’s a huge span of population in terms of the age from infancy all the way through to working to support the students and I think just the overall aspect of… .

Maybe I’ll ask the deputy minister to further elaborate. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Ms. Hainnu. Ms. Hainnu (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also thank you, member, for your question on this issue. The Nunavut government has not been around for a long time. It is our 25th anniversary this year since the creation of the territory in 1999. As the Department of Education, we have to create the curriculum and learning materials. If you look everywhere else in Canada, they receive outside support, but we try to create the curriculum on our own with the help of Inuit organizations.

However, we have a huge responsibility and on top of that, bilingual Inuit teachers are not sufficient in numbers. We want to encourage people who want to get into the teaching profession. Those are some of the biggest hurdles, the amount of work required and lack of preferred teachers. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Thank you. We’re on page G-10. K-12 School Operations. Total

Saturday, March 9, 2024 Nunavut Hansard 4935 Operations and Maintenance. $209,586,000. Agreed? Some Members: Agreed. Chairman: Thank you. Please go to page G-11. Curriculum Resources and French Education. Amount of Total Operations and Maintenance requested, $8,712,000. Mr. Savikataaq. Mr. Savikataaq: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. To the best of my understanding, the Yukon Territory and Northwest Territories no longer use the Alberta curriculum and I believe we still do here.

Can the minister elaborate on the advantage or disadvantage or whether it is being looked at as to whether the department is thinking about switching to the BC curriculum? Thank you. Chairman: Minister Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. For the question, we are working to develop a made-in-Nunavut curriculum which we’re expending a lot of our energy and time into creating that with the projected time frame that will be coming in the future, but I would like to ask our assistant deputy minister to elaborate on that. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Madam St-Louis. Ms. St-Louis: Thank you, Mr.

Chairman. Ma’na to the member for his question. We did look at following the two other territories and transitioning to the BC curriculum, but even though the BC curriculum is based on indigenous education and knowledge, but we still decided because we heard what the population was telling us that we needed our made-in-Nunavut curriculum to solely reflect the Inuit culture and also the language of the territory. That is why we’re working on the made-in-Nunavut curriculum and the first year of implementation will be in September/August or September ‘25-26 for kindergarten and grade 1. Thank you. Chairman: Merci.

Mr. Savikataaq. Mr. Savikataaq (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Since this new made-in-Nunavut curriculum is going to be implemented or start to be used in the year ‘25-26, which is just around the bend for kindergarten and grade 1, is this curriculum being made in phases for certain grades at a time or the curriculum will come out so it’s K to 12 curriculum? Thank you. Chairman: Minister Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you to the member for that question. It is done one grade at a time and also, we’re implementing them based on the levels.

Next August 2025, kindergarten and grade 1 will be Inuktut first language and Inuktut second language that will be implemented, and then in August 2026 we will be implementing Inuktut second language, Inuinnaqtun. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Mr. Savikataaq. Mr. Savikataaq (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) Just for clarity then, the minister stated it would be one grade at a time. Will this take 12 years to implement the new curriculum? Thank you.

Saturday, March 9, 2024 Nunavut Hansard 4936 Chairman: Minister Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you to the member for the question. Just a snapshot for Inuktut first language, kindergarten and grade 1, next August 2025; grade 2 will be August 2026; and all the way subsequent and complete grade 6 in 2030. That is also the same for Inuktut second language and Inuinnaqtun will be a year behind, starting in August 2026. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Mr. Savikataaq. Mr. Savikataaq: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Just from listening to the minister, it appears that this curriculum will only go to grade 6, correct? Thank you. Chairman: Minister Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you to the member for that question. To further clarify, we are working on kindergarten to grade 6, and we’re expecting the approval for that to come out this July. Next year we will be starting the creation of grade 7 to grade 9, followed in their first and second draft, and then we will also be starting the grade 10 to grade 12. We’re at different stages for each different

section of grades. Maybe I’ll ask our assistant deputy minister to further elaborate. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Madam St-Louis. Ms. St-Louis: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Ma’na to the member for his question. As Minister Gross said, currently the K-6 curriculum is completely done. Now we are developing resources and preparing the training plan. This being said, now we’re working on the 7 to 9 and 10 to 12, and the implementation time for grades 7 to 12 is between 2031 and 2036. Chairman: Mr. Savikataaq. Mr. Savikataaq: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

When this made-in-Nunavut curriculum is being used by all schools, including the high schools, will all the schools be completely bilingual? Thank you. Chairman: Minister Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, they will. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Mr. Savikataaq. Mr. Savikataaq: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’ll ask the minister: if a student is not bilingual at grade 12, will that student graduate? Thank you. Chairman: Minister Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for that question. Graduation pathing would allow them to graduate. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Chairman: Mr. Savikataaq. Mr. Savikataaq: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’m not sure what the minister meant by “Graduation pathing will allow them to graduate.” This is going to be a bilingual education, so I would assume that a student has to be bilingual in Inuktitut and English in

Saturday, March 9, 2024 Nunavut Hansard 4937 order to graduate. I’ll ask again; will the student have to be able to speak Inuktitut and English to graduate grade 12 when this curriculum is fully implemented? Thank you. Chairman: Minister Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you to the member for that question. I would like to ask our assistant deputy minister to elaborate. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Ms. Hainnu. Sorry. Ms. St- Louis. Ms. St-Louis: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Ma’na to the member for his question. Our goal is not to prevent the students from graduating.

The plan we’re putting in place is to make sure that the students develop knowledge of the language and go from grade to grade until he or she graduates. However, if a student didn’t get the language skills at the grade 12 level for any reason, it wouldn’t prevent him from graduating. We would offer support to grade 8 to make sure that the language skills are updated on a yearly basis and progress from year to year. However, all this together, the skills and the competencies that are required to graduate are of the utmost importance.

Along with the competencies acquired, we hope that the language level will follow. If not, we are lifelong learners, so the language acquisition will continue past grade 12. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Mr. Savikataaq. Mr. Savikataaq: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This new curriculum that will be fully implemented in the near future, the goal is to immerse or familiarize the students with Inuktitut, but the goal is not really to make them bilingual as they will not have to be bilingual in order to graduate, correct? Thank you. Chairman: Minister Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

We’re currently working with the district education authorities and the Coalition of Nunavut District Education Authorities is travelling to our communities to look at the language of instruction models that are out there. We’re on our first phase of the review to look at those language models. We have three more communities to wrap up this month. We will be done with the first official phase of looking at each community to see if those language-of- instruction models are going to change or if they like where they are.

Once those assessments and interviews and the work is complete this round, we will be reviewing that work and then planning to go back to each community again before July 2025. At that time, we will have a better understanding of which community is at what level or if we’re going to be creating new models or where we are for the language of instruction implementation following the Nunavut curriculum and the language of instruction implementation plan. I can ask our deputy minister to further explain. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Ms. Hainnu.

Saturday, March 9, 2024 Nunavut Hansard 4938 Ms. Hainnu: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank the member for the important question to address here with the Department of Education. With our history in Nunavut, loss of language in our communities was immense. In some cases like the Kitikmeot, they lost much of their language and we need to help them to rebuild it by revitalization and building instructional models that work for them. In communities like Grise Fiord or Clyde River, Inuktitut is very much still the prevalent language. To your question, you’re asking two questions.

We have on the one hand, the graduation requirements of a Nunavut student don’t pertain to the requirement for Inuktitut, French, or English. There is a graduation path that will allow unilingual English-speaking-only graduates to occur. With the Nunavut- made curriculum, there will be better opportunities to teach Inuktitut or Inuinnaqtun in communities where it’s not currently offered. In the future, language of instruction models will be informed and we will be able to individualize them to the degree of language loss that has happened or the degree of language richness a community has.

Every community has been different because in the 2008 Education Act, it was a very political and contentious subject to discuss, and whether we cave in to the political discussion and said, “Yes, every community will choose their language of instruction model,” that has been in my opinion a detriment to some successes in academics. We are doing our due diligence to review them through Bill 7 and our deadline is July 2025. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Mr. Savikataaq. Mr. Savikataaq: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I ask the minister then, this curriculum that is being developed and made in Nunavut will teach Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun, but it’s not a requirement to graduate. In the Education Act, it clearly states that it will be a bilingual education. Can I be enlightened on how you can have a bilingual education system that has to be met by a certain date, but it’s not a requirement to be bilingual to graduate high school? Thank you. Chairman: Minister Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for that question.

There will be some level of bilingualism that will be required in order to graduate and we don’t know that percentage yet, but we are working to gather that information. Maybe I can ask our deputy minister to give us that time frame. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Ms. Hainnu. Ms. Hainnu: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank the member for the question. Right now, when we implement K to 1 next year, we know they will have a level of Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun, so when they are about to graduate, we can impose language to the graduation requirement.

Right now, if we implement it, it would be to the detriment of those who have not had the language opportunity to acquire the language, if that makes sense. (interpretation) Thank you. Chairman: Mr. Savikataaq.

Saturday, March 9, 2024 Nunavut Hansard 4939 Mr. Savikataaq: Ma’na, Mr. Chairman. It makes sense right now because the new made-in-Nunavut curriculum is not being implemented to the whole class right now, but my question was when the new curriculum is being implemented, and I believe the minister stated that no, you will not have to be bilingual to graduate with the new curriculum system. There will be a path to graduation where you can graduate even if you’re not bilingual, even though the Education Act requires that it has to be bilingual; just clarity on that. Thank you. Chairman: Minister Gross. Hon.

Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you to the member for that question. I may ask the deputy to further elaborate on this, but at the moment, there are the variances of language in our communities and when the models for the language of implementation will be looked at and reviewed, right now we have the Qulliq model, immersion model, and dual model, and if there are communities… .

I will say we do know that the Inuinnaqtun-speaking communities of Kugluktuk and Cambridge Bay don’t have full immersion, as was stated in some of our communities with high levels of Inuktut-speaking populations, different model systems currently, and we may have communities with language loss. There may be communities in our territory that graduate from an English stream and have some levels of second language, but it won’t be as strong as our other communities to be fully bilingual. I would like to ask our deputy minister to further elaborate. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Thank you.

Just very briefly before I go to Ms. Hainnu, and I understand the work is being done on the language of instruction model, so I think it’s difficult for you to answer the question that Mr. Savikataaq is posing right now. I’m not sure how valuable it is to go down this path when we don’t even know what those language-of- instruction models are going to be like for another year or two likely. I’ll go back to Mr. Savikataaq to see if there are any other questions he has. Mr. Savikataaq: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. How does that affect the French school? Thank you. Chairman: Minister Gross. Hon.

Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to defer that to our assistant deputy minister. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Madam St-Louis. Ms. St-Louis: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Ma’na to the member for his questions. Even though, under the previous Education Act, Inuktut language was not mandatory for the francophone school, with the new revised Act, it is now mandatory. The CSFN will have to teach Inuktut language at the level of comfort. They will have to promote fluency and the culture of the territory in their programming. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Saturday, March 9, 2024 Nunavut Hansard 4940 Chairman: Thank you. We’re on Curriculum Resources and French Education. Amount being appropriated… . Mr. Simailak. Mr. Simailak: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’m wondering if the department is keeping track of how many grade 12 graduates are graduating through with this curriculum that are either academic, general, or individualized education plans with this curriculum that they have. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Minister Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, we do have that information. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Mr. Simailak. Mr.

Simailak: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’m wondering if it’s either actual numbers or percentages, if the minister has the breakdown of the three; academic, general, and individualized education plans. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman: Minister Gross. Hon. Pamela Gross: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for that question. Each student has a validation sta