The Government of Nunavut can employ more Inuit on its capital projects, insists Arviat North-Whale Cove MLA John Main.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e 20 years into Nunavut this year and itSA国际影视传媒檚 a crying shame that we have not built up our construction tradespeople. We have not sufficiently invested into requiring more Inuit to be working at these projects,SA国际影视传媒� Main said. SA国际影视传媒淲e have the people. We do not lack the labour force. We havenSA国际影视传媒檛 had the coordination and the investment into peopleSA国际影视传媒檚 education that would allow them to take these construction jobs.SA国际影视传媒�

The GNSA国际影视传媒檚 current practice is to set Inuit labour targets on a community by community basis, based on the local labour market and past contracts of a similar scope.

The territorial government reached 37 per cent Inuit employment on contracts valued at more than $100,000 in 2015-16 and in 2016-17.

However, since the Nunavut Housing Trust overspending controversy of 2010 SA国际影视传媒� when the budget was exceeded by $110 million and Inuit hiring was blamed for a portion of that SA国际影视传媒� Main said he feels Inuit employment has never rebounded.

SA国际影视传媒淲hatSA国际影视传媒檚 driving that ISA国际影视传媒檓 not sure. It could be tighter budgets. It could be the way that the Housing Corporation is contracting out their builds,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲e need to be going in the opposite direction. We need to be raising those Inuit labour requirementsSA国际影视传媒� WeSA国际影视传媒檙e trying to maximize the local benefit for these capital dollars.SA国际影视传媒�

Although the Sanatuliqsarvik Trades Training School opened in Rankin Inlet in 2010, Main said itSA国际影视传媒檚 been a SA国际影视传媒渓earning curve for the college.SA国际影视传媒� The trades school can accommodate more than 80 students at a time but hasnSA国际影视传媒檛 graduated near that many on an annual basis.

Main pointed out that the GN has set a goal of 85 per cent overall Inuit staff and has achieved 50 per cent. Yet MLAs had to fight to get the Inuit hiring target set at 20 per cent on the new correctional centre in Iqaluit instead of the 15 per cent that the Department of Justice was prepared to accept.

Complacency is a legitimate concern, he warned.

SA国际影视传媒淚f we just throw up our hands and we say, SA国际影视传媒極h well, I understand we canSA国际影视传媒檛 get enough workers so I guess 15 per cent is enough SA国际影视传媒� that, in my mind, is a real danger to us,SA国际影视传媒� said Main. SA国际影视传媒淲e need to be pushing for more.SA国际影视传媒�

Competing for workers

The construction industry is at somewhat of a disadvantage in trying to attract employees because the GN and mining companies can afford to pay more, according to Victor Tootoo, who has experience as a deputy minister dealing with procurement for construction projects.

SA国际影视传媒淵ouSA国际影视传媒檙e not on a level playing field when it comes to attracting Inuit employmentSA国际影视传媒� so itSA国际影视传媒檚 difficult to attract and retain good, qualified Inuit employees,SA国际影视传媒� said Tootoo, president of the Baffin Regional Chamber of Commerce, although he said he was speaking on his own behalf.

Another knock against many construction jobs is that they only last as long as the project itself, as opposed to permanent employment in other sectors, Tootoo noted.

During a March trip to Cambridge Bay, Matt Belliveau, executive director of the NWT and Nunavut Construction Association, said he heard that the education system, particularly under-performance in math, is a barrier. Lack of continuity in teachers is hindering learning, he said, and math is critical to passing the trades exam.

SA国际影视传媒淚t is a systemic issue, absolutely,SA国际影视传媒� said Belliveau, adding that educators need to be informed of pathways to trades. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a matter of creating those linkages between employers and apprentices and ensuring that youth had the education they need to take on the skilled work in this industry. If governments can support that, I do believe that they will see great improvements in the opportunities available to youth.SA国际影视传媒�

Until more Nunavummiut workers become more readily available, Belliveau said itSA国际影视传媒檚 essential that construction companies arenSA国际影视传媒檛 hit with penalties due to a lack of local hiring unless itSA国际影视传媒檚 been made clear what more they can do.

From full Inuit employment to out of business

In Pond Inlet, Simon Merkosak, owner of Merkosak Construction, told Northern Construction last year that he has completed several major projects with crews consisting exclusively of Inuit workers. When contacted in March for additional insights into his success in recruiting Inuit employees through his decades-old venture, Merkosak provided a startling response by email.

SA国际影视传媒�ISA国际影视传媒檓 no longer in building construction. Only one factor that brought this about of hardly Inuit being employed, GovSA国际影视传媒檛 of Nunavut. Case closed,SA国际影视传媒� Merkosak wrote.
He didnSA国际影视传媒檛 answer any other questions.

Main has heard the arguments against higher Inuit labour requirements. For one, thereSA国际影视传媒檚 often the threat that it will inflate costs. Even if thatSA国际影视传媒檚 true, itSA国际影视传媒檚 likely worth it, he maintained.

SA国际影视传媒淚f we take a holistic look at our needs as a government, we have to pay people who are unemployed, we have to support them. We have to provide them with housing; we have to pay them social assistance; unemployed people have higher health care needs,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚n terms of dollars and sense thereSA国际影视传媒檚 a very good argument for taking a look at Inuit employment and raising the bar.SA国际影视传媒�

More analysis is needed if contractors are insisting that Inuit workers arenSA国际影视传媒檛 available, Main said. Are wages and benefits attractive enough and on par with imported southern workersSA国际影视传媒� compensation? Is recruitment happening from the surrounding region rather than just a single community? Are education standards an impediment, as Belliveau stated? These are questions that need to be answered in each case, he said.

Another factor that has arisen is that itSA国际影视传媒檚 sometimes difficult for local Inuit with families and other community commitments perhaps to meet the same output as transient southern hires who arrive with the expectation of working 12-hour days for weeks on end, said Main.

SA国际影视传媒淭he local labour force is (deemed) inferior compared to this transient workforce and I think itSA国际影视传媒檚 an unfair comparison,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Fact file
Inuit labour on GN construction contracts over $100,000
2016-17: 37 per cent achieved/31 per cent required
2015-16: 37 per cent achieved/29 per cent required
2014-15: 28 per cent achieved/23 per cent required
Source: Government of Nunavut

Fact file
Bonuses and penalties pertaining to Inuit labour on GN construction projects
2016-17: $655,771 in bonuses
$54,445 in penalties
2015-16: $1 million in bonuses
$21.595 in penalties
2014-15: $402,810 in bonuses
$26,968 in penalties
Source: Government of Nunavut