DEVELOPMENT OF LONG-TERM CAREERS FOR NUNAVUMMIUT
PRESENTATION FOR THE 25TH ANNUAL
NUNAVUT TRADE SHOW AND CONFERENCE
HARRY FLAHERTY
PRESIDENT, QIKIQTANI RESOURCE AGENCY
PRESIDENT, QIKIQTAALUK CORPORATION
QUICK OVERVIEW OF QIKIQTAALUK CORPORATION (QC)
 Owned by QIA, a 100% Inuit birthright corporation established in 1983
to provide employment and financial opportunities for Inuit of the
Qikiqtani Region.
 Through its 21 subsidiaries and joint-ventures, the QC Group of
Companies is a major contributor to all segments of the Nunavut
economy.
 In 2015, 515 employees were working for QC and it’s 100% owned
subsidiaries. 75% were Inuit beneficiaries.
WHOLLY OWNED COMPANIES (100% OWNED BY QC)
Qikiqtaaluk Business
Development Corporation
(QBDC)
Qikiqtani Industry Limited
(QIL)
Qikiqtani Resource Agency
(QRA)
Qikiqtani Properties Inc.
(QPI)
Qikiqtani Retail Services Ltd.
(3 stores in Iqaluit)
QIKIQTANI RESOURCE AGENCY (100% OWNED BY QC)
WHY IS QRA NEEDED NOW IN NUNAVUT ?
There is currently a serious lack of qualified trade workers in Nunavut.
Apprentices are more than ever in demand on the workplace, each time
that operations, construction, camp services, maintenance and projects
management are considered.
 QRA is now ready to manage training projects supporting trades
skills development for our local population, requiring an investment
up to 10 M$ for the next 4 to 5 years.
 This investment plans to support a minimum of 115 trainees,
including HEOs, truck drivers, mechanics, apprentice cooks,
carpenters, plumbers, welders, environmental monitors, spill
response and remediation, etc.
WHY IS QRA NEEDED NOW IN NUNAVUT ?
Sound management is essential to support all operations; it is our plan to
invest in the learning curves of our employees, promoting motivation and
competence leading to great results in the following fields:
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Project management
Health and safety officers
Business management
Bookkeeping and payroll
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Human resources specialists
Trainees support
Distance learning
Community contact officers.
WHY ARE THOSE TRAINING PROGRAMS SO IMPORTANT NOW ?
Economic Development and Industrial Projects are multiplying in Nunavut
today, and even more projects requiring skilled and dedicated resources
are to be implemented in upcoming years.
 Most Nunavummiut available workers will be offered career
opportunities: to seize this opportunity, professional qualification is
essential for accessing the best jobs with optimal working conditions.
That
 Efficient Coordination and Support for the training programs to start
very soon is critical for ensuring that our adult population fulfill their
career potential and benefit from the economic growth.
HOW WILL APPRENTICESHIP WILL BE SUPPORTED BY QRA ?
Apprenticeship training requires steady motivation; it is a long path all the
way to Red Seal Certification. It is demanding sacrifices for months away
from family and friends. Learners often have to step out of their comfort
zone:
 Our staff will be trained to support the needs of motivated trades
apprentices, by managing logistics, facilitating interaction with
training institutions, with employers and with apprentices’ families
as required to protect the quality of the process. At times, the
wisdom of respected Inuit elders will be brought to contribution
when required.
HOW WILL QRA PROMOTE LONG-TERM EMPLOYMENT
FOR ALL THESE TRAINEES ?
By steadily taking action on different fronts, and this is the core of QRA’s
mission as a Human Resources Agency:
 Seizing employment opportunities emerging from all QC
Companies, for regular operations and on all projects managed by
one or another QC Company;
 Promoting qualified employees on all heavy industrial projects in
the Qikiqtani region, including mining projects;
 Enquiring about recruitment needs by entrepreneurs, employers
and by all communities of the Qikiqtani region, offering QRA
services as specialized partner supporting their needs for human
resources.
HOW TO ENSURE THAT TRAINING PROGRAMS
COORDINATED BY QRA ARE A PROFITABLE INVESTMENT ?
Our young adult population needs to be offered a variety of career
challenges, and we need to validate and adapt the path for career
choices in different ways:
 In-depth interviews and introduction tests will be a standard
procedure, assessing availability, motivation and long-term vision
of career building for all candidates;
 2-3 weeks internships at entry level will be made available right
from the start to confirm that the career choice of a candidate is
the best for that individual;
 Online learning (including micro-learning) will be developed for a
wide variety of skills, adding availability and flexibility for the best
timing for learning.
HOW TO ENSURE THAT TRAINING PROGRAMS
COORDINATED BY QRA ARE A PROFITABLE INVESTMENT ?
Our young adult population needs to be offered a variety of career
challenges, and we need to validate and adapt the path for career
choices in different ways (cont’d) :
 Training for Heavy Equipment Operations is to be delivered locally
on top quality HEO simulators, ensuring the best learning
experience in a wide variety of situations and equipment;
 Training follow-up on the workplace by QRA Officers will be
standardized to verify that optimal learning conditions are in place
for each QRA trainee in their new work environment.
CONCLUSION
We seize this opportunity to sincerely thank the Government of Nunavut
and Kakivak Association for their commitment to support this QRA Training
Project.
We are awaiting confirmation of required additional funding from
Employment and Social Development Canada to launch this major 4-year
Training-for-Employment project.
In any case, we keep the skills development of our employees at the top of
our priority list. We look forward to facilitate the emergence of new
Nunavummiut role models in a wide variety of trades and competencies.
QUJANNAMIIK
NAKURMIIK
MA’NA
MERCI
THANK YOU
HARRY FLAHERTY
PRESIDENT, QIKIQTANI RESOURCE AGENCY
PRESIDENT, QIKIQTAALUK CORPORATION