Graduate Opportunities Education and training are important parts of Baffinland’s commitments to the North Baffin communities. We support and encourage the pursuit of post-secondary education and recognize the importance of learning and development as a pillar to the ongoing development of the North Baffin communities and all of Nunavut. In 2020, five $5,000 scholarships were awarded to Inuit enrolled under the Nunavut Agreement and pursuing a post-secondary education. The study area of scholarship recipients evolves every year to reflect the emerging needs and trends of the extractive industry in the north. As part of our ongoing support of high school students, each high school graduate from a North Baffin community receives a laptop to support their next steps. This year, Baffinland donated 60 laptops to graduating students. Details for the 2021 scholarship program will be announced in Spring 2021. More information is available from your Baffinland Community Liaison Officer. Ilagiiktunut Fund The Ilagiiktunut Nunalinnullu Pivalliajutisait Kiinaujat program offers funding to strengthen Inuit communities and families and create job readiness. The Ilagiiktunut Fund was established between QIA and Baffinland in 2014 under the IIBA. In 2018-2019 QIA renegotiated an increase in funding to $1.1 million per year. QIA and Baffinland contribute equally to the fund. Projects selected for funding promote resilient communities, strong families, and job readiness. For more information, visit www.qia.ca
Milne Rail Expansion Development Proposal Following the adjournment of the Public Hearing in November 2019, Baffinland has been engaging directly with impacted communities to foster greater understanding of the Rail Expansion Development Proposal.
On October 30, 2020, the Nunavut Impact Review Board (NIRB) announced the Public Hearing for the Rail Expansion Development Proposal will recommence on January 25 to February 6, 2021.
Baffinland was anticipating the NIRB-scheduled technical meeting, community roundtable, and a pre hearing conference to be held in March, however restrictions imposed by COVID-19 impacted these engagements.
In NIRB’s Pre-Hearing Conference Report, they also noted the progress achieved by Baffinland and various parties to resolve a number of technical concerns regarding the Rail Expansion Development Proposal, including 188 specific commitments developed to address these concerns.
Following adjustments by all parties to allow for COVID-19 protocols to be observed, all three events were held in combination as in-person and teleconference events in September and October of 2020.
The Pre-Hearing Conference Report states that, as of the publication of the report, the Government of Nunavut had no outstanding technical issues and the majority of technical issues raised by the QIA had been resolved.
Rail Expansion Development Proposal 9
