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CBC
27-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
Quebec gov't inquiry shows lack of oversight at Nunavik school board
An inquiry by Quebec's Ministry of Education has highlighted what it says is a lack of financial oversight within Kativik Ilisarniliriniq, the Nunavik school board. "Action is needed to establish best practices in internal control and financial management," reads the report. Among other issues, it points to the board commissioners' inexperience, who didn't have the professional background needed to oversee financial operations. In 2019, Kativik Ilisarniliriniq (KI) was operating with a $14 million surplus; by June 2023, that had dropped to a $26.7 million deficit. That drastic change is what set off the inquiry in December 2023. The inquiry determined that the deficit is mostly due to a construction plan that would see the building of staff housing and various education facilities. The inquiry found a lack of proper expense tracking related to the projects. "The lack of leadership of the financial resources department of KI explains why it does not play the central role that it should in the organization, and this prevents the department from carrying out strict monitoring of budgetary processes and from rendering a complete and relevant accountability report," reads the report. The Quebec government's inquiry also showed significant flaws in the organization's internal control processes. In one example, some employees still had access to the school board's databases even after they'd left. Another is that changes could easily be made to financial information without needing to be validated by a manager. The inquiry determined that this lack of oversight exposed the school board to significant risk of error or even fraud. External support The inquiry ultimately proposed 14 recommendations, including hiring an "external support person" and a "specialized firm" to steady the board's administration. It also includes advising administrators, putting together a strategic plan, training the commissioners and establishing better internal control processes. The provincial government also recommended the board develop a recruitment strategy with "clear and precise objectives in order to reach the targets for staff retention, development and mobilization and, consequently, improve student perseverance and success." According to the inquiry, the high turnover rate of teachers in the region — about 30 per cent annually — has a negative impact on student success. That rate, it states, is mainly due to "the lack of preparation of non-Indigenous teachers for living conditions in Nunavik." Another section compiled exit interview data and showed that nearly a third of the teachers that left (29 per cent) reported a "toxic" work environment. "KI needs to explore this worrying data further to improve the situation quickly. Clearly, improving the work climate will have a positive impact on the organization by motivating staff and reducing the turnover rate. As a result, students should receive better teaching and develop a sense of belonging to their school while KI should save money," it reads. Financial decisions not 'reckless', says board In a response published to its website, the board acknowledged the reports findings and said the recommendations highlighted issues already identified by the board. "They all concern areas where work was already actively ongoing prior to the launch of the investigation (for example, recruitment, staff retention, student success, maintenance of infrastructures, cyber security and more)," it said. However, the board also rejected the idea that it mismanaged its funds, instead saying the deficit was caused by a lack of funding from the provincial government. "We didn't walk blindly into a deficit. The investigation report portrays the Council of Commissioners as reckless when it comes to making financial decisions. The reality of it is that we were faced with difficult choices: inadequate funding and urgent needs in terms of infrastructure to maintain or expand, new positions needed to support students, etc.," said Sarah Aloupa, president of Kativik Ilisarniliriniq, in a statement. The decision to approve deficit spending was the best way to get the Ministry of Education's attention, she added. "So, here we are today: with a deficit and a sound financial recovery plan in place, but most importantly, with open communication channels with the (ministry)." The board said the inquiry's findings also show a disconnect between the ministry's understanding and the realities of education in Nunavik. It points to the majority of training materials for commissioners being in French as one example. "Only 10 per cent of this training material is available in English, while the rest exists only in French," reads the board's response. "Like 99 per cent of the Nunavik residents … our elected officials read and speak Inuktitut as their first language. We see it as a (ministry) responsibility to develop training material tailored and relevant to the law that applies on the territory under our administrative jurisdiction."
BBC News
08-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Answers needed on Jersey health overspend, says deputy
Answers needed on health overspend, says deputy 14 minutes ago Share Save Ammar Ebrahim • aebrahim93 BBC Jersey political reporter Share Save BBC Deputy Inna Gardiner said answers were needed on why there was a consistent overspend in health The head of Jersey's Public Accounts Committee says answers are needed on why there is an overspend in the health department. Deputy Inna Gardiner's comments follow the publication of the States of Jersey Annual Report and Accounts which showed the government's consolidated fund - essentially its current account - was in deficit, in part, because of extra health spending. She said "we need to establish if there is an inherent structural deficit in health or if it's a case of bad management of money". Minister for Treasury and Resources, Deputy Elaine Millar, who oversees all government spending, said it was not bad management and the health overspend was not a problem unique to Jersey. 'Spent wisely' However, Gardiner said questions needed to be asked as the health budget had increased by nearly £100m since 2022. She said: "We are all aware that the health department overspent in excess of £30m year after year after year. "The health department budget in 2022 approved by the States Assembly was £226m. The budget approved for 2025 was £322m and we are already hearing that in 2025 the budget was constrained and they are going to overspend. "So we need to understand what is happening there and how money can be spent wisely within the department." The health minister told a scrutiny panel that he would need more money for health in the next few years Millar said: "We have had to invest more into our health care spending and we are not alone in doing that. "The cost of sending people off-island for specialist care, prescriptions are becoming more expensive and it's down to the nature of the population. "So we have had to spend more on health and we've had to take money from contingency to meet those costs." She added: "I don't think it's bad management of money... everyone is seeing healthcare costs going up, jurisdictions have ageing populations and we need to make sure we can provide services to our whole community." On 30 April, in a meeting with the Health and Social Security Scrutiny Panel, the Minister for Health and Social Services, Deputy Tom Binet, said he would need more money for health during the next few years. 'Not a piggy bank' Binet told the panel: "I'll be coming to the assembly to ask for money to improve preventative health care, and women's health issues will come into that and digital connectivity. "We will need in excess of £100m over five years and I want that additional money, I don't care where it comes from, even if it's from the strategic reserve." However, Millar said using the strategic reserve fund was not something that had been discussed. Millar said: "The strategic reserve fund is there for a number of reasons. "It's not a piggy bank that you can just draw on at will. But, clearly, we will look to how we fund health. "Jersey has a reputation for prudent financial management, and it's essential we continue that reputation, that we spend money wisely and we use money from the right sources to fund all our expenditure needs." Follow BBC Jersey on X and Facebook. Send your story ideas to
