Nunavut MLA questions college's safety

A Nunavut MLA is raising questions about the security of students attending Nunavut Arctic College in Iqaluit after two life-threatening incidents this week.

A fire at an off-campus housing complex Sunday left about 80 people homeless and two dead. On Thursday, a man fired a high-powered rifle at another college residence.  

This prompted Rankin Inlet North MLA Tagak Curley to question the safety of students and their families. Curley said they should be assured a certain level of security.

The minister responsible for Nunavut Arctic College, Daniel Shewchuk, told the legislative assembly Wednesday tenants do go through an orientation, and drugs and alcohol are not allowed. There is also communal firearm storage available in at least one of the properties in town.  

But Shewchuk said a lot of the onus still falls upon the individual.

"Most of these people are adults," he said. "It's up to them to be responsible for living in Arctic College's residences, too."

He said the college is committed to reviewing its security procedures.