Federal budget aligns with Nunavut priorities, but more funding needed Nunavut

government to continue to press for better healthcare; improved access to housing

By Trevor Wright Northern News Services Ottawa

The Government of Canada’s budget, announced on March 28, contributes positively toward Nunavut’s health woes and housing crisis, said Nunavut premier P.J. Akeeagok, but added they will continue to press for more investments.

“To achieve the transformative change in our government’s Katujjiluta mandate, significant investments from the federal government are needed. Today’s federal budget announcements contribute to our government’s efforts to improve access to housing and health care services here in Nunavut,” said Akeeagok.

“We will continue to press for federal commitments that will allow for nation-building investments that further social and economic reconciliation for our Inuit region.”

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, in her budget address, said inflation relief, more healthcare funding, a cleaner economy and lowering the deficit were the main goals of this year’s budget.

“Canada has made a remarkable recovery from the Covid recession,” wrote Freeland, later saying, “With these strong economic fundamentals, Budget 2023 comes at an important moment for our country - and at an important moment for the world.”

The Government of Nunavut outlined federal investments relevant to Nunavut and they are as follows:

- $4 billion over seven years toward the national Urban, Rural and Northern Indigenous Housing Strategy;

- A five-year renewal of the Territorial Formula Financing, the main federal funding transfer for Nunavut;

- A 10-year renewal of the Territorial Health Investment Fund, a significant source for Nunavut health funds;

- $810.6 million over five years for non-insured health benefits, major source of funding for rural Indigenous dental, vision, mental health care, prescriptions and medical travel;

- $16.2 million to address tuberculosis in Inuit communities;

- $250 million over three years for an Oral Access Fund to help improve access to oral health and dental services in rural and remote communities.

There is also additional funding through the Canada Health Transfer and other bilateral health agreements according to Nunavut’s Department of Finance, however a specific amount was not listed.

Nunavut’s finance minister, Lorne Kusugak, echoed P.J. Akeeagok’s statement.

“We will continue to work with the federal government in securing housing and infrastructure funding that helps us build the Nunavut we envision in our Katujjiluta mandate - a territory of strong, healthy and prosperous communities where Nunavummiut can thrive,” he said.

ᑲᓇᑕᒥ ᑮᓇᐅᔭᑦ ᐊᑐᖅᑐᒃᓴᓂᒃ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᕕᒡᔪᐊᕐᒥ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᕐᕕᒡᔪᐊᖓᓂ ᐋᑐᕚᒥ, ᐊᐃᑉᐱᕐᒥ, ᒫᔾᔨ 28, 2023-ᒥ.