GN reacts to the 2019 federal budget
News Release
GN reacts to the 2019 federal budget
IQALUIT, Nunavut (March 19, 2019) – Federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau has tabled the Government of Canada’s 2019 budget plan, Investing in the Middle Class.
Budget 2019 contains specific commitment to support the construction and operations of an addictions treatment centre in Nunavut, in partnership with the Government of Nunavut (GN) and Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.
“I am pleased to see support for an addictions treatment centre,” said Finance Minister George Hickes. “We were expecting more around housing and telecommunications, especially given our longstanding infrastructure deficit. The lack of Nunavut-specific measures is disappointing, and remains critical in successful nation-building.”
Other areas of interest for Nunavut include $286.2 M over five years towards Inuit priorities, $125.5 M over 10 years for an Inuit-led post-secondary education strategy and $15 M over five years to establish a Northern Isolated Community Initiatives Fund to support “community-led projects for local and Indigenous food production systems.”
“Much of the money announced today does not come directly to the territory. The GN remains cautious, as Nunavut’s service provider, on how we will be able to successfully deliver the services and programs to benefit Nunavummiut,” said Minister Hickes.
The 2019 federal budget can be found on the Government of Canada’s website at: https://www.budget.gc.ca/2019/docs/.
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Media Contact:
Denise Grandmaison
Manager, Communications
Department of Finance
867-975-6818
@email