Iqaluit, Nunavut (March 28, 2023) – Investments in housing and healthcare announced today in the Government of Canada’s federal budget, A Made in Canada Plan: Strong Middle Class, Affordable Economy, Healthy Future, will contribute toward key priorities in the Katujjiluta mandate, said Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok and Finance Minister Lorne Kusugak.
“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. 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,” said Premier Akeeagok.
“Our government is determined to bridge the infrastructure gaps that exist in our communities, which is why our government introduced Nunavut’s largest-ever capital budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year. 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,” said Minister Kugusak.
The 2023-24 federal budget announced several investments applicable to Nunavut, including:
- $4 billion over seven years for the Urban, Rural and Northern Indigenous Housing Strategy.
- A five-year renewal of the Territorial Formula Financing, Nunavut’s main federal funding transfer.
- A 10-year renewal of the Territorial Health Investment Fund (THIF), an important health care funding transfer for Nunavut.
- Additional funding through the Canada Health Transfer and other bilateral health agreements.
- $810.6 million over five years for Non-Insured Health Benefits, which covers the costs of medical travel, dental, prescriptions and other health-related services for Nunavut Inuit.
- $16.2 million to address tuberculosis in Inuit communities.
- $250 million over three years for an Oral Health Access Fund to improve access to oral health and dental services in rural and remote communities.