The Government of Nunavut is projecting an $8 million deficit in the $2.8-billion 2023-24 budget unveiled Thursday, if the $50 million set aside for contingencies is spent.

Total expected revenues, mainly through federal transfers, are down by $202 million from the previous budget. The decrease mainly stemmed from the lack of extraordinary one-time Covid-19 relief funds, marking a return to the norm for the budget.

SA国际影视传媒淎ll of our other own-source revenues have actually increased SA国际影视传媒� we just had so much Covid funding last year,SA国际影视传媒� said Daniel Young, assistant deputy minister of Finance.

Total spending is expected to hit $2.79 billion this year.

The GN is looking to continue building on its Katujjiluta Mandate through its latest financial plan.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think last yearSA国际影视传媒檚 (budget) was a good beginning to get caught up in some of the infrastructure that is badly needed in our communities,SA国际影视传媒� said Finance Minister Lorne Kusugak.

He added that the government is SA国际影视传媒渟pending a lot of money over the next fiscal years,SA国际影视传媒� starting with this one. The GN will be building more houses, putting more financial resources into healthcare for Nunavummiut SA国际影视传媒渁nd working on bringing our Elders home.SA国际影视传媒�

In tackling the Katujjiluta Mandate, the GN is prepared to incur a modest deficit to try to address NunavutSA国际影视传媒檚 problems surrounding Elders, housing, education and healthcare.

SA国际影视传媒淟ast year we gave warnings we would get into a deficit situation, which means taking money from (the) previous yearSA国际影视传媒檚 surplus and thatSA国际影视传媒檚 exactly the street weSA国际影视传媒檙e going down,SA国际影视传媒� said Kusugak.

When comparing it to prior budgets, the minister said SA国际影视传媒渢he main difference is weSA国际影视传媒檙e putting a lot of money into housing and into taking care of our Elders and better healthcare across the territory.

SA国际影视传媒淲e have old health centres but when we donSA国际影视传媒檛 have the capacity to fill those positions, peopleSA国际影视传媒檚 lives are at risk,SA国际影视传媒� he added.

Negotiations between the federal government and the three territories on increasing the Territorial Healthcare Investment Fund are ongoing. An ideal outcome, according to Kusugak, would be for Nunavut to get more money.

He deferred to the Department of Health on whether more funding will help attract more healthcare workers to the territory.

SA国际影视传媒淪ometimes money will help solve some of those issues, but sometimes it doesnSA国际影视传媒檛,SA国际影视传媒� said Kusugak. SA国际影视传媒淭here was a time in the North where recruitment wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 a big problem. We were the place to go and adventure, being nurses and teachers in these little isolated communities. That is gone and weSA国际影视传媒檙e now struggling to keep up with the demand.

SA国际影视传媒淭he world has become very competitive in hiring, more so since Covid,SA国际影视传媒� Kusugak continued. SA国际影视传媒淧eople have decided they donSA国际影视传媒檛 want to be so far away from home, wherever that may be, more often than not, home isnSA国际影视传媒檛 Nunavut.SA国际影视传媒�

The Finance minister also stood by the governmentSA国际影视传媒檚 goal to build 1,000 new housing units by the end of its mandate. This will require continued investment, which includes plans to train 80 Inuit in construction through 2023 and continued partnerships with NCC Development to fulfill up to two-thirds of the Nunavut 3000 plan.

Construction projects

In terms of larger capital projects, the 24-bed long-term care facility in Rankin Inlet is in position to receive an additional $12 million in its third year of construction. More than $59 million has been committed to that facility overall.

Another construction project in line for a substantial financial injection is the Nunavut Recovery Centre, with $15.5 million set aside in 2023-24.

A planned fibre optic line to the territory will make use of $14.1 million to get construction started.

Last year, due to changes on the federal governmentSA国际影视传媒檚 pricing rules on the carbon tax, Nunavut cancelled the Nunavut Carbon Rebate Program. To address this, the GN is currently proposing amendments to the Income Tax Act to introduce a Nunavut Carbon Credit, which will use dollars obtained from the carbon tax for a direct cash payment to Nunavummiut every three months. This will be offered alongside a homeowner fuel rebate to help manage the higher cost of heating homes.

Budget highlights: 2023-2024

-$17.5 million to continue the development of the GovernmentSA国际影视传媒檚 Enterprise Resource Planning software system

-$12 million in cash payments to Nunavummiut to offset higher costs associated with the carbon tax

-$7 million increase for income assistance to provide inflation relief

-$6.2 million budget increase for local housing authorities to operate and maintain new units

-$5 million in mental health supports for Nunavut students

-$3.4 million for the Coalition of Nunavut District Education Authorities

-$3 million for security services in health centres

-$2.2 million to implement a virtual nurse practitioner program and online clinics

-$2.8 million to increase members in several communities over two years

-$230,000 to expand the Nursing Resource Program

-$2.1 million in additional funding to support the Qikiqtani General Hospital and other Nunavut health centres

-$881,000 for the territorySA国际影视传媒檚 chief nursing and midwifery office to address nursing and midwifery needs

-Close to $1 million to create new radiology and laboratory clerk positions

-$350,000 to expand the health information unit that oversees, protects and manages health data of Nunavut residents

-An additional $500,000 to increasing the victimsSA国际影视传媒� services fund

-$700,000 in capital for heritage facilities, including $500,000 for public libraries

Source: Government of Nunavut