For the second time this week, Nunavut's regular MLAs have flexed their muscle by delaying approval of a capital budget.

On Tuesday, it was the Nunavut Housing CorporationSA国际影视传媒檚 capital budget that was postponed due to a dispute over waiting lists and how new housing builds are allocated for communities.

On Thursday the deferral came after a lengthy debate over the Department of HealthSA国际影视传媒檚 plan for new long-term care centres in Nunavut. Regular MLAs say theySA国际影视传媒檙e not being fully informed of the details, such as why private partners are not included, how communities are being selected to host the long-term care facilities, how long it will take to build them and what will happen to the existing long-term care centres in places like Cambridge Bay, Gjoa Haven and Iglulik.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think it is key that we (get) answers to these very fundamental questions before we vote in favour or vote against anything,SA国际影视传媒� said Arviat North-Whale Cove MLA John Main, who made the motion to defer budget approval, which later passed.

Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu MLA Pat Angnakak said regular MLAs donSA国际影视传媒檛 expect to be part of every cabinet conversation but they must be better consulted.

SA国际影视传媒淲e just want to be part of the discussions and we want to be part of the decision-making. We donSA国际影视传媒檛 want to be rubber-stampers,SA国际影视传媒� Angnakak said.

Health Minister George Hickes was taken aback by the deferment.

SA国际影视传媒淲e have been working on this for years. This is the closest we have come to that first
phase of actually putting bricks and mortar down and building a facility in this territory,SA国际影视传媒� he said, adding that a 2016 Department of Health report titled Continuing Care in Nunavut, from 2015 to 2035 was made available to MLAs and it still acts as a guiding document.

SA国际影视传媒淲e need this. I do not think anyone can argue that. If we wait any further, it is going to
cost more money, we many have even further capital pressures,SA国际影视传媒� Hickes said of the plan to create 156 long-term care beds through new facilities in Iqaluit, the Kitikmeot and the Kivalliq SA国际影视传媒� where Rankin Inlet arose as a possible destination.

Hickes also answered one of the regular MLAsSA国际影视传媒� questions in regards to the lack of private partners to build and operate long-term care centres in Nunavut SA国际影视传媒� none can be identified.

SA国际影视传媒淲e cannot find any partners that want to practice here in the North. They deem the risk too high,SA国际影视传媒� the health minister revealed.

He also said the future of existing long-term care facilities can be discussed as time progresses.

Premier Joe Savikataaq told the regular MLAs that theySA国际影视传媒檙e not just supposed to state that they have disagreements, theySA国际影视传媒檙e supposed to ask questions.

SA国际影视传媒淭hatSA国际影视传媒檚 the process,SA国际影视传媒� Sivikataaq said. SA国际影视传媒淚f the members donSA国际影视传媒檛 agree about this budget, then I guess we will go back to zero because we would have to start all over again.SA国际影视传媒�

Main countered that proper process wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 actually followed in this instance because the regular MLAs never got an in-camera meeting with the health minister to pose questions about the long-term care project.