Nunavut budget to be unveiled Monday

Premier John Main is set to unveil the Government of Nunavut’s operations and maintenance spending plan in the legislative assembly Monday afternoon.

“This budget will outline our government’s financial priorities for the fiscal year 2026-2027,” said Main, who is also finance minister, in a statement to MLAs.

The operations and maintenance budget outlines how much money the government will allocate to its various departments to cover the costs of salaries, programs and other expenses. It also includes how much money the government takes in through taxes and other revenue sources.

Typically, the budget is presented during the winter sitting, which happens around the end of February and the beginning of March.

However, the October 2025 election cycle shifted the schedule.

Ahead of the current fiscal year, which started April 1, MLAs approved a $724.9 million interim budget to cover operation costs until the full budget passed. They also approved a $373.2-million capital plan during the winter sitting, which outlines purchases and construction spending.

The upcoming budget is set to be the primary focus of the spring sitting, which began Thursday afternoon with updates from ministers and questions from MLAs.

Several members were absent.

Minister of Justice and Minister of Transportation George Hickes is away this week participating in the Forum of Ministers on Human Rights in Regina, Sask., said acting government house leader Craig Simailak.

Education Minister David Akeeagok is also absent this week due to “family reasons,” Simailak added.

Speaker David Joanasie announced that three MLAs would be absent at the start of the sitting due to “airline cancellations, among other reasons,” but are expected to join later.

Those MLAs are Hudson Bay’s Daniel Qavvik, Uqqummiut’s Gordon Kautuk and Quttiktuq’s Steven Taqtu.

Rankin Inlet North-Chesterfield Inlet MLA Alexander Sammurtok, who faces six historical sexual assault charges, was also absent.

He is due to make a first court appearance Monday in Igloolik.

No bills or motions were introduced Thursday, but several members tabled their own documents and reports.

Those documents and reports were not available publicly on the legislative assembly’s website as of Thursday afternoon.

The spring sitting is scheduled to continue until June 11.