What’s in the GN’s new budget?

* The GN plans to spend $850.7 million in 2003-04.
* Of that, the GN plans to spend $742.8 million on operation and maintenance, and about $108 million on capital projects.
* The GN expects to receive $876.5 million in total revenues.
* Of that, the GN expects to receive $734.7 million from the formula financing agreement, $67.7 million from other federal agreements, and $74 million from Nunavut taxes and other sources.
* The Department of Health and Social Services is expected to be the biggest spender, at $210.9 million, followed by Education ($165.7 million), Community and Government Services ($108.8 million), and the Nunavut Housing Corporation ($79.17 million).
* The GN has set aside $66 million for contingencies — which means unexpected needs, such as buildings destroyed by fire and so on.
* In the fiscal year just past, 2003-04, the territorial government ran up a deficit estimated at $29.2 million, up from the $11.6 million deficit they first projected.
* In the new fiscal year, 2004-05, the territorial government expects a deficit of $13.4 million.
* The GN will cover this year’s deficit out of cash reserves, which usually stand between $40 and $50 million.
* Nunavut’s long-term debts, mostly inherited from the Northwest Territories, stand at $143 million — only $57 million short of the $200 million debt cap imposed by the Nunavut Act.
* The total cost of Nunavut’s three new health centres is now at least $103 million, up from the $90 million estimated two or three years ago.
* Nunavut benefited last year from an extra $49.2 million in revenue from the formula financing agreement, because of new information from Census Canada about Nunavut’s population growth between 1999 and 2003.
* The GN will provide an additional $10 million electrical power subsidy to protect customers against the impact of a fuel rider that the Nunavut Power Corporation will add to power bills this year.
* The education tax, which until now has been paid by property owners, will be eliminated.
* Welfare recipients will see a 10 per cent increase in the food portion of their checks.
* The Financial Assistance to Nunavut Students Program has been increased by $2 million.
* The government will spend $600,000 to set up the human rights tribunal required by the Human Rights Act.