Nunavut to spend more on economic programs

Nunavut plans to sink new money into some new government-funded economic ventures this year, Peter Taptuna, the minister for economic development, said March 17 at the committee of the whole’s review of his budget for 2010-11.

His department has renewed and expanded the prospector assistance program for this year and next and now wants to increase its budget by 50 per cent to $150,000, he said.

The operating budget provided to the Nunavut Arts and Crafts Association is also set to grow from $100,000 to $300,000, “so that the organization can play a larger developmental role in our communities and the implementation of the arts and crafts strategy,” Taptuna said.

Nunavut Film, Television and New Media Development Program also stands to receive more money, with its budget expanding from $650,000 to $825,000.

Taptuna said this money will allow the Nunavut Film Development Corp. to introduce new programming in 2010-11 and to expand the marketing of Nunavut as an international movie-making location.

The GN will also increase its annual contribution to the Nunavut Broadband Development Corp. from $200,000 to $300,000.

“The corporation has secured substantial funding for broadband expansion and new internet services in the territory, and it needs the additional operating support to manage its new responsibilities,” Taptuna said.

Economic Development and Transportation program funding increases, which total $1.175 million, will be achieved through various cost savings, including reductions to the contract services budget, the corporate management, and economic development branches.

“Put simply, the department will do more with less,” Taptuna said.

His department will also help with the preparation of the poverty reduction strategy and the implementation of specific measures to alleviate poverty and its effects, and is ready to spend $500,000 on this, Taptuna said.