Nunavik crime prevention program confuses KRG

The KRG’s executive committee wants better criteria for approving Ungaluk-funded projects. (PHOTO BY SARAH ROGERS)

KUUJJUAQ — Executive members of the Kativik Regional Government say they want clearer guidelines for approving projects that receive funds from the Ungaluk crime prevention program.

Ungaluk — as part of an multi-million agreement with the Quebec government to exchange a jail in Nunavik for crime prevention money – receives millions of dollars each year to fund projects across Nunavik that promote wellness and crime prevention.

But requests to fund renovations and trips south have created confusion among the group, which includes executive members of both the KRG and Makivik, that decides on which projects get cash,.

“It’s hard to make decisions because we don’t have guidelines to follow,” said KRG chairperson Maggie Emudluk at a meeting of regional councillors Dec. 1. “A lot of these projects have many goals and objectives.”

Puvirnituq regional councillor and executive member Aisara Kenoujuak said the project requests often cause debates and the selection committee doesn’t meet frequently enough to go through all the applications they receive.

Ungaluk has received more than 100 applications in 2010 – 74 of which have been processed.

One regional councillor wanted to know why her community’s request for $37, 000 to fund a cultural trip to Guatemala was refused.

Kenoujuak told her that trips abroad do not meet Ungaluk’s criteria.
Another councillor said responses to applications take so long they cause delays in getting a project off the ground.

Ungaluk’s coordinator, Michael Cameron, also the regional counselor for Salluit, was hired last February. He’s only recently found office space to work from in Salluit and says his three staff members are working on making the program more efficient.

“Processing applications takes time and we are trying to restructure the process,” Camerson said. “We do advise applicants to send us proposals as much in advance of a planned project as possible.”

But the last thing he wants is for communities to consider the program as a sort of slush fund, he said.

In 2010, Ungaluk has approved funding for a variety of projects in and out of the region, including $400,000 for an Inukjuak elders’ home, $844,000 for a Kativik Regional Police Force strategy to fight drug abuse, and $1 million towards a swimming pool in Salluit.

“Nunavimmiut have really benefitted from this program,” Cameron said, adding that more funds are still available for this year.

Ungaluk was created after a 2006 deal with Quebec where, in lieu of building a $300 million Nunavik prison, the province gives roughly $10 million to the region every year until 2030 to fund crime prevention projects.

Individual communities and regional projects receive money according to the number of beneficiaries.

Ungaluk will count five staff members once a program officer is hired for the Ungava coast in early 2011.