Baker Lake sitting cost extra $250,000

The Baker Lake sitting of the legislative assembly, from June 2 to 6, cost $250,000 more than it would have cost to hold the sitting in Iqaluit, according to a document tabled in the assembly by Speaker Kevin O’Brien last week.

The amount includes more than $100,000 for airfare and transportation, $33,000 for meals and accommodations, nearly $20,000 for office supplies and services and $12,000 for freight and delivery.

Regular costs for chamber operations, including translation and administration, are not reflected in the incremental costs.

The legislative assembly estimates it costs $26,000 for an average session day in Iqaluit, including costs for Hansard production and audio visual operations. The cost of five days in Iqaluit would have been about $130,000. The approximate total of the Baker Lake sitting, including the incremental costs and base costs, is more than $380,000.

The GN’s incremental costs for the sitting amounted to more than $28,000, according to a document tabled by Government House Leader Kelvin Ng last week.

The department of the executive and intergovernmental affairs paid more than $15,000 for expenses related to the Baker Lake sitting. The departments of finance; human resources; community government and transportation; culture, language, elders and youth; and health and social services paid in the range of $2,000 more for the Baker Lake sitting than they would if it was held in Iqaluit.

The departments of public works, education and sustainable development, as well as the Nunavut Housing Corp. did not incur any extra expenses.