Barnabas fights for “the backbone of Nunavut”

Quttiktuq MLA Levi Barnabas wants more equity in the way money is handed out by the GN for infrastructure projects.

Last Friday, Barnabas made a motion, asking for the GN to change the way it divides up the money from the New Deal for Cities and Communities and the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund so that decentralized communities get their share of the money.

Barnabas pointed out that 14 out of 25, or 56 per cent, of Nunavut’s communities are non-decentralized communities, which have fewer GN jobs for residents.

But Barnabas said these communities are to receive less than 25 percent of the GN’s 2006-07 capital budget.

“More than half of our communities are non-decentralized. However, less than 23 percent of the capital budget for 2006-07 is allocated specifically to projects in those communities.”

Barnabas said a “fair allocation” would mean that at least 50 cents of every dollar would go to projects in non-decentralized communities.

“Non-decentralized communities are the backbone of Nunavut,” Barnabas said. “For example, my High Arctic constituency is essential to supporting Canada’s Arctic sovereignty. Many of my constituents’ ancestors were forcibly relocated there for that very purpose.”

Barnabas said the GN talks about the need to move away from per capita funding to a system where needs are recognized.

“I believe that the GN should determine its priorities using the same philosophy and allocate sufficient funding for meaningful community development in non-decentralized communities,” he said.

Put to a vote in the committee of the whole, the motion passed. Eight out of 19 MLAs abstained from voting, including: Cambridge Bay MLA Keith Peterson, Iqaluit Centre MLA Hunter Tootoo, South Baffin MLA Olayuk Akesuk, Iqaluit East MLA Ed Picco, Baker Lake MLA David Simailak, Iqaluit West MLA Paul Okalik, Rankin Inlet South MLA Levinia Brown and Nanulik MLA Patterk Netser.

But no MLAs present opposed, and so Barnabas’ motion was carried.