Budget highlights

The Nunavut government’s 2003-04 budget contains little new program spending — using accumulated surpluses to pay for a variety of one-time capital projects that were announced last fall.

Here are some spending highlights:

• The GN will spend $6 million to buy the Sivummut office building in Iqaluit — because it’s cheaper in the long run to buy the building rather than lease it.

• The bad gas fiasco will cost the government $6.3 million in compensation payments and lost fuel inventory — it’s not known how much will be recovered through insurance.

• Recent municipal fires in Clyde River and Repulse Bay will cost the government $1.6 million.

• In education, the government will spend an extra $2 million for curriculum development under the language of instruction initiative.

• The budget for the health and social services department is up to $207 million — that’s up from $166 million last year, giving the department $151.6 million for operations, $46.3 million for three new regional health facilities and $9.5 million for other capital projects.

• The GN will spend $1.4 million for new RCMP detachments in Whale Cove and Chesterfield Inlet.

• The GN will increase CLEY’s budget by $1 million, an 11 per cent increase.

• The GN will increase its operating assistance for municipalities by 18.5 per cent, to help cover higher insurance, pensions and other costs.

• The department of education’s program budget will increase by $7.4 million, to $160 million.

• CLEY will offer $2.5 million in grant and contribution programs.

• Sustainable development will spend $16.3 million in grants and contributions.

• Community government’s capital budget will go up by $10 million, to help pay for basic water and sewage projects.

• The GN will spend $500,000 to start the Qulliq Energy Corp.