‘Catastrophic’: Children’s, family advocates fear loss of Inuit Child First Initiative funding
Program that helps provide access to supplies, services for Inuit kids due to expire after March 31
One-year-old Miali Papatsie explores some of the sensory toys in the office at the Qupanuaq program in Iqaluit. Sindu Govindapillai, the director of that children- and youth-focused non-profit says the loss of funding from the Inuit Child First Initiative — expected to expire at the end of March — will be “catastrophic.” (Photo courtesy of Jeneca Fanjoy)
It would be “catastrophic” for Northern families if funding for the Inuit Child First Initiative is not renewed beyond March 31, says the head of a children’s non-profit in Iqaluit.
“I cannot overstate the impact of Inuit Child First Initiative funding on Inuit children and families in Nunavut,” Sindu Govindapillai, director of the Qupanuaq program at the Arctic Children and Youth Foundation, said in an interview Wednesday. That non-profit provides children- and youth-focused services in education, outreach, social and cultural programing.
Eric Head, a spokesperson for Indigenous Services Canada, the federal department responsible for funding the Inuit Child First Initiative, could not say whether work is underway to extend the funding beyond its deadline March 31, when asked about future funding.
The initiative is based on Jordan’s Principle, a federal program meant to ensure First Nations children have access to services and products to meet their health and educational needs.
The Inuit Child First Initiative “fills gaps between programs and jurisdiction between governments,” said Jasmine Redfern, president of the Amautiit Nunavut Women’s Association, on Tuesday. Amautiit is an Inuit women-led society dedicated to providing tools and educational material in order to advance the self-reliance of Inuit women.
Redfern called it “distressing” that the funding might expire at a time when poverty is increasing.
Jasmine Redfern, president of the Amautiit Nunavut Women’s Association, says it distressing that an important funding program for children and youth is set to expire in two months while poverty in Nunavut is increasing. (Photo courtesy Jasmine Redfern)
“[We’re] seeing a trend of record levels of poverty [and] food insecurity. The massive uptake in the program really shows us that Inuit families and children have needs far outside of what any of our other programs or services really cover.”
The greatest and most immediate impact felt would be the loss of the funding that help disburse food vouchers and cash to families, Redfern said.
“It’s the difference between being able to ensure that there’s food on the table and prioritizing between competing bills.”
Most Nunavut hamlets have a food voucher program where each family with children ranging from newborn to 18 years of age is provided a voucher to buy food. For children up to four years of age, an additional voucher is provided for items like diapers and infant formula.
Last year, Iqaluit rolled out its voucher program. It provides families a $500 voucher for each child under 18. It also provides an additional $250 for each child under four.
“Just imagine the collective impact of every Inuit child in the territory receiving $500 [a month] for food … and all of a sudden [that funding] disappearing on March, 31 2025, without any backup plan,” said Govindapillai, from the Qupanuaq program.
She and Redfern both said they hope the funding will be extended.
The federal government has committed $387.5 million since 2019 to the Inuit Child First Initiative, Indigenous Services spokesperson Head said in an email Monday.
Starting in 2019, an initial sum of $220 million was allocated for a five-year period. In 2023-24, an additional $167.5 million was provided to extend the program two years.
“The funding is an interim approach while Canada and Inuit Partners continued the co-development of a long-term approach for the Inuit Child First Initiative,” Head said.
Govindapillai said that because Parliament has been prorogued until March 24, it has been difficult to get answers on the future of the program.
“[The] Liberals are too focused on themselves and have provided little detail on what is next for the Inuit Child First Initiative. Nunavummiut deserve better,” Nunavut NDP MP Lori Idlout said, in an email Tuesday.
“Attempts to reduce Inuit strength continue to be the core of consecutive Liberal and Conservative governments. Even when funding is provided, it is not enough, it is difficult to access and when it is, administrative barriers render the programs ineffective.”
Redfern said, “I hope that all governments, regardless of the outcome of the next election, are supportive of initiatives that intend to ameliorate the increasing child poverty amongst Inuit children in Nunavut.”
These programs are great for kids and great for the adults that are terrible parents. This frees up more money for addictions and create issues for employers who see their absenteeism skyrocket. It also is another incentive to keep having more kids that you can’t afford to feed on your own. The way to lift people out of poverty is to give them an education and the tools to be self sufficient. If we keep throwing money into band aid solutions we will still be here in 25 years.
This comment is so prejudice, and paternalistic view and attitude must be nice to live a live of no real struggle and project your own views. What the word mansplaining.
As a single parent, this has helped me with short-term funding when I need to catch up on bills, and life expenses such as losing a refrigerator and freezer and repurchasing all the groceries I had bought two days prior and then some. Please do not categorize Inuit as a whole on your stigmatized assumption. We are all not under the stigma of Inuit “being terrible.” I along with many others struggle and not from addictions, it’s from every single life expanse.
How long have you been in Nunavut?
Did you even educate yourself in our language and do you understand the feeling eternally stuck because of the high cost of living and the majority of jobs going to non-Inuit?
Another quick thing to add on, that in places that are minimum wage, there are literal supervisor’s positions going to those who are uneducated non-Inuit, with no experience who lied on their resume rather than that position going to Inuit who work longer and 10 times more than their non-Inuit manager.
on top of that, places where people are flown in to work in Nunavut have literally everything paid for, from their flights, accommodations, and some even meals and transportation! none of that support goes to Inuit.
Re: prorogation ““[The] Liberals are too focused on themselves …”
Absolutely. Let’s not forget the Governor General, who allowed parliament to be suspended for no other reason that to save a governing party that has lost the confidence of the house. An absolute travesty and abnegation of duty to the country.
Stephen Harper did it 4 times when Conservatives were the minority government….
How is that relevant?
“Let’s not forget the Governor General, who allowed parliament to be suspended for no other reason that to save a governing party that has lost the confidence of the house”
Stephen Harper’s minority prolonged 4 times to save his government from non confidence motions. Isn’t this the same thing what Justin Trudeau is doing? To save his government? How is that not relevant?
So, your point is Stephen Harper did it, therefore it’s all cool?
Or, you assume that I’m okay with what Harper did because my comment is purely partisan?
Still not seeing the relevance and you still haven’t explained it.
If you can’t comprehend my questions to your comment, that’s on you.
Your comment is obviously grounded on a raft of unwarranted assumptions. Blaming your inability to make a clear point on others seems consistent with your thought processes at least.
You’ve got families earning half a million a year that qualify for this program, which is where the main problem lies. Very poorly executed.
This program is just a welfare check that everyone qualified for, no matter what your income is, as long as you’re an inuk.
Cancel it and start giving out welfare payments as a mix of checks and gift cards, but only to those that need it. This way those that consistently blow their SA checks on bad habits have no choice but to spend some of their SA on food items.
I’ve seen families with $90,000 vehicles getting $1,000 per month for groceries. Their kids are eating a lot better than my kids. I’m glad my tax dollars go into this program.
It’s true, as 867 noted, that this program isn’t means tested – so well-off families also benefit. That said, the food voucher program has provided very significant support to the families in my community who need it the most. Our Hamlet has implemented it intelligently and efficiently. It has had a major impact on child food insecurity. I’ve had low-income mothers burst into tears when discussing how their kids’ lives have been improved by it. Ask school principals how many children show up hungry for school these days. a lot fewer than was the case previously. The impact of this program being terminated would indeed be catastrophic for many Inuit children in Nunavut.
Those people might actually have to get a job.
While working in Clyde River last year ,this project was put in place
We had a community meeting in which the nursing staff at health centre ,stated the change in children’s health was measurable,in a positive way.
This has been one of the best controlled programs I have seen in my 20 years of working in the north.
There are always going to be misuse of funds ,and the comment above that people will be forced to use SA funds ,will not happen,if that was the case the increased health outcomes would not be so apparent,once this program was instituted.
I hope a way will be found to continue this funding,for the benefit of families and particularly children.
Public Housing = ($60)
Social Assistance = $1,840, taxed at 19% = $1,490
Canada Child Benefit = $1,200 not taxable
Inuit Child First Initiative = $1,000 not taxable
GST Rebate = $143 not taxable
An unemployed family of four is netting $3,833 monthly in income after their “rent” is paid. My net monthly pay is $6,095, my monthly mortgage is $1,690, my utilities are about $750 monthly and my property tax is about $240 monthly. So I’m working every day and making less money than that family.
And somehow that family fails to come up with that $60 a month for rent, which leads me to believe it isn’t a money issue.
You are fortunate enough to own a home (with a low mortgage payment compared to most people’s rent on the private market). Therefore other people’s children deserve to be food insecure?
I own a home that requires over $100,000 in repairs and renovations, that’s why the mortgage payment is low. Hopefully I’ll get to it at some point down the road, if I can afford it. Other people’s children are food insecure because they need to go to work.
How much does milk cost where you are? Or a box of enfamil?
There’s two billion dollars going to waste and not keeping up with inflation in the Nunavut Trust slush fund. Cut back or close down NTI make-work programs and there’s plenty money of money for real needs.
Feed someone a fish, they’re good for a day, hungry tomorrow. Teach a man to fish…
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For short term it looks like ICFI funding is doing good for the ppl. But look at the whole picture, is this really benefitting us, or are we becoming even more dependent on welfare programs like this.