Conference reveals Nunavik’s $210 million shopping list

KUUJJUAQ — The Katutjiniq socio-economic conference that wrapped up last Friday in Kuujjuaq was clearly Quebec’s party — and potentially, a very costly one.

The final tally for the bash will be even higher than its cost of $350,000, when Quebec starts to pay for the $210 million worth of new projects that Nunavik’s mayors want for their communities.

At the conference, Quebec’s minister of regions, Jean-Pierre Jolivet, said Quebec is ready to pour more money into Nunavik.

“I guarantee help from the government of Quebec,” Jolivet said. “We wish to provide all the tools you need…”

Although Quebec seems ready to foot the bill for Nunavik’s development, federal government politicians and officials also showed up with words of encouragement and promises of even more money.

Nunavik’s Liberal MP, Guy St-Julien, arrived with two federal cabinet ministers: Francis Gagliano, the minister responsible for the Canada Housing and Mortgage Corporation, and Denis Codère, secretary of state for sports and recreation.

Although official agreement on Ottawa’s contribution of $50 million towards new social housing construction won’t be signed until early May, Gagliano confirmed the deal, saying it’s a sign of the “close partnership” between Nunavik and Ottawa.

In an interview, Gagliano admitted that Ottawa had no other choice but to honour commitments made in the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement to supply northern Quebec Inuit with housing.

No money for Nunavut

But he said the gesture wouldn’t be repeated in other hard-pressed regions, such as Nunavut, where Ottawa has already transferred money and responsibility over to the territorial government.

“It’s special,” Gagliano said of the federal government’s obligation to give Nunavimmiut more money for housing.

The visitors from Ottawa were heaped with gifts, ranging from prints, to photos, to miniature qamutiks and carvings, while the federal government visitors presented their own array of baubles to Nunavik’s leadership.

A high-spirited St. Julien mugged before conference delegates when conference chairman Johnny Adams presented him with a catcher’s mitt.

This mitt is intended to go with the bat that Nunavik leaders recently gave St. Julien for batting big chunks of money their way — and it recognizes the MP’s role in hounding the federal government for new social housing money in Nunavik.

“I catch the fly balls,” St. Julien said in his heavily accented English. “I fight for you, I work for you — it’s not easy sometimes.”

Although the visiting bureaucrats and politicians from Quebec City didn’t seem to be on such chummy terms with local leaders, they’re expected to assume the lion’s share of meeting expectations expressed during the conference.

These include practical — but expensive — projects such as facilities for elders, youth and children.

These community development projects are intended to improve the quality of life in Nunavik and create a new jobs. In Kuujjuaq, new projects could bring up to 85 jobs.

Kuujjuaq’s mayor, Michael Gordon, said his community needs a new municipal office.

“Our clothing gets smelly from the smell of the old building,” Gordon told delegates.

Community wish lists include such improvements as parking lots, paved roads, skidoo trails, swimming pools, hockey rinks and gymnasiums.

Puvirnituq’s mayor, Aisara Kenuajuak, told the conference about the difficulties his family has in caring for his elderly mother.

Puvirnituq wants a group home for elders, a new bridge across the Puvirnituq River, a greenhouse, a wood-working shop, a youth centre and improvements to the community radio station.