Housing tops topics as Nunavut premier meets with Ottawa leaders
GN has fingers crossed for $250 million in housing funding in the next federal budget
Federal Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland shakes hands with Premier P.J. Akeeagok in Ottawa Monday when they met to discuss housing and other priorities. (Photo courtesy of Sima Sahar Zerehi)
Critical investments in housing are needed in the North, Premier P.J. Akeeagok says he told Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland in Ottawa Monday during his latest meeting with federal government members.
“That’s the key area I really focused on during our conversation. That is something that we’ve been very clear about with the federal government since day one,” Akeeagok said in an interview Tuesday.
The premier met with Freeland, Public Safety Minister Dominic Leblanc and Northern Affairs Minister Dan Vandal on Monday during a quick visit to the capital.
“When we mentioned this three years ago in my first meeting with the prime minister, I said we were going to do housing differently and we’ve done exactly that,” Akeeagok said.
“We’ve put our equity to the issue, we’ve put the single-largest investment into housing that we’ve seen, we’ve brought partners to the table with Inuit organizations and we’ve lowered the cost by 50 per cent and now we’re building three times more than what we used to.
“So, we’ve done our part by really laying the groundwork.”
Akeeagok pointed to the success of the Government of Nunavut’s two-year-old strategic partnership with the Nunavut Housing Corp. and NCC Development Ltd., which was made to address the territory’s lack of housing and the poor condition of the existing stock available.
“For the first time in the history of the territory, we’re seeing homes being built in every community,” he said.
“We need the federal government to be there as a partner, as well, to ensure the longevity of the work that we’ve started there.”
With the federal government’s fall economic statement looming and the next federal budget approaching, it’s Ottawa’s turn, he said.
At the top of Akeeagok’s budget wish list is $250 million earmarked for more Nunavut housing, to match the territory’s investment in the past two years.
“There’s a huge opportunity for us to be able to see investments in shared priorities,” he said. “We’ll see. We didn’t get a glimpse of what would be in there. We continue to lobby.”
The premier also took the opportunity to discuss elder care, landmark infrastructure projects such as the Iqaluit Hydroelectric Project, Arctic sovereignty issues and childcare, he said.
“I really brought forward some of the key priority areas that really align so well with the mandates of the federal government,” he said.
“I truly value the partnership available to not only share the concerns and issues before us, but to look at the solutions as well.”
Akeeagok returned to Nunavut Tuesday and said he plans to attend upcoming trade shows this week in Iqaluit and next week in Rankin Inlet.
Negligence meets incompetence,. Dysfunctional governments are a disaster for Canada and the arctic.
With inflation how did you cut cost by 50%? That’s a bold statement. NN look into it.
Too little too late, don’t think the Liberal government will be around to announce the next budget. Looks good for photo ops though.
There’s something about government pouring money into and building up completely unsustainable communities that screams short sightedness and incompetence.
dont get in bed with WEF , Nunavut. freeland is WEF scum
The Liberal Government has taken Nunavut for a ride, on a Road to Nowhere. Housing has been an issue for many years, coming to no conclusion. But its an good election tactic… Let’s get these Inuit again on housing issue…It’s coming again in few months. This topic, housing is sucking this young man into the BIG LIE….. How can this government gave lot of false hope to the homelessness in Nunavut? Cruelty I guess. The BIG LIE.