Inuit Child First Initiative extended, but nobody is sure when money will flow
Future of food voucher program remains uncertain
Sindu Govindapillai, a pediatrician and director of a program that uses Inuit Child First Initiative money to fund programs in Nunavut’s Qikiqtaaluk Region, says she is happy the program has been extended for another year. But new restrictions and uncertainty around a specific food voucher program is creating dismay among child service protection workers. (Photo courtesy of Sindu Govindapillai)
Even with the extension of Inuit Child First Initiative funding, there is still uncertainty around the future of programs that depend on it.
“There were tears amongst health-care providers when they heard about the end of this program,” said Dr. Sindu Govindapillai, director of Qupanuaq, which uses the Inuit Child First Initiative money to fund local programs in Nunavut’s Qikiqtaaluk Region.
She indicated that its food voucher program, which provides a $500 food voucher per child under 18 to Inuit families and an additional $250 for any child under age four, has been especially impactful.
“We heard from some child protection workers that up to 90 per cent of their calls before the hamlet food voucher program were for food,” Govindapillai said.
The Inuit Child First Initiative is a funding program that runs in parallel to the Jordan’s Principle program. It funds health, education and social programs for Inuit children and youth. All funding related to Inuit Child First expires March 31.
The future of Inuit Child First Initiative was in limbo until earlier this month when Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Gary Anandasangaree announced a one-year extension of the program.
Anandasangaree stressed during his announcement that the extension still needs parliamentary approval, however.
With a snap federal election called, that approval, if it happens at all, will come sometime after the election slated for April 28.
Over the past five years, the federal government has spent $367.5 million on the Inuit Child First Initiative. Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu said on March 21 that $121.7 million would be allocated for a 2025-26 one time extension, pending approval.
With an extension will come new guidelines and restrictions. Previously, a hamlet could register all of its children and youths as a group to be eligible. New restrictions require each child to be individually registered.
For Igloolik, that means staff are scrambling to register 1,008 children, said Carolyn Tapardjuk, food security co-ordinator with the Hamlet of Igloolik.
Even if the new requirements are met, the future of the food voucher program specifically is not certain.
Funding to continue the program has not been announced, even though Govindapillai said she has asked several times for clarification.
“The best-case scenario we’re looking at [is] there’s a delay. So the program stops for however long, until the government makes a decision to look at these and to approve them, and then the worst-case scenario is that they’re all ending,” Govindapillai said.
“But there’s no scenario I can see where on April 1 all the hamlet food voucher programs continue seamlessly.”
Nunatsiaq News requested an interview with a representative for Indigenous Services Canada, but that request was declined.
“We are not able to confirm when parliamentary approval will be obtained for the renewed funding for the Inuit Child First Initiative,” Carolane Gratton, spokesperson for Indigenous Services Canada, said in email on Wednesday.
More inflation. What happens when the tap does turn off? Do you think the stores are going to wind prices back? No. They don’t have to because people need to eat so now food takes even more of the budgeted monthly income.
These programs have done significant long term damage for short term aid. And while I can sympathize for those in need I cannot stress what the long term implications will be / long term costs of of these inflated costs we will have to continue to pay long after JP money is done.
It’s short term relief for a much larger outflow of money over the long term.
This does not even account for how hard it’s hitting those who get no jp money.
Those making income pay high tax rates so there’s programs for those in need and then also don’t get to collect jp themselves due to having no kids at home and then also pay higher grocery store prices becsuse prices get inflated due to all that tax money being given back to people for free.
It’s a pretty punishing system for us hard working tax payers and it’s going to punish everyone alike in the long run.
The cost of the assimilation policies of Canada. Canada F around for years, now Canadians must pay.
Kinauyak Kinauyak Kinauyak (money money money) that all you understand! Broadened your experience understand not everyone has fortunate blessing experience as you! A non Inuk told me that Inuit and other indigenous have luxury of a safety net as non indigenous people can fall on!
Yes, that is true. Just look at the homeless inuit living down south. So much privilege
gotta ask, why is it Dept economics isnt pushing for more private sector in Nunavut? , stores , fish plants …etc
look at fishing industry, why does Nunavut not have more fish / seafood plants? china and Japan would buy seafood from nunavut waters… yet we dont have shit and stuff is offloaded in greenland or newfoundland.
why is it Northmart and coop are the only stores, why isnt there a pilot project to help inuit open their own stores , hand hold for 5 years. Nunavut doesnt need the Government , but yet we rely on Government for almost everything .
millions in funding , if you have a idea …see funding and start business
I am glad people are getting help when they need it… what is alarming is when you see on FB where a family with both parents are working and they are the ones say they do know how they will feed their kids if this is stopped.
We need to teach money management better in school.
A GN job does pay enough for a family of 5 to live healthy, if you manage your money.
And apparently teach better grammar, wow that was poorly written. My bad hope the message got through though. haha
The answer to some the questions asked in these comments is.
YOU CAN’T TAKE THE TRUETH