Naujaat hamlet council declines $6.8M in Jordan’s Principle funding
Money was for voucher program to give access to food, diapers and other essentials
Naujaat hamlet council declined $6.8 million in Jordan’s Principle funding intended to give families in the community access to a food voucher program. (File photo)
There is $6.8 million in Jordan’s Principle funding approved for Naujaat, but it won’t be coming to the community because the hamlet’s council turned down the money.
Jordan’s Principle is administered through the federal Department of Indigenous Services to ensure all First Nations and Inuit children in Canada have access to the health and educational supports they need.
Inuit specifically apply for Jordan’s Principle funding through the federal Inuit Child First Initiative.
“$6.8 million is a lot of money to turn down for people who need the help,” said Coun. John Goss, adding he disagrees with council’s decision not to accept the funding.
The Indigenous Kids Network of Canada, a non-profit that helps communities navigate Jordan’s Principle and associated programs, submitted a food voucher program proposal on Nov. 10, 2023, to support 710 children in Naujaat, according to Ryan Tyndall, a spokesperson for the Indigenous Services Department.
The food voucher program provides children up to age 18 with food, baby formula, diapers and other essential items.
The proposal was approved on Dec. 4, 2023, Tyndall said.
“On Feb. 14, 2024, the Hamlet of Naujaat informed [the department] by letter that they were no longer able to take on this project,” Tyndall said.
Hamlets usually have 90 days to sign their agreements, but there is no deadline to apply for funding, he said.
“If there is renewed interest from the hamlet towards implementing the project, [the department] would re-review the proposal and pro-rate the budget based on revised timelines,” Tyndall said.
Naujaat resident Paul Angutetuar said in an email to Nunatsiaq News he’d like to see local leaders reconsider accepting the money because it’s “essential” for people who live in the community.
“Not only myself but about half the town would absolutely benefit from this,” he wrote.
Both Goss and fellow councillor Steve Mapsalak directed Nunatsiaq News to Mayor Kevin Tegumiar for further comment.
Nunatsiaq News has been unable to reach Tegumiar about why the hamlet declined the funding or whether the council is reconsidering the decision.
Representatives for Indigenous Kids Network of Canada also did not respond to a request for comment for this story.
“On Feb. 14, 2024, the Hamlet of Naujaat informed [the department] by letter that they were no longer able to take on this project,” Tyndall said.
Sounds like the administrative burden associated with the funding was too much for the hamlet. Some government programs have such high administrative and reporting requirements that they cost more than they are worth. Others suck up scarce resources needed for other initiatives.
Perhaps we will learn more about this particular situation.
Declined the money due to incompetence
Over the years i have recommended not to accept federal money as the reporting and administration burden was too great.
I’ve seen a post on Facebook about how expensive groceries are in Naujaat. Why would the Hamlet council decline this funding initiative that could help alleviate the struggles of feeding the children in Naujaat?
Because taking free money hard
The amount of work it takes to apply for individual applications is rigorous and time consuming. This group application is fantastic. Hopefully Arctic Children and Youth Foundation can take over the management of the project dollars on behalf of Indigenous Kids Network of Canada and hopefully Naujaat re-considers accepting the funds with a Nunavut based service coordination office on their side. Qupanuat and Umingmak Centre teams in Iqaluit are currently doing this wrap around service work in Iqaluit and helping other regions build up their capacity to apply for and help Inuit Families access Inuit Child First Initiative funding AKA Jordan’s Principal..
Jordan’s principle is awesome ,it has help many families in Canada cope with high food prices and other essentials needed for kids——give it to another community ! I’m sure it will be put to good use by ano5her community in Nunavut. Administration in general is not for the faintest at heart for the kids .
Too much paperwork for all this money that would help the kids of Naujaat.
BTW. Any food donations?
Seriously people. Smarten up.
what is wrong with the naujaat hamlet council? you declined to help feed the people who put you in your paying council chair and leave them out in the cold and hungry. WOW!!
This is not new with elected councillors with Municipalities! The individuals that get elected sit just to forsake personal affairs that is NOT relevant to Municipal Affairs & Infrastructure that supposed to work on behalf of elected presentative that is related to socio-economic development to improved infrastructure at all level’s but no it’s all personal affairs! Yes, CG&S is part of this issue of this drama that is supposed to provide training for newly elected Councillors!
As someone who works with Jordan’s principle, its a good idea but execution was a disaster. Tons of fraud, Gov’t workers getting support by using middle names or maiden names. Should it not be run by social services? They should know who really needs support, too much fraud, worse than cerb.. and I cashed hundreds of cerb cheques.
Took the words right out of my mouth.
Family Services and Income support best know those in need.
Ask them to administer the program.
It’s been said that the GN, and Inuit Orgs refused to administer this program when approached and that is why the Feds are going to the Hamlets. Inuit should be asking why their Orgs refused to delivery the program, this is alot of burden to put on a small Hamlet with limited staff but what is NTI, RIAs, and GN doing?
BS. The GN and the Inuit orgs were never “approached” to manage the JP food voucher program. From the outset it was only municipal governments who were allowed to apply for the funding.
Or have to have your Social Insurance Number to collect, not just an ID
The issue with Jordan’s Principal in communities is its not benefiting those that are single, the elderly, and essential workers that are flown in to work. The stores take total advantage of this program and jack up the prices.
The administration of this program is a significant burden, when a family receives a voucher there are rules as to what they can and can’t buy. They then submit a receipt to the hamlet (or whatever org is distributing the voucher) who then has to review it and check for unapproved items. They have to do this with EVERY voucher 716 vouchersx 2 shopping trips (generally, sometimes more sometimes less) requires a good amount of admin work 1432+ receipts a month need to be reviewed and 716 vouchers distributed.
While this is a potentially very helpful program, I can understand why a hamlet might not have the current capacity to run it.
It’s a sad decision for the community. I myself use JP food vouchers and it’s the most useful one.
My kids have more access to healthy food much more also helps with the diapers. Everything is expensive up north it’s been the most helpful to my children and us adults at home. Thymes behave much better when fed well and at school too.
Wasn’t “Jordan’s Principle” supposed to be about health care?
Orders of government and Indigenous organizations should stop bickering about jurisdictions and mandates and just provide the darn medical care (particularly where there are complex needs) and figure out who foots what parts of the bill later.
How did it become a Baby Bonus program on steroids?
Can we conclude that the original problem has been solved, like 100%, and we’ll never hear another story like Jordan’s?
Or is this just an elaborate vote-buying scheme with unoriginal marketing?
Do they think it’s like CERB, is it though?
would it be possible to use some of that money to pay for a hired position with the Hamlet to deal with nothing but this? Possibly more than one position
Realistically, someone must have sticky hands. This is what “Nunavut” is about. Too bad.
Why is Naujaat balking at the Jordan’s Principle food voucher program when other communities, some of them smaller than Naujaat, have been able to successfully implement it?
.
It would be helpful if Nunatsiaq News were to research and publish an article that looks at the implementation of the food voucher program, and and the difference it has made for low income families, in many Nunavut communities. It’s remarkable how little media attention has been given to a program that’s putting millions of dollars in the hands of Inuit families with children every month.
Some communities have it implemented but successfully,,,watch that because they dont get paid until after the receipts are verified and alot are rejected. Its a rules based program that the store/org’s don’t want to touch because of policing and the risk of not getting paid but come on did we expect KIA to run it, they still get Fridays off? how did that gas voucher program go? Why not divide all the money up by each registered Inuit person.., anyone who feels they dont need it can abstain. If there’s a Gov’t change many hamlets will not get paid for JP or will have to fight to recover the $ most hamlets are already in a disaster.
Other Hamlets are getting up to 3% in addition to these funds from JP to administer this program. They were able to hire two more staff exclusively for this work.
Does it seem this funding is to widen the divide all other skin colours are unworthy of food? Are not all Canadians struggling to put food on the table? Guess not when Canada has given Ukraine $15 billion dollars to date and growing. Nunavut NDP, MP guess not when continues to vote to make food and everything more expensive with every Yes vote for more carbon tax. Also, Canada spends 1.5 billion a year to push feminism worldwide. Though some Hamlets are speaking out, refusing the funding while others post the administration nightmare distributing the federal government JP funds to kids under 18. Interesting age to get kids hooked on free money for no work or must go to school. Is the writing on the wall we’re seeing a sly stepping stone for total government control of the child? The child won’t understand what they are all giving up? The administration solution will be a must for child to be signed up for government, all controlling digital ID. No digital ID, money. For the parents, it’ll be the same and hooked on alcohol and smokes. To buy they must have the all surveillance state digital ID.
You’re a Poilievre guy, right?
I wasn’t aware this is a federal program, there are more new funding and programs with this government for the north that I find interesting and a welcome sight.
The JP is a great program and a need, but in the current form its simply abused openly, food insecurity that we go through is the result of the lack ofa good school system, and obviously the ongoing lack of strength from the local gov cracking down on dope dealers and bootleggers. when distribution of the JP is ongoing rise on dope and booze in each community is showing up, its like for every dollars that JP is giving for food, same amount goes to dope and booze…. wake up IKNC …. smell the crack and booze fumes all over nunavut coming from your funding