NTI delegates approve 2000-2001 budget

MICHAELA RODRIGUE Nunatsiaq News

IQALUIT — Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. delegates at the organization’s AGM in Iqaluit last week approved a proposed $21 million budget for 2000-2001 with a few minor amendments.

The reworked budget includes:

$10.7 million for NTI;
$2.7 million for the Kitikmeot Inuit Association;
$2.3 million for the Kivalliq Inuit Association;
$3.5 million for Qikiqtani Inuit Association;
$1.8 million for regional business development
The $21 million includes budgets for the Nunavut Social Development Council and the Inuit Heritage Trust.

The NSDC has a budget of $820,000, while the IHT will receive $296,000.

Delegates decided to increase spending by $150,000 when they upped funding for the Nunavut Sivummut Community Small Business Program to $300,000 a year until the end of fiscal year 2004-2005. The original budget proposed that Nunavut Sivummut receive $150,000.

Delegates also decided to guarantee regional economic development funding of $1.8 million a year until the end of fiscal year 2004-2005.

Delegates made the decision after a study found demand for start-up financing programs would increase as the small business sector in Nunavut matures.

NTI delegates also decided to increase its annual donation to the Nunavut Sivuniksavut Training Program from $70,000 to $85,000 a year until fiscal year 2002-2005.