Nunavut to receive up to $18.9 million in federal funding for economic relief
Funding includes $5.7 million for testing, PPE and $1 million for sick leave
Nunavut will receive up to $18.9 million as part of a new pandemic economic relief package announced by the federal government on Thursday. Premier Joe Savikataaq announced the funding on social media. (File photo)
The Government of Nunavut will receive up to $18.9 million in federal funding to help with economic relief during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Thursday, July 16, that provinces and territories will receive a total of $19 billion for economic relief and to help prepare for a second wave of COVID-19.
Nunavut’s share of the money will include a cash transfer of $12.1 million, as well as $5.7 million in federal in-kind contributions for testing and personal protective equipment, a spokesperson for Premier Joe Savikataaq said. That means the PPE and testing will be procured by the federal government and allocated to Nunavut.
It will also provide $1.1 million in sick leave benefits to Nunavummiut, administered by the federal government.
Savikataaq announced the funding on social media.
#NU will receive close to $19M w/ the Restart Agreement & commitment to address NU’s specific needs in the very near future.
The hard work of Premiers during COVID19 is real tribute to cooperation, and our ability to look out for our own jurisdictions and support one another.⤵️ https://t.co/ZxTkJgiFGl
— Premier Joe Savikataaq (@JSavikataaq) July 16, 2020
Speaking at a news conference on Thursday, Trudeau said the money will be available for provincial and territorial programs that fit seven priorities outlined by the federal government.
Those priorities include mental health, substance abuse, homelessness, child care, and personal protective equipment.
Savikataaq was not immediately available for comment.
More details on how the funding will be distributed will be provided at Monday’s weekly COVID-19 update.
Oh that oppressive government in Ottawa, throwing money at us again!
Considering the number of tests being done, $5 million is huge, unreal. I hope that they put the excess funds towards other needs.
So we can use that money to build a treatment center? mental health, substance abuse, homelessness, child care would all benefit from that.
18m wouldnt even be enough to build the building. Let alone the consultation fees, endless public consultations, etc. … all for a center that can’t magically cure all the mental illnesses that are rampant in Nunavut. Mental illness is still an epidemic down south despite the state of the art rehab facilities they have.
The GN and NTI are already in the process of creating this facility. This 18m is for COVID. Not every amount of money the GN receives from the feds can be spent on whatever they want.
Let’s not forget that the ongoing operating costs of a treatment centre would be millions of dollars annually.
My guess is that pretty much all the money will go back to Ottawa and Edmonton for the hotels the GN is renting out at millions of dollars every month.
No truer words spoken. With proper planning, these money should be used to set up quarantine hotels in Nunavut.
Where are the So called MLAs….don’t bother running again…you all failed…
$18m….that does not even pay for housing units in four communities….
Drop the mental illness quarantine, now!
That quarantine is oppressive and a significant factor incausing and conflating mental illness. This policy is not well thought out. Shame!!