Ottawa gives GN $155M for health care, housing infrastructure

The Government of Nunavut will receive $155 million from Ottawa to build housing, post-secondary and health-care infrastructure.

Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Rebecca Alty announced the funding —part of the Build Communities Strong Fund — during a news conference at the Iqaluit Aquatic Centre on Thursday.

“Building essential infrastructure, especially here in the North, is a central part of our plan to build a stronger, more resilient country,” said Alty, who is also attending the Inuit Circumpolar Council’s general assembly in the city this week.

“As a government, we know, this commitment is especially important here in Nunavut, where the need for modern reliable infrastructure is urgent.”

Nunavut will receive $81.3 million over 10 years to support housing and post-secondary projects and $74.1 million for health infrastructure over three years.

As part of this agreement, Nunavut has committed to encouraging housing development by not increasing any fees or taxes that hinder housing supply, a federal government news release said.

Also speaking at the conference was Northern and Arctic Affairs Minister Rebecca Chartrand, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. vice-president Paul Irngaut, Iqaluit Mayor Solomon Awa, Nunavut deputy Premier George Hickes, territorial Health Minister Janet Pitsiulaaq Brewster, and Cecile Nelvana Lyall, minister responsible for Nunavut Housing Corp.

“This federal government, for the first time ever, has acknowledged investments in health infrastructure,” Hickes said. “As the former health minister I can say, going back nearly 10 years, we’ve had these discussions.… So the recognition of investments in health infrastructure is very important.”

Now, the GN will determine where to best spend the funds, Hickes said.

“This does take a lot of time, and we want to make sure that we’re utilizing these dollars as effectively as possible.”

Awa acknowledged the benefit of working with Brewster, who is a former deputy mayor of Iqaluit, and he had kind words for Alty, a former mayor of Yellowknife.

“I worked with her,” Awa said. “We were advocating to Government of Canada. Now she’s sitting in the government. I’m really happy she’s going to be working here on the federal government side.”

This funding is part of a larger effort to increase the territory’s housing supply in Nunavut.

Through Build Canada Homes, the release stated, at least 750 new housing units will be built across Nunavut, including 25 units by NTI, 425 public housing units, 150 affordable housing units and 150 supportive housing units.

Nearly 100 modular housing units have been shipped to Nunavut, the release said, with some already occupied in Cambridge Bay. An additional 120 units are set to be delivered to Nunavut during the 2026 sealift season.