Quebec, Ottawa pour more money into Nunavik

MONTREAL — Millions of dollars flowed through Kuujjuaq last week as federal and provincial native affairs ministers arrived at the Makivik Corporation’s annual general meeting with stacks of cheques and promises of even more money in the future.

And while these competing gestures of generosity made before Nunavik’s Inuit birthright corporation were designed to impress, they also astonished some observers in nearby cash-strapped Nunavut.

Quebec’s native affairs minister, Guy Chevrette, mentioned some of the extra pocket change that the province has recently sunk into Nunavik — totaling more than $100 million, including:

* $45 million on municipal infrastructure;
* $25 million on economic and community development;
* $29 million for the reconstruction of Kangiqsualujjuaq following its disastrous Jan. 1, 1999 avalanche.

Then Chevrette announced gobs of new money:

* $50 million — $10 million over the next five years — to build new social housing in Nunavik, on the condition that Ottawa spend the same;
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* $5 million on developing nine new provincial parks in Nunavik, including three parks at the Pingualuit crater, Richmond Gulf and the Torngat Mountains that were given priority by the Kativik Regional Government;
* $1.8 million this year, and $3.3 million next year for the hiring, training and lodging of new community youth workers;
* $1.7 million for Nunavik’s marine infrastructure program;
* $50,000 for the Nunavik Research Centre for its planned expansion;
* $15,000 for Avataq, Nunavik’s cultural institute, to fund an elders’ conference later this year.

Although he didn’t cite any dollar figures, Chevrette also promised that Quebec would help Kuujjuaq prepare for the Inuit Circumpolar Conference gathering in 2003.

“I can assure you of the support of the Quebec government towards this event,” Chevrette said.

But the most significant chunk of new money by far is the $10 million a year over five-years to build new social housing in Nunavik, on the condition that Ottawa spend the same.

When Indian Affairs Minister Bob Nault addressed Makivik delegates earlier in the week, he didn’t mention any federal government contribution towards housing, but Liberal MP Guy St. Julién confirmed later that Ottawa has now agreed to foot their share of the bill.

Next week, Louise Harel, Quebec’s municipal affairs minister, and Alphonse Gagliano, Ottawa’s public works minister, will sign the housing deal at an economic summit next week in Kuujjuaq.

This will provide $100 million of new money to construct new social housing in Nunavik, at least 80 new houses a year.

Nault announced another $5 million to build docks and wharves under the marine infrastructure program, “to unlock the economic potential of this region.”

He also had presented a cheque for $150,000, part of the $230,000 that the federal government is spending on the enlargement of the Nunavik Research Centre.

DIAND also contributed $6,233 towards the cost of putting on a play in honor of the 25th anniversary of the 1975 James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement, while Makivik will get another $125,000 from DIAND for other projects commemorating the James Bay deal.

Both Chevrette and Nault announced that they will provide more money to the Nunavik Commission so the group can extend its mandate until December.

This unprecedented flood of money comes at a time when Makivik’s own finances are improving.

Despite Makivik’s $4.3 million worth of donations in 1999, treasurer Anthony Ittoshat reported a healthy increase of $27 million to beneficiaries’ equity, which now stands at $170 million.