High hopes for Budget '97
Here's what some of the leaders want

Herb Norwegian
Chief, Liidli Koe First Nation

Chief Herb Norwegian wants the territorial government to keep the bulk of social programming in place through the next year, and that means lots of government spending.

The Department of Health and Social Services, which represents about 20 per cent of the government's budget, took a four-per-cent hit in last year's budget. The government promised to shave about $10 million from the department, which in 1995-96 spent about $258 million.

"Traditional healing is very important, especially with the economy in the state that it's in," said Norwegian.

"This is a good time to take care of social pressures that are hurting society.... Once those are addressed, people can heal and deal with any aspect of life."

Norwegian would like to see government money earmarked for traditional healing and back-to-the-land programs.

George Roach
Mayor, Inuvik

George Roach would like the government to lay off his community and concedes that even maintenance of the status quo would be acceptable come Monday's budget.

That might be a tall order because "Round 2" of the government's massive spending-cuts program will be included in the budget.

In last year's budget the government promised to cut spending by $80 million, which meant job cuts by the hundreds, scaled-back government projects and departmental amalgamations.

"Inuvik has been getting slaughtered like lambs in the spring," said Roach.

"We've been in a big slide for a decade ... we've been taking hits from all sides, and for whatever reason, the government thinks Inuvik can stand it, but it can't."

Peter Kritaqliluk
Mayor, Arviat

Peter Kritaqliluk would like to see capital funding distributed more evenly.

He says that unlike Municipal and Community Affairs department funding, which is allocated on a per-capita basis, capital funding seems to be given to some communities and not to others.

But with fewer dollars available for fewer projects, Kritaqliluk might be disappointed because the government. It could be slim pickings for many communities.

"Some communities are being left behind, especially around our region," said Kritaqliluk. "If they don't start to catch up soon, they might not ever catch up."

"I'm hoping to see that the money can be spent equally and according to community needs," he added.

Wilf Wilcox
Mayor, Cambridge Bay

Wilf Wilcox would like to see an end to layoffs and government jobs cut thanks to amalgamation in his community at least. But he'd also like to see the government take a new tack on selling GNWT housing.

"The money made from the sale of government housing in the communities should be re-invested back into the communities to keep employment growing in the business sector," said Wilcox.

He would also like to see the government look more towards the positive aspects of division and stop talking about the doom and gloom side of what lies ahead.

"We look ahead, not look back over our shoulders at the bad things that might be coming," said Wilcox.

Joe Kunuk
Mayor, Iqaluit

Joe Kunuk says there are a number of important issues that need to be addressed in this year's budget, but one key issue is the social envelope.

"Social issues that affect the communities as they continue to grow -- all across the North -- must be supported properly by the government," he said.

As well, social services that are part of the community empowerment plan must be addressed in this budget over and above any infrastructure needs.

"There's a lot of talk about health and well being in our communities," said Kunuk.

"Once we start to work on the social (problems) within our communities, then and only then can we take a hard look at infrastructure, which is an important component of division."