Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services
Iqaluit (Jun 11/01) - More than half of Nunavut's residents received some form of income support last year.
That's from Education Minister Peter Kilabuk, the cabinet member who oversees the income support portfolio.
Kilabuk released the information after a four-person panel had wrapped up their income support policy review and made 46 recommendations after consultations with Nunavummiut.
The review, initiated last December, was to collect information from the territory's residents in order to design policy more geared to local needs. The former program was adopted from the Government of the Northwest Territories following division.
Kilabuk said the recommendations were an important first step toward making the program more relevant and the clients more self-sufficient.
"We want to make sure the income support program does meet the needs of the clients in a manner that allows more opportunity for the clients to get away from income support," said Kilabuk.
"The recommendations came from the people directly," said Kilabuk.
Key suggestions focused on achieving self-reliance and access to increased training opportunities. Kilabuk said income support workers were being trained to better assist clients with their requests.
"We're training income support workers and putting more emphasis on career development planning for our clients. We're doing more training based on the client's needs and abilities," said Kilabuk.
The recommendations have now been sent out to hamlet offices and various stakeholders for comment. Kilabuk said he expected to be able to take the information to the Legislature this fall.
Income support facts
- Income support program consists of four parts: social assistance, territorial seniors supplement, senior fossil fuel subsidy and child care user subsidy
- In 1999-2000, Nunavummiut received $22 million through the Income Support Program
- In 1999-2000, 4,500 households received assistance, meaning more than 14,000 people received income support
- An average of 3,100 households -- 8,000 individuals receive income support each month
- The amount of support received has been stable for the last two years
- Benefits include support for groceries, shelter, and utilities.
- A growing number of recipients are claiming other income: going from less than 30 per cent in 1995 to nearly 60 per cent of claimants in 1999.
- Of the benefits paid, nearly 80 per cent is determined by food need, with most of the rest going for accommodation, food and utilities (10%) and clothing (7%).
