NUNAVUT
Before tabling his capital plan for 2010-2011, Finance Minister Keith Peterson told members of the legislative assembly the territory might not deliver a balanced budget.

The territory could have a surplus of $600,000, he said on Oct. 19. But with money being re-shuffled to accommodate the $110 million needed for the Nunavut Housing Trust, the surplus could dry up.

"We may the end year with a deficit," said Peterson, adding this depended on what delivery strategy was used to complete the housing units.

Peterson then delivered his 2010-2011 capital expenditure plan. The budget is $122.5 million, an $11.2 million increase over last year. He said fewer new projects will start because 123 projects begun last year will continue.

New construction money has been allotted for capital projects, including $1.7 million for the Coral Harbour wildlife office, $1.7 million for a granular program in Arviat, $2.3 million for a Community and Government Services workshop in Baker Lake and $700,000 for the design of a hamlet office in Kugaaruk.

Andre Larabie, senior administrative officer in Kugaaruk, said while it may be three to five years before the building is actually constructed it is still good news. The building, which he said is at least 40 years old, has poor circulation.

Okalik questions caribou strategy

MLA for Iqaluit West Paul Okalik wants to make sure residents and communities are going to be consulted as part of the territory-wide caribou strategy.

Okalik directed his questions at Environment Minister Daniel Shewchuk on Oct. 20.

Shewchuk said those working on the strategy have gone to the three regions and will be consulting with HTOs. Feedback is also being taken online.

"People walking on the land looking for caribou find people looking for minerals," Okalik said, hinting that mineral exploration might contribute to the disappearance of caribou.

Shewchuk responded and said while caribou are important to Nunavummiut, so too is economic development.

The strategy is expected to be completed by March 2011.

MLAs grill minister on housing trust

Members of the legislative assembly want to know where $110 million is going to come from to account for the overspending by the Nunavut Housing Corporation.

"It's a huge sum of money; hundreds of millions of dollars is a huge sum of money," said Pangnirtung MLA Adamee Komoartok on Oct. 19.

Tagak Curley, who inherited the portfolio of minister responsible for the corporation from Hunter Tootoo, has been answering questions regarding the financial shortfall for the last two weeks since the legislature started its fall session.

As Tootoo had promised, an audit was done by Deloitte and Touche. South Baffin MLA Fred Schell told Curley to "buckle your seat belt." Schell wanted to know if seven financial management positions from the headquarters in Iqaluit had been moved from Arviat to Iqaluit.

Curley said cabinet has yet to make a decision. Curley was also unsure as to how much the audit will cost the government.

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