There are 25 communities in Nunavut, That means 25 airports are needed, 25 schools, 25 hamlet offices and so on, including all three facilities in the Baffin Island community of Cape Dorset. - NNSL file photo |
'25 of everything' - Taptuna
MLA raises concerns over government's commitment to communities
Stewart Burnett
Northern News Services
Monday, March 21, 2016
NUNAVUT
Stretching one territory's budget over 25 different communities can lead to some feeling left out, and although Premier Peter Taptuna asserted a commitment to all of Nunavut's jurisdictions, specific plans were few.
South Baffin MLA David Joanasie asked the premier for assurances of the long-term viability and sustainability of smaller communities in the legislative assembly March 9.
"Although the majority of Nunavummiut live in communities other than the major urban centre of Iqaluit, I continue to receive concerns from my constituents regarding the government's commitment to a long-term future for our smaller communities," he stated through an interpreter.
Taptuna explained that the difficulty with Nunavut is having to stretch the budget over 25 communities that all have similar needs.
"It's very difficult for this government to ensure that we get proper funding for our smaller communities," he stated frankly.
"As you know, with a population of 37,000 in Nunavut and 25 communities within Nunavut, we do have to build 25 of everything: airstrips, health centres, schools and so forth, unlike southern jurisdictions where you've got 37,000 people in one community and you build one school, one airstrip, one power plant. Here, of course, in our vast territory, as a government, we do have to build 25 of everything."
Time and again, he said, Taptuna tells his colleagues in the federal government about that unique aspect of the territory compared to other jurisdictions in the country.
"Nunavut and the Arctic is one of the most expensive places to do business not only for industry but also for this government," he stated.
Taptuna pointed to the Nunavut Development Corporation as one department tasked with ensuring the communities have economic opportunities.
Joanasie hearkened back to Taptuna himself once noting that some Canadian jurisdictions have had the experience of seeing their small communities de-populated and their services cut back or eliminated. He asked again what assurances the premier would give that a similar event would not happen in Nunavut.
"We all understand that in some other southern jurisdictions, there have been a lot of communities closed down because of the economic situation that they faced," stated Taptuna in response.
The High Arctic communities were established for sovereignty purposes, he explained, to maintain that Canada owns the offshore islands, land and seas.
"We will ensure that our federal partners assist us in maintaining that these communities stay viable for that purpose," he stated.
Joanasie pointed to Iqaluit's new airport under construction for hundreds of millions of dollars, while Kimmirut's airport terminal is almost falling apart.
"In Kimmirut, my constituents do not expect to see a new airport terminal building that will win international design awards," stated Joanasie through an interpreter.
But they would like some sort of investment to increase the safety at the airport, he added.
Taptuna, though, was light on specific answers through the whole back and forth.
He told Joanasie he would talk to the minister of Economic Development and Transportation about possible plans to see where a relocation of the airstrip could be made.
