NUNAVUT
The Nunavut Planning Commission's long-awaited public hearing on a draft Nunavut Land Use Plan has been pushed back once again, this time at the request of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.

Andrew Nakashuk, left, seen with executive director Sharon Ehaloak, was officially elected as Nunavut Planning Commission chairperson at a board meeting in Iqaluit March 23. - Michele LeTourneau/NNSL photo

Previously, lack of funding from the federal government meant the hearing, originally scheduled for the fall of 2014, could not move forward.

Planning commission executive director Sharon Ehaloak said NTI requested final consultations on the most up-to-date draft land use plan.

"So that communities and Nunavummiut are all informed, the parties have all agreed to one more round of regional consultations, which would consist of one location in the Kitikmeot, one location in the Kivalliq, one in Baffin North, one in Baffin South," said Ehaloak.

These final consultations will include the Manitoba and Athabasca Denesuline and Inuit of Nunavik.

"The commission recognizes that it's important to listen to our planning partners," she said. "The commissioners are very open to listening, are flexible, and have accepted the recommendations from NTI with regards to the extra consultation and changing the timeline from November (2016) to March (2017) for the public hearing."

These plans continue to be subject to funding from the federal government and is reflected by three separate budgets the commission approved at its board meeting in Iqaluit March 23. These will now be submitted to Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC).

"In the past we've had a budget balanced to the contribution agreement and a needs-based budget. This year the commission identified three budgets," said Ehaloak. "The balanced budget is a bare-bones budget which balances to the contribution amount of $5.2 million."

Unlike other Institutions of Public Government (IPGs) under the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement, such as the Nunavut Impact Review Board or the Nunavut Water Board, the planning commission does not have access to supplementary funding

Supplementary funding, said Ehaloak, "is the critical piece for external cost drivers, such as consultations, public hearings, all of the requirements that trigger public processes from proponent-driven situations or amendments - those types of event that other IPGs have funding access to."

Ehaloak says the commission is working with the implementation branch of INAC to look at those needs.

"So the $5.2 million is not enough to address the commission's mandate and NUPPAA (Nunavut Planning and Project Assessment Act). NUPPAA imposes timelines and requirements and it's not cost neutral. The commission identified that to Canada in 2010," she said.

The second budget, called the core budget, at $9 million, does not include a full complement of staff but the minimal staff to accomplish most of the mandate, Ehaloak said.

"We are requesting a core increase happen. That document is quite detailed in identifying what the core need is and requesting Canada revisit that."

Finally, there is a needs-based budget which includes "the extra layers of consultation that NTI has requested the commission carry out and all of the related costs for the consultation and the public hearing."

The final figure on that budget is $16.3 million.

"This is the first Nunavut Land Use Plan. The world is watching for this to unfold. It's the first of its kind. It's very unique, under our land claims agreement," said Ehaloak.

"Needs fluctuate, same as with NIRB (Nunavut Impact Review Board) or the Nunavut Water Board. And Canada is open to looking at the supplementary funding. That's a positive step forward."

Ehaloak says the relationship between the federal government and the commission is improving.

"The commission remains hopeful. With the new government there seems to be a different attitude, an openness to work with us. We see that relationship as very positive right now. They've been working very hard with us."

The audit launched by the previous federal government last July is complete, according to Ehaloak, although INAC would not confirm it last week except to say it was scheduled to be completed in March.

"We're just waiting for the final report. We're very happy that it's completed. We're actually looking forward to it. We knew what it was going to say in the first place," said Ehaloak.

Also on March 23, Andrew Nakashuk was officially elected chairperson at the commission board meeting. His name will be passed on to INAC Minister Carolyn Bennett, who makes the official appointment. He is to replace former chairperson Hunter Tootoo, who resigned to take on the role of Nunavut MP and was later named minister of Fisheries and Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard.