Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

Chesterfield Inlet (May 15/02) - There was good news in Finance Minister Kelvin Ng's budget for the Pimakslirvik Home in Chesterfield Inlet.

Tabled in the legislature in Iqaluit April 30, the budget earmarks another $650,000 for the long-term care facility for multi-handicapped children and young adults. That brings its total budget to more than $1.6 million.

Centre officials say the hike was necessary to cover the operational costs of the centre when responsibility shifted from the Catholic Church at the end of the last fiscal year.

Formerly known as St. Theresa's Care Facility, the home was taken over at the end of March by the Pimakslirvik Corporation, which is owned by the Chesterfield Inlet Development Corporation and Tapiriit Developments.

It was run by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Churchill and Bishop Reynauld Rouleau, but taken over by the corporation when the Church's contract expired this year.

The budget increase will be used to provide services for the clients at the facility and to train and pay employees.

Pimakslirvik nurse and director of care Dianne Raniowski said she the increase

brings the dream of having the centre completely staffed by local people a step closer.

In part, the money will be used to pay for the education of 10 local employees set to begin a home and community care program at Arctic College later this month.

"Our goal is to make it local. As staff gain skills, we rely less on the south. A lot of this money will be used for training," said Raniowski.

"I look forward to the day when a young, local Inuk woman is able to take over my job," she said.

Of the 25 full- and part-time workers, six are from the South. The other are local residents, making Pimakslirvik the biggest employer in Chesterfield Inlet.

That makes the budgetary increase doubly important because the jobs will stay in the non-decentralized community. The fate of the centre was somewhat tenuous, but when Pimakslirvik Corp. agreed to assume responsibility for one year, it resulted in the centre staying open and staying in Chesterfield Inlet.

Furthermore, as discussed in the legislature by MLA James Arvaluk and Ng the day before the budget was tabled, construction materials to build a new facility are slated to arrive in the hamlet this year.

"A year ago, everything was up in the air. I'm happy the residents will be able to stay here and I'm happy for Chesterfield Inlet," said Raniowski.

Following Ng's budget address, Health Minister Ed Picco said he was pleased with the announcement.

"Chesterfield Inlet is a have-not community. It's important we support that community. A major employer in town is the St. Theresa's home. There was a strong indication of that in the budget," said Picco. "The $650,000 is a reflection of the increased costs to run the facility from the private sector."

Arvaluk said he is especially happy with the enhanced training the money will pay for.

"It's a step in the right direction," he said.