IQALUIT - Gjoa Haven and Arctic Bay are the per capita winners in the Government of Nunavut's capital spending this year.

Arviat and Baker Lake, on the other hand, are home to more people but have very little money coming their way in 2007-08.

Nunavut's two most populous communities, Iqaluit and Rankin Inlet, are getting their fair share of capital dollars in 2007-08. Iqaluit will inherit a further $4 million through its contribution agreement with the Department of Community and Government Services, $3.9 million will be disbursed for the new phase of Qikiqtani General Hospital, and another $3 million will advance renovations to Inuksuk high school. Rankin Inlet will see $5.5 million applied towards its new trades school, a further $2.2 million spent on its sewage treatment plant, and $1.5 million put towards the new correctional centre.

Next to the capital of Iqaluit at close to $13 million, Gjoa Haven, with 1,064 residents, will receive the heaviest infusion of capital investment with just over $12 million budgeted for 2007-08. The bulk of that - $9.2 million - is for an addition to Qikirtaq and Quqshuun school. That project is scheduled to carry on into 2010. The price tag is expected to be $16.7 million upon completion.

"We're a growing community. There is a need definitely for larger facilities and more classrooms," said Sterling Firlotte, Gjoa Haven's assistant senior administrative officer.

Also on the books for this year, $1.5 million has been earmarked for Gjoa Haven's new continuing care centre, a facility that is in line for $9 million over four years.

Another $1 million will be put towards Gjoa Haven's new community hall.

In addition, more than 30 houses are expected to be built over the next three years.

The community has identified a new quarry site as substantial sand and gravel will be needed for construction sites.

"We're anticipating a lot of activity starting this summer and continuing on, obviously, for the next three or four years," Firlotte said, adding that a minimum of a dozen jobs will be created during this construction season.

Arctic Bay isn't far behind on the list of GN capital spending with $10 million allotted to benefit its 690 residents in 2007-08. The bulk of that spending - $8.4 million - is going towards redeveloping the airport. Four million was directed to that project last year and another $6.4 million is budgeted for next year for a total cost of $18.8 million.

In addition, $1 million has been set aside for a Housing Corporation warehouse.

Mayor Darlene Willie said local heavy equipment operators were hired last year and more will be needed this year. Training courses to qualify more local workers have been offered, Willie said.

"It's a good thing for our community," she said.

Then there are those that will go without. Arviat, with 2,060 people, is going to get only $378,000 in capital funding in 2007-08. The growing community's top four requests are nowhere to be found on the Government of Nunavut's five-year capital plan, senior administrative officer Cary Merritt acknowledged.

He said the fire hall is too small, the hamlet office is aging and the hamlet's old parking garages are expensive to heat and maintain.

"Nothing's breaking and falling down, but it's getting there," said Merritt, who added that Arviat's garbage dump will be full within the next two to three years.

Baker Lake, home to 1,728 residents, doesn't fare much better than Arviat with only $473,000 coming its way. Mayor David Aksawnee said last week that he and the hamlet council were in the process of reviewing the capital funding list.

"That's something we are really looking at," he said. "I don't know what's the reason (for funding decisions), and that's something the council is going to be discussing."

If nothing else, the municipalities that have been overlooked can work towards creating a surplus and then going back to the territorial government for specific project assistance, Merritt suggested.

"If you kick in some of your own money then they're more willing to maybe support some of the priorities you have," he said.

Firlotte pointed out that communities often face "boom and bust" cycles, whether they're reliant on industry or government.

"You get activity for a while and everybody's doing well and then all of a sudden you get a couple of lean years. That's, I guess, the nature of capital projects," he said.