KIVALLIQ/NUNAVUT - The 2010 federal budget passed down by Finance Minister Jim Flaherty this past week lays out a plan for a return to balanced budgets and is a positive budget for Nunavummiut, said Nunavut MP and federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq.

The 2010 federal budget includes additional funds to help more Nunavummiut train to become nurses and midwives, such as Catherine (Cas) Connelly and Rachel Jones, who recently became the first nationally-registered Inuit midwives. - NNSL file photo

Aglukkaq said the Conservative government has given Northerners a budget that will create jobs and growth. She said the federal government remains committed to the North and has made several key investments in this budget.

"The past investments we've made for infrastructure development will continue on in partnership with the territorial government under economic stimulus funding.

"The budget also continues to address healthy and affordable food for Northerners, and that's something I've been working on for the past four or five years."

The food mail program will see a new investment of $45 million over two years, bringing the total to $60 million with the inclusion of existing funds.

The budget also includes $18 million over five years to begin the preconstruction design phase for a new Canadian High Arctic research station.

Aglukkaq said the money added to the food mail program will help make it more modern and efficient, while targeting healthy foods. She said the cost-of-living issue has been raised time and time again by her constituents.

"This is an important issue to all Nunavummiut, particularly those on fixed incomes - seniors and pensioners - and Northern Development Minister Chuck Strahl will be making further announcements in that area at the appropriate time," the minister said.

"I'm also very pleased with the supplementary funding of $60 million to the sustainability initiatives in the territories' health systems over two years, which will be used to train Northerners in nursing and midwifery programs.

"And, as well, to try and train our own to deal with the whole turnover issue.

"This is something territorial premiers, health and finance ministers have asked for, for quite some time."

Aglukkaq said $285 million, over two years, will be invested into five key areas of aboriginal health for programs dealing with youth suicide prevention, aboriginal diabetes, maternal and child health, aboriginal health and human resources, and the aboriginal health transition fund.

She said the extension of mineral exploration tax credits will help create jobs and stimulate the Northern economy, by helping companies that need to raise capital for mining and exploration in the North.

"The budget also committed another $199 million, over the next two years, around the whole area of mental health and emotional support services for individuals affected by residential schooling.

"Minister Strahl is the lead minister on residential school funding, in terms of how that will be rolled out.

"There is also a section of the budget that makes reference to Inuit post-secondary students - $30 million over two years - to ensure Inuit students receive the support they need to attend post-secondary institutions."

Aglukkaq said the 2010 budget increases federal health transfers by six per cent.

She said the transfers will continue to increase by six per cent until 2014.

"That's in addition to the $60 million we're investing in sustainable initiatives to help the territories train their own.

"We need to keep working to improve health care across the country and this is part of our commitment to addressing that."

Aglukkaq said she and Senator Dennis Patterson were involved in pre-budget consultations across Nunavut. They used the feedback to put forth their recommendations to the finance minister and prime minister, she said.

"For the first time in the history of the federal government, there is an actual Northern caucus that meets once a week on Northern issues," Aglukkaq said.

In a press release, Nunavut Tunngavik vice-president of finance Raymond Ningeocheak said he was disappointed in the lack of new spending to deal with major social problems in Nunavut.

"NTI recognizes and welcomes the renewal of a number of health programs that were set to expire, including programs for maternal health and diabetes, but it is surprising and disappointing that we do not see any new money to address the housing crisis in Nunavut, or to provide further help with health and education issues," he stated in the release.

The release stated the additional $199 million under the Residential Schools Settlement Agreement appeared to be due to extra claims arising out of the court settlement, and did not save the Aboriginal Healing Foundation, whose mandate expires this month.

"The closing down of the Aboriginal Healing Foundation is troubling," stated Ningeocheak. "Former students need those healing services."