Government inaction is a roadblock to building a sustainable economy for Nunavut

“There is no relationship more important to this government than our relationship with Indigenous people.” How often have I heard that said in the House as the prime minister and his cabinet ministers rise to answer questions on Indigenous issues? Nunavummiut can be forgiven for questioning their sincerity. In Nunavut we share a vision that we can build a sustainable economy that will support our communities, create jobs, reduce our dependency on Ottawa, and put our standard of living on a par with Canadians in the South. Doing that will require substantial investment from the federal government, and we have to start by addressing critical and urgent needs in food security, housing, and community infrastructure. But by its inaction and painstakingly slow response to these needs, the federal government is creating barriers that prevent us from realizing our vision. Nutrition North Canada is a prime example. Since it was introduced in 2011 there have been problems with this program. It simply doesn’t do what it was intended to do: deliver quality food at affordable prices to remote northern communities. Updating and expanding Nutrition North was an election promise the Trudeau Liberals made in 2015. We have talked about it for three years. I have asked repeatedly in the House when the changes are coming, but the only answer the government gives is that “we are taking the time to get it right.” Frustration has risen to such a level that all five of Canada’s major Inuit organizations have pulled out of the government’s Indigenous working group on food security. Now we understand changes are coming in or just before 2019—just in time for another election announcement. This issue is about meeting a basic human need. If we can’t even guarantee food security for the people of Nunavut, how can we begin to build a sustainable economy? Here’s another example. In 1993, Canada signed the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement. Article 24.3.1 required Canada to develop and implement procurement policies to support Inuit-owned businesses. In May 2015, Canada was ordered by the courts to have these policies in place by July 31, 2016. We’re still waiting. That lack of support for Inuit-owned businesses is another barrier to creating a sustainable economy. To be fair, the government is making investments in Nunavut; it’s just doing it too slow. Too often the funding is spread over a number of years and that minimizes the impact in our communities. The response to the housing crisis in Nunavut is an example. The federal National Housing Strategy allocated $240-million over 10 years for Nunavut housing. But when you break that down, it works out to roughly 48 new houses per year for the entire territory. That doesn’t begin to address the current need, and we have a growing population. Right now, it’s estimated that 38 per cent of Nunavummiut live in overcrowded conditions, and that’s a contributing factor to our high rates of youth suicide, poverty, and tuberculosis. Basic community infrastructure that is taken for granted in the South, like sports facilities, community centres, health-care, mental health, and social services facilities, are lacking or inadequate in many of our communities. It’s hard for Canadians in the South to imagine being without internet access. Think about the impact that would have on education and local economies. Well, one of the biggest barriers to building a sustainable economy in Nunavut is the lack of connectivity. A big opportunity exists to bring hydroelectric power and fibre-optic cable into one region of Nunavut for the first time. The Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link project has been talked about for years but, again, progress is moving at a snail’s pace. Nunavut has great potential for growth, but we need to build safe, healthy communities where families can thrive. We need infrastructure to support economic development. And too many critical issues are standing in the way of that. If the government truly values its relationship with Indigenous people, we should be working together to find immediate solutions to these issues. Only then can we begin to build a sustainable economy for Nunavut. Hunter Tootoo is the Independent Member of Parliament for Nunavut. The Hill Times