Federal Budget Renews Inuit Determination to Tackle Fundamental Social Problems in Inuit Communities

March 4, 2010 – Ottawa, Ontario – National Inuit leader Mary Simon, president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) responded to today’s federal budget by focusing on its impacts on Inuit communities and households.

“Inuit communities are experiencing an ongoing crisis in relation to secure access to a quality of life most Canadians take for granted – adequate housing, comparable educational opportunities, quality health care and affordable food. While this budget sustains a number of programs in these areas that were scheduled to expire, simply continuing the status quo will not overcome the growing social and economic problems in our communities,” she said.

“The federal budget contains no new funds specifically earmarked to address the shortage of thousands of housing units and basic lack of infrastructure across Canada’s Arctic.”

ITK welcomed the renewal of a number of important health programs, but noted that housing is one of the key social determinants of health, with overcrowded and outdated housing contributing to a variety of health problems including high infant mortality rates and a life expectancy that is falling as Canadian life expectancy increases.

With respect to education, Simon said that she is pleased the federal government will engage in a new approach to providing support to Inuit post-secondary students.

“I look forward to working closely with our federal government partners on this dimension of educational reform, and I shall be inviting the federal government to make fresh new investments in this area. The timing should fit well with the finalization of a new Inuit Education Strategy this fall.”

Simon expressed disappointment that the budget did not speak more widely to Inuit education needs, and did not offer immediate extra funding on curriculum and language development comparable to new funding made available for First Nations K-12 schools.

ITK welcomed the establishment of a new level of funding of $60 million per year for a reformed Canada Food Mail Program.

“We will work closely with the federal government to make best use of this money,” said Simon.

ITK noted that an extra $199 million is allocated for survivors of the residential school experience. Simon said that this extra money will be appreciated, but expressed grave concern at a lack of a commitment for renewal of the Aboriginal Healing Foundation. Survivors and their families will certainly need ongoing mental and emotional support regardless of the way those services are delivered.

“In many areas, this budget leaves much room for interpretation and implementation,” said the ITK president. “I am eager to discuss with the Prime Minister and his ministerial colleagues how the financial resources it makes available might best be harnessed to provide maximum benefit to Inuit.”

In conclusion, Simon said, “We are very much aware that we fall far behind other Canadians with respect to core indicators of economic and social well being – acceptable housing, adequate health care and an educational system that does justice to our language and the needs of our children. We would like nothing more than to contribute more to the country’s shared wealth, but we will not be in a position to do so until some major gaps in basic programs and services have been filled. To quote Winston Churchill, who knew a fair bit about how a crisis should focus attention and compel action, ‘Give us the tools and we will finish the job.’”