September 21, 2001

Nunavik cashes in

Nunatsiaq News

IQALUIT — In the fiscal year 1999-2000, Quebec spent $516 million on government services for aboriginal residents.

About a quarter of this was reimbursed by the federal government.

Of that cash, more than $255 million went to Nunavik and its 9,500 residents.
The James Bay Cree region, with a larger population, received only $179 million.

The provincial spending report, which was recently issued by Quebec City, notes that around $16 million went to Kangiqsualujjuaq, mainly to deal with losses of property due to the 1999 avalanche.

Kuujjuaq, the seat of the regional government, received $13 million, and Salluit got $10 million. That money paid for the construction and operation of new regional facilities.

The Quebec housing bureau spent most of its money in Kuujjuaq, Salluit and Puvirnituq.