Ottawa to announce nearly $230-million for Inuit programs including new university

The federal government will announce nearly $230-million for Inuit programs, including $50-million for the first Inuit-led university, with Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull‑Masty making the announcement in Kuujjuaq; details were shared with The Globe and Mail in advance.

The federal government plans to announce a package of funding intended to support Inuit communities and Inuit-led priorities. Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty is scheduled to make the announcement in Kuujjuaq, Que., at a meeting of the Kativik Regional Government. Spokesperson Olivia McElrea provided funding details to The Globe and Mail ahead of the announcement. Officials from Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami recently said the main campus of the proposed Inuit-led university will be in Arviat, Nunavut. Funding announced: - Nearly $230-million in total to support a range of Inuit programs and initiatives. - $50-million earmarked for Inuit Nunangat University, described as the first Inuit-led university, with a main campus announced for Arviat. - $115-million to renew the Inuit Child First Initiative for one year to continue child health, education and social supports. - $27-million over five years to support efforts to eradicate tuberculosis in Inuit regions, in line with a pledge to eliminate the disease by 2030. - $30-million in top-up funding for Nutrition North Canada to help make healthy food more affordable in isolated communities. - $6.3-million for the Northern Isolated Community Initiatives Fund to support local food-growing, processing and distribution projects. Summary: The announced funds are directed to health, education and food-security programs in Inuit Nunangat and include support for an Inuit-led university and renewed child services. The release of these amounts was confirmed ahead of the public announcement by the Indigenous Services Minister in Kuujjuaq. Further implementation details were not specified. Undetermined at this time.