Capital budget to headline fall session of Nunavut Legislature

Much of the focus of this upcoming session of Nunavut's legislature will be on the territory's capital budget, says David Joanasie, government house leader.

The budget will outline big ticket items especially infrastructure the government wants to take on.

"There's projects that we started in the previous year or two that will continue to go forward but there may be new items as well," he said. "We're trying to close the infrastructure gap we see across the territory within our limited resources."

In addition to the capital discussions, Joanasie said the government will be introducing 14 bills during the session, five of which relate to the budget.

He said he also anticipates MLAs will have questions around the decision to restructure three government departments.

Earlier this month, Premier P.J. Akeeagok announced the restructuring would affect the departments of Community and Government Services, Economic Development and Transportation, and Government Liaison Office of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs.

Those will be shuffled into two new departments: Transportation and Infrastructure, and Community Services.

"We do want to ensure that we have staff and Nunavummiut aware of what's going on and what the plans are," said Joanasie. "We want to ensure that people are on the same page as we go forward with this."

Session will also give the government a chance to update its progress on its mandate, said Joanasie.

The Nunavut government's mandate has five priorities: aging with dignity in Nunavut; expanding the housing continuum; enabling health and healing; reinvesting in education; and diversifying local economies.

"[We're] chipping away at that progress, trying to achieve what we set out to do," he said.

The fall session begins Thursday and is scheduled to go until Nov. 7.