Nunavut budgets small $23M surplus for 2015-2016

The Nunavut government is forecasting asmall surplus in the 2015-2016 fiscal year, its fourth in a row.

Finance Minister Keith Peterson tabledthe $1.67-billion budget Wednesday afternoon at the legislative assembly. The budgetpredictsa $23-million surplus.

Highlights include:

• 10 per cent funding increase to Department of Education
• 14 per cent increase to early childhood education
• 35 per cent increase in funding to Mental Health and Addiction services
• establishing a Youth Intervention and Diversion program for young offenders
• developinga new cultural industries strategy to replace the arts and crafts strategy
• 39 per cent increase for sport and recreation administration

Nunavut receives the bulk of its budget from federal transfers, but is predictingown-source revenues of$187 million this year. Peterson credited theterritory's growing mining industry for growth in corporate and payroll taxes, and personal income taxes.

This is the fourth balanced budget from Peterson, but where past budgets seemed to be trying to get Nunavut's financial house in order, this one has a slight increase in spending.

The budget emphasizedincreases to education funding, including $15 million for school operationsand teacher development. That includes 43 new positionsfor learning coaches at every school in the territoryto help with literacy programs.

Peterson also announcedNunavut Arctic College will aimto become a degree-granting institution within three years.

The Department of Health will get an increase of $5 million for mental health and addictions programming, and $4 million for community health services.

Peterson told reporters the highlight for himin this budget is the appointment of anethics officer, whichwill be announced later during this sitting and should be in place by April 1.

Joe Enook, MLA for Tununiq, said he's mostly satisfied with the budget and thatthe territorial government is doing the best it can with limited resources.

"You can't please everybody," he said. "There are certain things I wish there was more of. But there are other things I appreciate, especially in the field of health and training."

Enook said he wants to see the government continue to be guided bySivumut Abluqta, a set of policy goals drawn up by MLAs last year. They include improving education, language skillsand health care.

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