NDPs Lori Idlout says decision to abstain on budget vote not taken lightly

The NDP MP for Nunavut says after careful deliberations with both her party and constituents she decided to abstain from voting on the federal budget on Monday. “The NDP caucus as a whole, we decided together how we would vote,” Lori Idlout said. “We needed to make sure through our consultations, including the ones from our riding in Nunavut, as well as the other Indigenous groups and what other MPs heard from Canadians. “We knew that Canadians did not want an election.” Canadians went to the polls in a federal election just six months ago but the minority Liberals were tempting fate by failing to get agreements from opposition parties as to who would support the government prior to the budget confidence vote. In the end, the budget passed by a narrow margin of 170 to 168 votes with two Conservatives and two NDP MPs abstaining. Green Party Leader Elizabeth May decided to vote in favour at the last minute. Idlout said there are things she supports in the budget such as the $1 billion Arctic Infrastructure Fund but is disappointed by the lack of funding and long-term plan for the Inuit Child First Initiative. Prince Rupert Gas Transmission line A member of the Indigenous youth group Lax’Yip Firekeepers said they will continue to fight against the proposed Prince Rupert Gas Transmission line in northwest British Columbia. “The lack of consultation on this project is a huge concern for us,” Drew Harris said. “This project was started without consent from Gitxsan Nation and Gitanyow hereditary chiefs and the band have openly opposed this project and burned their agreements. “There’s many Gitxsan title holders who oppose this project.” Last week, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the Ksi Lisims Liquified Natural Gas Project in northwest B.C. was one of the projects being referred to the Major Projects Office. The project, which is still in the development stage, is on a site owned by the Nisga’a Nation and would be serviced by the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission line which also includes the Nisga’a Nation as an investor. Delay in releasing money affects housing The CEO of an Indigenous housing organization says it is disappointing the federal government has not disbursed money intended for off-reserve housing more quickly. “If we could have moved the money whenever it was first announced it would have been preferable,” John Gordon of National Indigenous Collaborative Housing Inc. or NICHI said. “Costs have gone up, inflation continues to rise, we’re now in a tariff war, the cost of building is going to be more expensive. We’re not going to be able to build as many units and have as much impact as we could have if the money was released right away.” The government announced the $4 billion Urban, Rural and Northern Housing strategy in 2023 but in this year’s budget it was revealed $2.8 billion of the fund remains unspent. Gordon said NICHI was able to take $281.5 million in government funding in June 2023 which went to 74 projects which built 3,800 units within 18 months. Continue Reading