The Conservative government has delivered a budget focused on job creation and growth to support Canada’s economic recovery.  The budget lays out a plan for a return to balanced budgets.

“Our government has given Northerners a budget that will create jobs and growth” said Minister Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health and Minister Responsible for the North, MP for Nunavut.  “This now year two of our Economic Action Plan we will continue to create jobs for the future.  Our government remains committed to the north and has made several key investments in this budget.”

Food mail continues to be a priority with a new investment of $45 million over two years and a total of $60 million with inclusion of existing funds.  This budget also includes projects in the territories such as $18 million over 5 years to Indian and Northern Affairs Canada to begin the pre-construction design phase for the new Canadian High Artic Research Station.

Budget 2010 invests in a limited number of new, targeted initiatives to build jobs and growth for the economy of tomorrow, harness Canadian innovation, and make Canada a destination of choice for new business investment.  This budget creates highly skilled jobs in the Territories by investing $8 million over two years for Indian and Northern Affairs to support community-based environmental monitoring, reporting and baseline data collection through the Northwest Territories Cumulative Impact Monitoring Program and the Nunavut General Monitoring Program.  For long-term job creation, the government is committing $11 million over 2 years to Indian and Northern Affairs Canada to support the acceleration of review of natural resource projects in the North, up to $9.2 million over two years to Environment Canada and up to $2.2 million over two years to Fisheries and Oceans Canada to deliver meteorological and navigational services to the Arctic.  This funding will meet Canada’s commitments to the International Maritime Organization in respect to the safe management of marine traffic in two well-defined Arctic areas that are substantially within Canadian territory.  Budget 2010 extends thealth system sustainability initiative funding by $60 million over two years to consolidate the progress made in reducing the reliance on outside health care systems and medical travel. 

Third, it outlined a three-point plan for returning to budget balance once the economy has recovered.  This includes ending the temporary stimulus measures as promised, restraining growth in spending through targeted measures and additional restraint through an in-depth review of government’s administrative functions and overhead costs.

Unlike the other political parties in Ottawa, the Government has been clear that it will not raise taxes or reduce transfers to the Territories and seniors in the years ahead.

In fact, Budget 2010 confirmed the Conservative Government’s strong support for the Territories. 

The Territories will continue to receive increased federal support through Budget 2010.  Total transfers will hit $3 billion in 2010-11, an increase of $766 million since 2005-06.

While the Liberals starved provinces and municipalities of much-needed support, the Conservative Government increased key transfers such as:  $80 million in health transfers; and $36 million in social transfers.

This long-term support helps ensure the Territories have the resources needed to provide essential public services including health care, post-secondary education and other social services.

For more information and how Canada’s Economic Plan benefits them, people are encourages to visit www.budget.gc.ca.