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May 10, 2002
Womens shelters getting
more money
Ed Picco, the minister
of health and social services, confirmed last week that the 2002-3 Nunavut budget
contains the first funding increase that womens shelters have received
from a territorial government since 1992.
In response to questions
from Nattilikmeot MLA Uriash Puqiqnaq, Picco said budgets for womens shelters
will likely go up by eight to 10 per cent.
The money is conditional
on the legislative assembly passing his departments new mental health
strategy, Picco said.
Puqiqnak said the small
shelter in Taloyoak, one of the two communities he represents, hasnt seen
a budget increase since it started up eight years ago.
Picco said the money handed
over to womens shelters in Nunavut is "unconditional," and that
each shelter may apply the extra money as they see fit toward salaries
and benefits, or to other things.
"With that increase
to the family violence shelters across Nunavut, those shelters have the opportunity
of using that money for wages, benefits or indeed other O&M expenses,"
Picco said.
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