Kilikvak Kabloona vows to push for 4-year extension of Inuit Child First Initiative.
Nunavut’s Liberal candidate lists her priorities Friday at campaign event in Iqaluit.
The Inuit Child First Initiative is a federal government program that pays for health, education and social programs for Inuit children and youth. The fund was scheduled to end last month, but received a one-year reprieve when the Liberal government announced an extension March 8.
Nunavut’s federal Liberal candidate introduced herself to supporters Friday, saying she’s up for the challenge of running for Parliament.
I like big challenges. That’s who I am, Kilikvak Kabloona said to a room of 15 people at the Arctic Children and Youth Foundation, a charity dedicated to improving the lives of children and youth in the Canadian Arctic.
The event was open to the public although most of those in attendance were staff from the foundation, along with Premier P.J. Akeeagok and Iqaluit-Manirajak MLA Adam Arreak Lightstone.
For the past year, I have been advocating for the extension of the Inuit Child First Initiative program, Kabloona said, referring to work in her role as CEO of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. She has taken a leave without pay from that job for the duration of her campaign.
I recognize that more needs to be done.
If she wins the April 28 election, Kabloona said she will work for more long-term funding for the Inuit Child First Initiative, aiming for four-year funding cycles.
She also highlighted her work with NTI, supervising the negotiation team involved in the signing of the Nunavut Agreement renewal with the Liberal government on March 8.
That deal includes $1.5 billion to be paid out over the next nine years, which allocates $650 million for training Inuit for government jobs.
In addition to the Nunavut Agreement renewal, Kabloona spoke of her work in support of building shelters across Nunavut, including a shelter in Pond Inlet, which she said she visited recently.
“In Gjoa Haven, it is expected that shelter will be open later this year and in Baker Lake, the designs have been developed and funding has been secured for construction,” she said.
For Inuit post-secondary students, Kabloona said she has worked with regional Inuit associations to secure $10 million from Makigiaqta Inuit Training Corporation for food and other “wraparound supports” for students, such as daycare and tutoring costs.
Kabloona described herself as a “silent speaker” of Inuktitut, explaining that she understands and speaks the language, but thinks in English.
There’s so many reasons for Inuktitut language loss, she said. I have always been and would continue to be a strong supporter of the Inuktitut language.
Kabloona is running against incumbent NDP member of Parliament Lori Idlout, Conservative candidate James Arreak and the Green Party’s Brennan Wauters.
Based on: Nunatsiaq News
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