Changes coming to Nunavut's fuel and daycare subsidies, motor vehicles act

Nunavut's Deputy Commissioner Nellie Kusugak opened the third session of the fourth legislative assembly today in Iqaluit with a speech outlining the government's priorities in the months to come.

Highlights include:

• a feasibility study on founding a university in Nunavut
• changes to the senior fuel subsidy program, daycare subsidy, and looking at exempting the National Child Benefit Supplement from Income Support eligibility calculations
• an annual food price survey to establish a baseline and to determine trends and barriers that contribute to access of nutritious foods
• a hunter education program, with particular focus on sustainable harvesting skills
• roll out of a socio-economic assessment guide and comprehensive community engagement policy and guide for practitioners and reviewers of major development projects in Nunavut
• amendments to the Motor Vehicles Act, which will include measures to curb distracted driving
• work toward opening a Nunavut Heritage Centre by 2021

Today is also the last day of the spring sitting. The fall sitting is scheduled for October.