Community governments deliver services that are vital for the survival of our communities and our economy. Budget 2021 includes strategic investments that will help NWT communities emerge stronger from the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Funding

To help reduce the gap between the cost of providing municipal services and the revenues that communities can raise themselves, the GNWT committed to reducing the municipal funding gap by $5 million by 2023. This budget puts the GNWT on track to meet that commitment, with an additional $3.3 million for community governments.

The GNWT also recognizes the need for increased financial support for NWT residents and communities as we continue to emerge from the pandemic. Budget 2021 includes a $4 million increase for the Income Assistance Program to accommodate an increased number of clients.

Housing

Budget 2021 includes $5 million in funding for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation to participate in the National Housing Co-investment Fund and will support the construction and revitalization of housing projects across the territory. Budget 2021 will also include $300,000 in funding for low income homeowners to replace aging fuel tanks, $365,000 to support family housing units for Aurora College students in Inuvik, and $109,000 to help emergency shelters deal with increasing costs.

Safety

Budget 2021 will invest in safer and more resilient communities by providing $303,000 for a new community government safety officer pilot program, $158,000 to continue to implement the Gun and Gang Strategy and $257,000 for training and compensation of Territorial Court Judges. Budget 2021 also includes $233,000 to create two new sheriff positions and $422,000 to add three RCMP constables in Yellowknife, as well as $123,000 to address rising cost of providing services to inmates at the North Slave Correctional Centre.