The Nunavut Housing Corporation has a $60.5-million budget to construct 114 housing units in 2021-22.

That compares with 116 new houses built during the previous fiscal year.

The Government of Nunavut has allocated $17.5 million for 105 public housing units and $5 million for nine staff housing units over the next year. That will be supplemented by $13.8 million in carry-over capital from last year. The federal government, through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, has committed $24.2 million.

In 2019-20, the Nunavut Housing Corporation (NHC) allotted $54.7 million to major construction contracts through public tenders. Inuit businesses with Nunavummi Nangminiqaqtunik Ikajuuti status – the territorial government’s preferential treatment for Inuit enterprises – were awarded $43.3 million of those contracts.

The price to build a new home has been rising steadily. On average, it cost $642,000 to construct a new unit in Nunavut in 2019-20. That compares to $534,000 in 2018-19 and $481,000 in 2017-18.

The NHC’s maintenance and improvement budget in 2019-20 saw $790,000 go toward renovating units in Iqaluit, $691,000 was spent in Arviat, $627,000 was designated for Baker Lake, $492,000 was invested in Kugluktuk and $482,000 went to Rankin Inlet. Those communities represented the top five in maintenance and improvement spending.

In the legislative assembly in March, Housing Minister Margaret Nakashuk pointed out that the Covid-19 pandemic didn’t prevent the NHC from delivering on housing construction.

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