Increased gas subsidy for Nunavik Inuit beneficiaries comes into effect Oct. 1
Inuit beneficiaries of the James Bay and Northern Québec Agreement will see an increased gas subsidy as of Oct. 1 to help offset increasing gasoline prices in the region.
The current subsidy of 78 cents per litre will be raised to $1, Makivvik and the Kativik Regional Government (KRG) said in a joint statement on Wednesday.
“Gasoline in Nunavik is not a luxury,” Pita Aatami, Makivvik’s president, said. “It is what allows people to get out on the land, harvest food, visit family and move within their communities.”
Makivvik, which represents Nunavik Inuit, and KRG, which administers Nunavik, said the decision was made after the region’s fuel distributors confirmed prices would increase by 31.5 cents on Oct. 1 from $2.465 to $2.78 per litre.
The subsidy means eligible Inuit beneficiaries will now pay $1.78 per litre of gasoline.
“This will ease some of the pressure that Nunavimmiut face with the extremely high cost of essential goods, and in providing for their families,” KRG Chairperson Maggie Emudluk said.
The gasoline subsidy is one of six cost-of-living reduction measures in place since 2007.
In August, Makivvik, KRG and Quebec’s provincial government signed a new $155 million deal to help mitigate the high cost of living in Nunavik over the next six years.
The money comes from the province and covers things like gas, airfare discounts, harvesting equipment and food.
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Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Whitehorse residents and travellers react to high gas prices, CBC News
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Sweden: Electricity prices climb in Sweden as Russian gas pipeline goes offline, Radio Sweden
United States: Alaska’s Northwest Arctic Borough gets $2 million tribal energy grant, Alaska Public Media
