OTTAWA -- Northern businesses are welcoming a federal announcement of $130 million to shore up supply chains and health care during the COVID-19 pandemic, but they say they need help immediately to keep crucial services open.
"We need to keep these businesses running," said Kirt Ejeesiak of the Inuit Business Council.
"For us in the North, we don't have the luxury of having a huge selection of businesses that do the same thing. It's typically one outfit providing service.
"We want to be able to access the money immediately."
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced $73 million is to go to territorial governments for health and social services. Businesses with needs that aren't met by federal emergency aid such as the wage subsidy program are to receive $15 million.
Another $17.3 million is to subsidize northern air carriers to help maintain supplies of food, medicine and other essential goods and services. Another $25 million is to go to Nutrition North, which helps subsidize the higher cost of food in remote communities.
Ejeesiak called the announcement good news. But the council has released its own list of what governments can do to help.
It's looking for loans of up to $50,000 that are forgivable under certain circumstances, as well as a $250,000 zero-interest line of credit. It also wants restrictions on the wage subsidy program to be relaxed for contract workers.
Ejeesiak said Arctic businesses have challenges southern ones don't. For example, supplies and materials have to be ordered -- and paid for -- up to a year in advance.
He's still sorting through details of the federal announcement. Small businesses in the Arctic, he said, weren't consulted on it.
"There's been a lot of meetings, but businesses have been overlooked," he said. "Northern businesses don't fit the southern model."
Northern air carrier Canadian North said it was still evaluating the funding.
"While we still require more details on this announcement, this is an encouraging recognition of the essential service we provide and follows our efforts over the last month to have the government take note of our unique role," spokesman Dan Valin said in an email.
Federal New Democrat Leader Jagmeet Singh, also critic for Crown-Indigenous Relations and Indigenous Services, said the funding was good news but needs to be accompanied by long-term changes.
"That means investments in safe housing and infrastructure to prevent COVID-19 and tuberculosis from spreading," he said in a statement. "Resources and supplies must reach the territory quickly."
Northern communities, because of their remoteness, are considered the most vulnerable if COVID-19 begins to spread to them.
So far, there have been eight confirmed cases in Yukon, five in the Northwest Territories and none in Nunavut.
Trudeau said the funds are in recognition that there are unique challenges in the territories. The money will enhance what is available to communities and businesses through other COVID-19 aid programs.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 14, 2020
