Nunavut News Editorial: Supporting those with disabilities

In October 2020, Amittuq MLA Joelie Kaernerk rose in the House to speak with concern over his constituents and other Nunavummiut living with disabilities who are not being supported by their government.

At the time, Government of Nunavut funding for the Nunavummi Disabilities Makinnasuaqtiit Society (NDMS), which assists those with disabilities, remained static at $100,000, though Kaernerk asserted it should be increased, and colleagues in the House supported the idea.

NDMS is teaming up with the newly-established Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence (CCCE) to map out Nunavut’s home and family caregiving needs, something CCCE executive director Liv Mendelsohn says there is very little existing data on.