Idlout, with community leaders, calls on Liberals to support Inuit children

IQALUIT – On Friday, NDP MP Lori Idlout (Nunavut) stood with Taya Tootoo, Executive Director of the Arctic Children and Youth Foundation (ACYF), Jeneca Fanjoy, Program Manager of ACYF, and Dr. Dr. Holden Sheffield, Chief of Pediatrics and General Pediatrician, Qikiqtani General Hospital, and urged the Liberal government to provide clarity on the future of the Inuit Child First Initiative (ICFI).

The call comes after the Liberals and Indigenous services minister Patty Hajdu refuse to reassure the community that ICFI will continue, a program that financially supports Inuit families and children who live in poverty. It is set to end on March 31, 2025.

"We are 31 days away from Nunavut families being cut off from their support – this is unacceptable,” said Idlout. “I am hearing from Nunavummiut how worried they are that Liberals might cut off of the support they rely so heavily on. Instead of giving the families the reassurance they need, Liberals have been silent. Liberals are ignoring families and Nunavut leaders when they need it the most and playing political games. I will keep standing up for Inuit children and families and I will not stop until support is secured for Nunavut families."

"This program has been a lifeline for thousands of Inuit children, providing essential support for food, healthcare, and education," added Tootoo.

With no funding commitment beyond March 31, families and frontline organizations are facing an urgent crisis. The loss of these services would be devastating, leaving children without access to the basic necessities they rely on every day. We need all of our leaders to come together to find a solution - Inuit children cannot be left behind.