Around
Nunavut
August
8, 2003
Intergovernmental
affairs minister tours Nunavut
Stéphane
Dion, the federal minister of intergovernmental affairs, met with Premier Paul
Okalik in Iqaluit this week. (PHOTO BY PATRICIA D'SOUZA)
|
Stéphane Dion, the
federal minister of intergovernmental affairs, travelled though Nunavut this
past week, stopping in Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet, Kugaaruk, Gjoa Haven and Arviat.
In Iqaluit, he met with
Premier Paul Okalik, and in Kugaaruk, Gjoa Haven and Arviat he travelled with
Nunavut MP Nancy Karetak-Lindell.
Okalik said he had a good,
frank discussion with Dion on the holiday Monday, covering a host of Nunavut
complaints including fish quotas, economic development and devolution.
The premier also discussed
his troubled relationship with Robert Nault, minister of Indian and northern
affairs, saying he looks forward to a new minister in the portfolio after the
next federal election.
"The two guys have
difficulty getting along," Dion said. "We should do what we can to
improve the relationship because both of them are men of good faith."
Dion made no commitments
during the brief meeting, saying, among other things, the fisheries minister
will not renegotiate his decision on the Davis Strait quota this year, but may
be open to discussions next year.
Dion last visited Nunavut
three years ago with a federal delegation of diplomats.
August
8, 2003
Three Nunavummiut
named to Order of Canada
Adrienne Clarkson, Governor
General of Canada, announced new appointments to the Order of Canada this week.
The Order of Canada, an
honorary society, was established in 1967 to recognize outstanding achievement
and service.
Among the 109 appointees
are three Nunavummiut, one from each of the territory's regions:
- Ann Meetijuk Hanson
of Iqaluit, former broadcaster, former deputy commissioner of the Northwest
Territories, and former chair of the Baffin Regional Health Board;
- John Kaunak, mayor
of Repulse Bay, member of the Keewatin elders council;
- Bill Lyall of Cambridge
Bay, a long-time activist in the co-op movement, a former MLA, and a former
member of the Nunavut Implementation Commission.
August
8, 2003
Feds give Baker Lake
resort $360,000
Nunamiut Company Ltd. is getting $360,000 from the Department of Indian Affairs
and Northern Development's "Opportunity Fund" for its Baker Lake cultural
tours and resort business.
The tour agency is the first to offer year-round packaged tours and accommodations
in Baker Lake. The federal money will help expand the business to three new
buildings, which will provide accommodations, conference and kitchen facilities,
a gift shop and dining room.
The total cost of the expansion is $1.97 million. Industry Canada and the Nunavut
Business Development Fund are also contributing to the project.
August
8, 2003
New money for diamond
projects
Twin Mining Corp. has raised
another $1.5 million through the sale of new shares.
The money will be used
to continue the mining company's exploration of the Jackson Inlet diamond project
on Baffin Island and the Torngat diamond project on Ungava Bay.
August
1, 2003
Suicide task force begins work
The Government of Nunavut's suicide task force will begin community consultations
this month. The consultations will run until mid-September and will focus on
the issue of suicide, as well as prevention and community healing.
During the March session of the legislature, MLAs passed a motion to support
the fight against suicide.
And in mid-July, Ed Picco, the minister of health and social services, appointed
a task force of youth, elders, healers, educators and justice workers.
The members of the task force are Norman Komoartok of Pangnirtung, Brian Simionie
of Pond Inlet, Meeka Arnakak of Pangnirtung, Adrienne Tagoona of Baker Lake,
Bernadette Saumik of Rankin Inlet, Theresa Kakkianiun of Kugaaruk, Bob Konona
of Gjoa Haven, Amie Ahegona of Kugluktuk and Kautaq Joseph of Arctic Bay.
August
1, 2003
GN benefits from wind study
The Meteorological Services Department of Environment Canada has begun work
on developing a wind map of Nunavut.
The map will provide information that will allow the government to gain increased
energy self-sufficiency through the potential development of wind farms.
The map is being created with new analysis and forecasting software developed
by the Meteorological Service of Canada. The program will compile 50 years of
detailed weather history.
The resulting map will allow the Nunavut government to select the most optimal
areas for wind farms.
Wind is a cheap and clean renewable energy source. The development of wind
farms would support Canada's commitment to reduce national emissions by 2013.
The wind map will be completed by October 2003.
August
1, 2003
Nunavut and Manitoba sign tourism agreement
Olayuk Akesuk, Nunavut's minister of sustainable development, and Eric Robinson,
Manitoba's minister of culture, heritage and tourism, have signed a memorandum
with the goal of improving tourism.
The accord aims to develop strong and economically viable tourism industries.
It builds on a process that began for Nunavut in Baker Lake in June when "The
Time is Right: A Vision and Strategy for Tourism Development" was tabled
in the legislature.
August
1, 2003
Contracts awarded for new police stations
The federal Department of Public Works has awarded contracts to an Iqaluit
construction firm, GC North Inc., to build new police stations in Kugaaruk and
Chesterfield Inlet.
Added together, the two contracts are worth about $2.8 million.
"This contract calls for the construction of community offices which will
expand, in a big way, the range of services the Mounties offer the citizens
of these and surround localities," Nunavut's MP, Nancy Karetak-Lindell,
said in a federal government press release.
The new police buildings are expected to be finished by October 2004.
August
1, 2003
Top doc touts HR plan
The head of Canada's national physicians' organization says the country needs
better ways of figuring out how many doctors, nurses and other health workers
should be trained, to avoid future shortages.
Dr. Dana Hanson, president of the Canadian Medical Association, came to Iqaluit
last week to talk with Ed Picco, Nunavut's health minister, and Bernie Blais,
the new deputy minister of health.
Dr. Sandy MacDonald, Nunavut's director of medical health, said Nunavut needs
more doctors, but doesn't have enough money in its health budget to create the
extra positions.
"I think Nunavut should have somewhere between 20 and 25 physicians across
the territory," MacDonald told reporters.
Right now, about 15 doctors are serving in Nunavut, many of them on short-term
contracts.
The building of two enlarged health centres, or "cottage hospitals"
in Cambridge Bay and Rankin Inlet will likely create a need for more doctors,
but MacDonald said the health department doesn't know how many yet.
"I don't know exactly what the impact will be, but based on my experience
the change is likely to be greater in the Kitikmeot and Kivalliq regions than
in the Baffin," MacDonald said.
That's because the Baffin is getting a replacement for a hospital that already
exists, but the other two communities are getting new kinds of facilities.
August
1, 2003
Bear's watching
As of last week, staff with the department of sustainable development were
still noting polar bear activity in Katannilik Park, near Kimmirut.
On July 25, DSD staff reported finding polar bear tracks in the park.
They're warning the public, especially tourists, not to approach polar bears
if they see one.
On July 27, 2001, two Quebec tourists camping in the park were badly mauled
by a polar bear, and complained afterward that DSD officials didn't warn them
that polar bears sometimes frequent the park.
TOP
| 
Nunavut 99
