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Nunavik employment expected to rise with self-government

"The jobs will move up north, so there will be potential for people up here"

GREG YOUNGER-LEWIS

Nunavimmiut can start preparing their job applications for new positions coming to the region as a result of self-government negotiations.

Pita Aatami, president of Makivik Corp., said more employment opportunities will sprout this summer, when Nunavik leaders start merging their major institutions into the network that will become the new government.

The first phase of self-government implementation involved the amalgamation of the Kativik Regional Government, the Kativik School Board, and Makivik Corp.

Aatami said self-government negotiators will update Inuit leaders about their progress at Makivik's annual general meeting in Akulivik next week.

Aatami suggested the coming first phase of self-governance isn't significant, compared the next phase, when negotiations will reveal exactly what powers the new government will have.

However, the AGM update will mark a turning point, confirming how administration for the new government groups will merge and move entirely to Nunavik by June.

"There'll be change," Aatami said. "The jobs will move up north, so there'll be potential for people up here looking for jobs. Negotiators are working on this down South. There are a lot of administrative jobs there. People are being told that if they want to keep their jobs, they have to move north."

Nunavik's new cruise line company will also bring jobs, and money, to Nunavik.

Representatives of Makivik's tourism service will brief delegates about cruise dates, and how communities can prepare for the influx of tourists. The inaugural cruise is scheduled for mid-July.

AGM delegates will also receive an update on unsettled land claims and funding arrangements with the federal government.

Aatami said Makivik is on the verge of closing a deal with Ottawa to hand over hundreds of off-shore islands to Nunavik. This involves transferring 80 per cent of the islands around the coastline of northern Quebec to Nunavimmiut's new territory.

Makivik officials have good news about funding arrangements for marine infrastructure projects, as well.

Aatami said they will receive $9 million soon to make up for an unexpected shortfall in funding from a proposed $88 million joint-project between Makivik, and the federal and provincial governments.

He said the money will go towards fixing up or adding to breakwater projects in the communities that first benefited from the five-year agreement.

Special guest speakers weren't yet confirmed for the AGM. But organizers hoped Geoff Kelly, Quebec's new minister of native affairs, would meet delegates. They also expected Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami president Jose Kusugak to be there.

The AGM runs April 5-8.

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