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Around Nunavut

November 4, 2005

Baffin: Canada’s artsiest rural region

The Baffin region is the “most creative rural area in Canada,” says a recent survey done for a group of government arts funding agencies.

The survey, done by Hill Strategies Research, used information from Statistics Canada’s 2001 census to count the number of artists living in each of Canada’s postal code regions.

The found that the X0A region, which takes in the Baffin region, has 230 artists in a population of 6,700 workers, for an “artistic concentration” of 3.4 per cent, four times the national average of 0.8 per cent.

Nunavut’s X0C region, which takes in the Kivalliq, was tied for sixth place in Canada with an artistic concentration of 1.6 per cent.

Canada’s artsiest urban neighbourhood, the survey found, is Montreal’s Plateau area, centred around Mount Royal Avenue between St-Denis and Park Avenue, with an artistic concentration of 8 per cent.

November 4, 2005

QEC tinkers with rates

Power customers in two tiny communities, Whale Cove and Kimmirut, will start paying lower rates this month, a GN press release says.

Consumers in these two communities paid, until now, rates that were 25 to 30 per cent higher than the Nunavut average. That’s because the rates were set by the old Northwest Territories Public Utilities Board to cover the cost of building new local power plants.

But Nunavut’s Utilities Rates Review Council has recommended that Whale Cove’s community power rates drop by an average of 18.14 cents a kilowatt-hour, and Kimmirut’s community rates drop by an average of 16.63 cents a kilowatt-hour.

Nunavut’s energy minister, Ed Picco, is waiting for a final report from the URRC on how to finance new power plants and power plant upgrades through the use of a temporary surcharge called a “capital stabilization rate rider.”

Meanwhile, the QEC will go ahead with another temporary surcharge called a “fuel stabilization rider,” which will add 3.98 cents a kilowatt-hour to customer’s bills as of Nov. 1, pending a final report on the issue from the URRC.

Also from Nov. 1, residential customers will benefit from a new subsidy system for residential consumers that increases to 1,000 kilowatt-hours the amount of monthly consumption that’s eligible for a subsidized rate

November 4, 2005

QIA sprinkles money on youth

The Qikiqtani Inuit Association went on a small spending spree this week, sprinkling money among youth groups in three communities.

The organization announced the following handouts:

• $10,000 to a youth sewing program in Iqaluit;
• $10,000 to a youth sewing program in Pangnirtung;
• $45,000 to a youth camping program in Pangnirtung;
• $45,000 to a youth camping program in Arctic Bay.

The money for youth camping is redirected from a Heritage Canada scheme called the “Urban Multi-Purpose Aboriginal Youth Centre Program.”

November 4, 2005

Economic gurus warn of poor health, education

Nunavut’s economic future is still clouded by poor population health and poor quality education, says a report issued by the Nunavut Economic Forum.

The report is an update on a study issued by the Conference Board of Canada in 2001, and looks at what’s changed in the five years since.

The researchers found that progress in developing Nunavut’s “human capital” — its people — is too slow.

“The pace of these improvements will disappoint Nunavummiut and other observers, but this should not deter anyone’s resolve on this front,” they said in their executive summary.

Their report says “serious issues exist with the health status and education of Nunavummiut, in particular for women and children,” and that in spite of increasing numbers of high school graduates, “significant work remains in raising the quality of education children receive.”

November 4, 2005

GN plans red-tape review

The Government of Nunavut is asking the business community, Inuit organizations and other stakeholders for suggestions on how to snip bureaucratic red tape.

Suggestions received will be used to streamline the business regulatory system.

“There is a growing sense among Nunavummiut that this regulatory system no longer serves us well,” said Peter Kilabuk, minister of economic development and transportation, in a press release. “It is outdated and does not reflect our own distinctive economy.”

Some areas of focus include: mandatory filing requirements; detailed guidelines and reporting; enforcement and inspection activities; duplication between the GN and federal government; application of fees, permits or licenses; inspections around safety and health standards; and processing times for program and service delivery.

The review will be conducted by the Barriers to Business Working Group, which includes representatives from the departments of economic development and transportation, executive and intergovernmental affairs and justice.

November 4, 2005

QIA election Dec. 12

Nominations opened on Oct. 24 for the presidency and nine Community-director seats, one in each of the following communities: Cape Dorset, Clyde River, Hall Beach, Sanikiluaq, Igloolik, Iqaluit, Kimmirut, Pond Inlet and Resolute Bay. Nominations close on Nov. 7 at 5 p.m.

All positions are three-year terms that expire in December 2008.

Nomination papers must be delivered to either executive director Terry Audla, or chief returning officer Helen Klengenberg. Faxes will be accepted to either (867) 979-3238 or 979-1643

QIA will hold an election for beneficiaries on Dec. 12.

November 4, 2005

Pang tees up

More than $30,000 in golf equipment is bound for Pangnirtung for the Christmas holidays.

That’s more than 1,000 golf clubs, 8,000 golf balls, along with golf bags, shirts and shoes.

Kids in the community enjoy golf but don’t have proper equipment, according to Peter Kilabuk, MLA for Pangnirtung, who organized the effort. First Air is flying the equipment free of charge and will host a golf clinic this winter.

The equipment will be given out during Christmas celebrations.

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