Jennifer Pritchett
Northern News Services

WHALE COVE (May 06/98) - The Kivalliq Inuit Association is continuing to assess the Keewatin Pilot Project following a board meeting in Whale Cove last week that revealed the organization needs more time to clarify its position on the controversial proposal.

If implemented, the GNWT will turn over millions of dollars to regional government in the Keewatin to handle capital projects that are currently administered in Yellowknife.

KIA president Paul Kaludjak said the project, as it has been presented by the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, is difficult to understand, and needs to be clarified before those affected can make an informed decision about it.

"I'm hoping the people designing it are working overtime to make it so that the hamlets understand it," he said. "The proposal is complex and difficult to follow."

But Kaludjak, who sees several advantages to the project, said it is primarily the timing -- just 11 months remain before division -- that is problematic.

"It would be nice for it to be the first priority of the new government and they would implement it after the new government is set up."

Kaludjak, in identifying the main issues of contention within the proposal, said that he is concerned about how the Keewatin Communities Association would administer the funds. He sees a danger of putting smaller communities, with fewer members on the KCA at a disadvantage.

"The decision-making will be made by the affected communities," he said. "But it has to be so that the larger communities don't take advantage of the smaller communities."

Kaludjak said he would like to see Interim Commissioner Jack Anawak say how the project will affect Nunavut's government.

"A lot of these things are initiated by individual politicians -- some of these are personal agendas ... that could mean business interests or campaign interests," he said. "This is not the appropriate time for new ideas for the old government. It's a time for new ideas for the new government."

Anawak was unavailable for comment.

KIA is planning to hold another meeting with officials from MACA in Rankin Inlet May 19. The session will precede a meeting in Yellowknife May 26 that will bring together officials from KIA, NTI and Nunavut Implementation Commission, Keewatin mayors and senior administrators, as well as GNWT officials to discuss the viability of the project and if it is to be implemented prior to April 1, 1999.