Glen Korstrom
Northern News Services

INUVIK (Nov 13/98) - Every year during freeze up, Mohamed Elkadry blames the federal government for not subsidizing Northern residents more.

As the owner of the Roost restaurant, the Corner Store and the Midtown Market, he must fly in milk, eggs, cheese and bread along with other staples at a rate of $1 per pound.

"I blame the federal government for the high cost of living. It subsidizes things, but not food," he says behind the Midtown Market counter on a Sunday.

"And, power costs four times more than down south."

Elkadry works seven days a week, sometimes as much as 14 hours a day.

Aside from cost irritants at this time of year, his favourite part of his job is meeting people and talking and telling jokes with customers.

He considers Inuvik a small town where the beautiful thing is how everybody knows everybody else.

He also likes the freedom of his job.

"I'm my own boss. Nobody bosses me around."

As a Palestinian born around Bethlehem in 1948, Elkadry soon moved to Lebanon with his parents to elude tensions in what had become Israel.

The family moved to Canada in 1974 and Elkadry lived in Edmonton until 1985 when he came North with his wife and drove a taxi for a few years.

Now divorced, he has six children: Kathy, Dawrish, Amni, Sherffy, Tarick and Sara.

Elkadry expects to become a grandfather in January when Kathy, who still lives in Inuvik, is due.

Because of his long hours, he says he does not have time for sports or other recreational activities.

After one customer walks in and brazenly asks for money, Elkadry explains he can't give it and, once the man has left the store, says several people ask for money every day.

"Since 1988, I have lost $65,000 through bouncing cheques and people borrowing money. That's it. Now I don't. For every 50 people there is one bad one who ruins it, otherwise I don't mind to give a guy a break."

Elkadry says some in Inuvik who owe him hundreds of dollars not only avoid giving him back the money, but avoid him -- and that means he has lost customers.

One company Elkandry will not give a break to is NorthwesTel.

Though the phone monopoly has attempted to crack down on what it considers illegal phone cards by blocking 1-800 numbers, Elkadry points to a sign indicating he has Uno phone cards.

"You can put that in the paper," he says, unconcerned about repercussions.

"They don't want to lower their long-distance rate. I'll show them."