Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

NNSL (Nov 23/98) - The results of the first-ever Nunavut enumeration were released last week and election officials said they were pleased with the results.

A total of 11,579 voters got their names on the preliminary list and for those who missed the process which took place at the beginning of October, a revision period will be held in each returning officer's district from Jan. 2-18, 1999.

"Overall, I think the enumeration was pretty successful," said Brian Armstrong, the co-ordinator of training and information for the office of the chief electoral officer.

He said some of the larger communities proved to be a little problematic, but he was hopeful that anyone who was missed would be able to add their name in January.

"There were problems in Iqaluit, but that's not unusual because it's hard to enumerate. It's easier to find people to do the work in the smaller communities and they know most of the people, so they can go out and just do it."

Eligible voters who choose to vote by mail-in ballot or proxy must first be on the list of electors, Armstrong said, but residents wishing to vote at the advance poll can simply be sworn in by the returning officer. Those officials also have the authority to swear residents in on polling day.

Armstrong noted that the preliminary list of electors would be made available to all potential candidates on Jan. 1, after the election writ had been issued. Candidates have until Jan.11 to enter the race once the election has been formally called.

General meeting

At the last Nunavut Tunngavik annual general meeting that took place before division, interim commissioner Jack Anawak asked members of NTI to attend a meeting to discuss the land claim.

During the four-day AGM in Cambridge Bay last week, Anawak asked NTI representatives to sit down with people from his office, along with GNWT and the federal government officials, to look at the sections of the claim which deal with Inuit employment and government contracts.

"We want to work closely with NTI to ensure the Nunavut government meets its obligations under the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement," said Anawak, in a press release issued by his office.

The details surrounding the meeting have not been settled.

During the same meeting, NTI released its 1998 annual report outlining the overall activities and the budget figures of the organization.

More specific topics, like the hunter support program and the length of office of the members of the executive committee, were also brought to the table.

Bill review

The legislative assembly's standing committee on government operations reviewed Bill 17 last week.

If passed, the proposed Division Measures Act will amend existing rules and regulations so they can be duplicated and apply to both Nunavut and the NWT after division. The bill also looks after acts which will not be duplicated, but replaced by the Nunavut Statutes Replacement Act.

Nunavik Inuit

A delegation of Nunavik representatives travelled to Ottawa last week to speak to the parliamentary standing committee on Indian and Northern affairs.

With a presentation on the focal issues of housing, marine infrastructure and offshore claims, the new president of the Makivik Corp., Pita Atami, and the Kativik regional government chair, Johnny Adams, made the trip to clarify for the government which issues are most important to the Inuit of Northern Quebec.