Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

GJOA HAVEN (May 24/99) - Whether its the gas or the additives, there's no question that many people in Gjoa Haven are feeling like Iqaluit is a million miles away instead of just 900 kilometres.

Relations between the Kitikmeot community and the capitol have been souring since division, when the Nunavut government inherited responsibility for dealing with complaints from the community that its last barge shipment of gas was bad.

The government has had the gas tested several times and maintains there is nothing wrong with it. At a meeting held in the community last month, Department of Transport representatives said the problem may have been created by gas line anti-freeze being added to the fuel.

But Gjoa Haven Mayor Michael Angottituaruq Sr. said people, many of whom rely on their snowmobiles for subsistence hunting, know what additives to use. Angottituaruq said the engine problems are continuing though gas line antifreeze is no longer being used.

Gjoa Haven resident and MLA Uriash Puqiqnak said his snowmobile also broke down several times this year. Puqiqnak has had the machine for two and a half years, and said he's been using the same gas line antifreeze this year that he's used without problems in the past.

On Wednesday, Puqiqnak raised the issue in the Nunavut Assembly. Minister of Public Works Manitok Thompson offered to set up a meeting with her staff to explain their position to Puqiqnak.

"I told them if it's the same answer from them, I don't want to go to the meeting," said Puqiqnak. He later apologized to the assembly for not acting in the spirit of co-operation and agreed to attend the meeting.

The answer was the same, he said. Officials showed him research indicating there was nothing wrong with the gas.

"I'm not saying the community doesn't have a problem," said Thompson. "I'm saying we're doing the testing and it's all saying the gas meets the specifications.

Thompson said the gas was tested before being shipped and has been tested three times since.

In response to a request from the hamlet for independent testing, one of the three tests was carried out by Petro Canada. It indicated there was no problem with the fuel.

Thompson said the government, again responding to a request from the hamlet, has commissioned an Ontario firm, Advanced Engine Technology, to do cold weather testing of the gas. The results should be in next week said the minister.

The tests have so far cost the government about $40,000, Thompson said.

Mayor Angottituaruq estimated more than 50 snowmobiles have been damaged by the gas, some of them new or near-new machines.

"What we're more afraid of is when boating season comes in," said Angottituaruq. "The winds pick up pretty rapidly here. If people are going to have the same problems with the same fuel, that's where the big danger is going to come in."

Because of the lack of action by the territorial government and with the approach of boating season, the hamlet may bite the bullet and spend about $37,000 to have 50 barrels of gas flown in. That decision will be made by May 25, said the mayor.

Angottituaruq said the new gas would also "slow down the expenses that the people are having (as a result of the bad gas). A lot of crank shafts went this winter and any crank shaft bought here in Gjoa Haven costs at least $800."

He said people have also found they have to change the cylinder walls of their snowmobile engines, normally good for years, after only three to six weeks of use.