Maria Canton
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Apr 17/00) - Following the recent release of an independent review of Nunavut Tunngavik Incorported's progress over the last five years, NTI's president says the organization welcomes the grade they received of "unsatisfactory."

In a press release, president Paul Quassa said "new energies will be invested in fixing the critical problems identified by (consultants) Avery Cooper, and then turn to deal with the other implementation shortcomings."

Avery Cooper, which looked at hundreds of documents and conducted interviews and surveys during the review process, recommended "better project management and more joint effort to ensure all the required changes are made and benefits delivered."

Some of the shortcomings highlighted in NTI's progress since 1995 include: failing to keep a single list of progress in implementing obligations; the target level of Inuit employment was only half met and remained static at 42 per cent from 1996 to 1998; the water board, planning commission and review board were established without legislation, thus reducing the effectiveness of the bodies.

They did note, however, the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board was largely on track in fulling their mandate.

Mr. Quassa says "two things are apparent from the review: there is an urgent need for the Government of Canada to equip the three-party Nuanvut Implementation Panel with the real resources needed to carry out its important responsibilities under Article 37 of the NLCA.

"And the federal government is four years late in enacting resource management legislation with respect to Nunavut's institutions of public government."

In closing, the Five Year Review recommended "Inuit and government rethink and restart implementation of Inuit employment within government."