Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

Iglulik ( Jun 12/00) - Nearly seven months after the Government of Nunavut decreed the entire territory would operate on central standard time, the hamlet of Iglulik is joining the rebellion.

The hamlets of Sanikiluaq, Pangnirtung and Clyde River all chose to defy Premier Paul Okalik and his cabinet last fall by continuing to operate on eastern standard time despite the new legislation.

Iglulik brings the number to four Baffin communities refusing to switch their clocks back one hour, a switch the communities said brought darkness on too early.

"We've opted to stay at eastern standard time (this fall). That's what we are proposing," said Iglulik Mayor Aime Panimera.

Hoping to garner more support from other disgruntled Baffin communities, Panimera said the amount of public opposition witnessed in his hamlet left him no choice but to join the small but dedicated group.

"I've got their support on it, the majority. I've said on the radio time and time again that we will stay on eastern standard time unless I get strong objection from the public, which I haven't yet," said Panimera.

While his plans for the fall continue to move full-steam ahead, the mayor noted that some details are still a bit vague.

For example, legislation requires all GN departments to operate on EST and Panimera said he wasn't sure how the community would handle two different time zones. He was, however, comforted by the fact that the three communities who chose to remain on EST last fall had managed to function without any major mishaps during the winter.

"I talked to the Pangnirtung mayor and asked him what kind of problems he's had to face because of the two different time zones. He couldn't give me one good problem that had happened," said Panimera.

Responding through his press secretary, Premier Okalik said he would address Iglulik's and the other communities' concerns through a survey that is currently being conducted.

Annette Bourgeois explained that in order to gain an understanding of how Nunavummiut feel about the united time zone, the GN, as promised by the premier, was conducting a telephone and letter campaign.

A total of about 700 phone calls will be made at random to residents across the territory and hundreds of letters to the Hunters and Trappers Associations, hamlet offices, housing associations, district education authorities, regional Inuit associations, chambers of commerce, Nunavut Tourism and various businesses will be sent out this week.

"We're in the process of doing that now," said Bourgeois.

"We're basically saying, 'Tell us what you think, this is why we did it, have you noticed any changes?' It's a chance for people to say what they think," she said.

The results of the survey will be taken back to cabinet and a decision regarding the time zone will be made.