Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Baker Lake (Jun 21/00) - Nunavut Power Corp.'s decision to form a partnership with Nunavut Arctic College bodes well for Baker Lake.

The Power Corp. will be hiring staff in September for its head office in the hamlet. The new employees will take a three-month training course through Nunavut Arctic College.

The new headquarters must have 14 full-time positions staffed and functional by April 1, 2001.

Baker Lake MLA Glenn McLean says there will be an affirmative action plan in place, but everybody who applies will be considered.

"Baker Lake residents are going to be targeted for employment, no matter who they are," says McLean.

"I think this is one of the best initiatives this government has ever looked at, let alone implemented."

Baker Mayor Jacob Ikinilik says the initiative is the right way to approach decentralization.

"The mayor and council are extremely pleased that the Nunavut Power Corp. has a plan in place to train and hire local residents of Baker Lake through a partnership with Nunavut Arctic College," says Ikinilik.

"This is the type of leadership shown by Minister Responsible for the Power Corp. Ed Picco. We need to maximize the number of local residents of Baker Lake to be hired for these new positions."

McLean says any move towards realizing Baker Lake's maximum potential is a big step in the right direction.

And says Nunavut Arctic College's involvement in the training process as another positive development.

McLean adds that if the territorial government could implement this in other communities, decentralization would be even more popular than it is.

"Our philosophy in Baker Lake is to try and create one job at a time because it means so much, especially if it's a local position.

"The Power Corp. trying to fill 14 positions with all local Inuit is a step in the right direction. At an average of about $50,000 to $60,000 a year, this injects a lot of money into our local economy. That means a lot to us."