Malcolm Gorrill
Northern News Services

Inuvik (Oct 20/00) - Inuvik Works is seeking an additional $25,000 from the Town of Inuvik.

The program started in January as a way to give unemployed people valuable work experience and training courses. Manager Camellia Gray made the request during a presentation to town council last week.

Afterwards, Gray said 75 people have been involved in the program. They have contributed about 8,000 hours to town projects, a total expected to reach 12,000 by the end of December.

Gray's request was put on hold until councillors could examine the former warehouse next to the Midnight Sun Recreation Complex that Public Works has been renovating.

The matter will be dealt with when the new mayor and councillors meet Nov. 6.

Gray said Public Works has probably saved the town money by taking on projects which the town otherwise would have had to contract out at a higher price.

Deputy mayor Peter Clarkson helped start Public Works. He said that the main reason the program wants another $25,000 is that renovations to the workshop have cost twice as much as was estimated.

Clarkson said the program has been successful in getting people back into the workforce, and Gray agreed.

"Different business owners, they're phoning us, saying, 'Camellia, we need four labourers,'" Gray said. "I'm so glad companies and services are starting to realize we're around."

John Kayotuk entered Public Works in June and said it's pretty valuable.

"It makes it easier to get a job," Kayotuk said. "Through this program we can get our chainsaw certificates. We can also get our working with dangerous goods certificate."

He said it has helped just being able to have someplace to go work every day.

Dave Gardlund started with the program in August. He has helped build picnic tables and tear down old playground equipment at Sir Alexander Mackenzie school. Like Kayotuk, he said the program should make it easier for him to land a job.