Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Oct 02/00) - Communities in the Kitikmeot will soon know if the Human Resources Department of Canada (HRDC) will open an office front in their region.

Cambridge Bay mayor Keith Peterson said the region has been after a full time HRDC presence for the last 15 years.

Mary Jane Adamson, HRDC director for Nunavut said the latest request went to Ottawa in August and a decision is expected soon.

"We just have two offices in Nunavut, one in Iqaluit and one in Rankin Inlet," said Adamson, adding, "there is a lack of resources for people in the Kitikmeot.

Peterson believes an HRDC office is a necessity for residents when it comes to dealing in areas like pensions and unemployment insurance.

"There is so much bureaucracy and a lot of people don't have social insurance numbers," said Peterson.

"An elder came into my office and said he had been trying to make it month to month with limited support," adds Peterson.

"He didn't know how to fill out forms for pensions, he didn't even know if his wife had a birth certificate. I tried to help and it's been four or five months of bureaucracy."

Adamson agrees that there is a need in the Kitikmeot, but for now she is doing what she can with limited resources.

"We're sending three people into the Kitikmeot on Oct 9 for two weeks to help all five communities with pensions, disability payments, UI ect.," said Adamson.

"We are responding to a need," she adds.