Iqaluit called 'Yellowknife East'
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Rankin Inlet (Apr 11/01) - Relocating the dump sooner than later is one project Rankin Inlet's mayor and councillors intend to push for when they get together with other municipalities later this month.
Mayor Jack Kabvitok, councillors Louis Taparti and Celestino Makpah, and SAO Ron Roach have already set the stage during recent meetings in Iqaluit.
The group tabled a number of questions on the hamlet's version of the five year capital plan as compared to the Nunavut Government's.
Ministers were asked to review the questions and submit their answers in writing at a special council meeting during the upcoming Nunavut Association of Municipalities' (NAM) annual general meeting in Rankin.
Once that's done, council will send a newsletter to every household in Rankin stating its priorities for the next two years, the issues discussed with the ministers and their responses.
"We were happy with both Manitok Thompson and Ed Picco's responses to our concerns during our Iqaluit meetings," says Taparti.
"We did get the ministers to agree to present their answers during the special council meeting."
Hamlets need input
Taparti says the number one priority is getting the town dump relocated.
"We asked the community for priorities and that was the overwhelming choice. Its relocation would make it easier to clean up the town and have more pride in our community."
Although the dump's relocation is scheduled for 2005, council is hopeful funding will be available to begin the project this summer.
Taparti says hamlets need more input when capital planning is being devised and that the NG has not delivered on its promises to be accountable to the people.
"In the two years since division, it seems more like another Yellowknife than Iqaluit.
"Our concerns are not being heard and we get one excuse after another as to meeting some of our requests."
Taparti says more consultation at the municipal level would go a long way towards alleviating concerns Iqaluit has become Yellowknife East.
"There has to be more control at the municipal level for Nunavut to be successful."
