Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

RANKIN INLET (Aug 08/01) - Mayors and SAOs across the Kivalliq region as they lobby the Department of Community Government and Transportation for a meeting of regional leaders.

The seven Kivalliq hamlets are nurturing a deal struck with northern Manitoba mayors this past April, one that saw the region join the NORMAN Development Organization as it relates to projects of mutual gain.

The idea behind the merger is to add volume to the region's voice when lobbying for federal support for projects such as a road between Manitoba and the Kivalliq and development of a freight port.

A memorandum of understanding was signed between northern Manitoba and Kivalliq mayors to formalize support for mutually beneficial projects.

The director for the Kivalliq region, Shawn Maley, says department is looking at the possibility of setting up a meeting in Manitoba where the Kivalliq mayors and senior administrators can come together and meet with each other first and then the Manitoba heads.

"We're lobbying the federal government for a road and it's just good business sense to join forces and have a company like Inco -- a major corporate player at the national level -- writing letters in support of the project as opposed to the mayors from Rankin Inlet or Arviat," says Maley.

"Inco has done a lot of prospecting and exploration work in the Kivalliq Region during the past 30 years.

"I can't speak for Inco, but, it would seem to make good business sense for them to be involved in a project which could open up a new frontier which potentially holds resources for them."

Maley says the Kivalliq leaders see the merger as an opportunity to gain some much-needed clout at the national level.

He says Manitoba's large First Nations population also supports the initiative.

"All these factors come together to make our lobbying voice that much louder and influential when we're trying to get Ottawa's attention and support."

Arviat SAO Darren Flynn says he fully supports regional meetings.

Flynn says Kivalliq interests get lost in the shuffle of territory-wide meetings such as the Nunavut Association of Municipalities.

"When we're in NAM meetings, what benefit is it to us to listen to the mayor of Pond Inlet talk about his woes?" asks Flynn. "It's time to put the needs of our region first."