Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Apr 08/02) - Premier Paul Okalik says a new fishing deal between Ottawa and northern Quebec's Inuit is offensive.

His words came two days after the parties put their initials on an agreement in principle that gives Nunavik Inuit, commercial fishing rights in waters adjacent to Nunavut.

And on Friday, a panel of fisheries experts appointed by Ottawa came to a similar conclusion, calling for a temporary halt to the awarding of new fishing rights in Nunavut waters.

Discussion between the two began in 1993. Less than two weeks ago, Tom Molloy, the federal negotiator, and representatives of Makivik Corp., which represents Nunavik Inuit, reached a deal.

As well as providing Nunavik with ownership of 80 per cent of the islands in James Bay, Hudson Bay and Ungava Bay, the agreement provides $50 million over a 15-year period and sets up a $5-million research fund.

The article of the agreement that has Okalik up in arms gives Nunavik Inuit the right to percentages of shrimp and turbot quota increases in Davis Strait and Baffin Bay, between Baffin Island and Greenland.

The waters of Davis Strait run from Resolution Island to Qikiqtarjuaq and Baffin Bay runs from Qikiqtarjuaq to Grise Fiord.

According to the agreement, Nunavik is entitled to 7.7 per cent of any increase in the shrimp quota in Davis Strait and 8.8 per cent in Baffin Bay. It also entitles them to 10 per cent of any turbot quota increase in Davis Strait.

"That is truly offensive," said Okalik.

Nunavut has just 27 per cent of the turbot in Davis Strait and 14 per cent of the shrimp in Davis Strait and Baffin Bay. Nunavik has four per cent of the turbot in Davis Strait. Its share of the shrimp in Baffin Bay and Davis Strait has not been set.

Southern fishers hold the balance in Davis Strait, something Nunavut has been lobbying to change for years. Okalik said the new agreement jeopardizes Nunavut's chances of accessing any future quota increases.

"If there is any increase ... it will go to Nunavik first, even though we're still waiting for our fair share in Nunavut," said Okalik. "We should be the true recipients of any benefits of those waters."

Okalik said when he first learned of the contents of the deal, he contacted Makivik president Pita Aatami to express his dismay. He said Aatami agreed to tell negotiators to pull the offensive sections so an equitable final agreement could be reached.

Okalik also contacted Prime Minister Jean Chretien, but his pleas fell on deaf ears. "The federal government insisted that language stay in even though Makivik was willing to pull those sections until we could work something out," said Okalik. "We have been rebuffed by the federal government and I am deeply disappointed in them."

Molloy said he knew Nunavut had concerns, but was unaware they involved quota percentages. He said he has informed the Nunavut government, Nunavut Tunngavik and Makivik that Ottawa is prepared to continue consultations as work on the agreement continues.

Ratification of the agreement is the next step, followed by a final agreement, which Molloy said he hopes to have in place by the end of 2003.

Nunavut Tunngavik president Cathy Towtongie agreed with Okalik's concerns, but said she is optimistic a solution can be found.

"I reject the notion that a land claims agreement for Nunavik should extend beyond the Nunavik marine region and provide rights for Nunavik Inuit in Nunavut waters," said Towtongie.

She said the situation was brought on by Ottawa and she doesn't understand why more attention isn't being paid to the quotas assigned Southerners.