Rankin Inlet (Aug 11/03) - It's a story Nunavummiut have all heard before. The Canadian government promising better dialogue and co-operation from Ottawa to help Nunavut meet its goals.

But, they are promises that are being met with more skepticism as time wears on.

"I'm at a point where I think Mr. Nault (minister of the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs) has forgotten the Northern part of his portfolio," said Ray Mercer, president of the Rankin Chamber of Commerce.

Mercer was one of 30 community representatives who attended a breakfast meeting with Stephane Dion, Canadian minister of intergovernmental affairs.

"Sometimes we get a little frustrated falling through the cracks," he said.

The round-table discussion focused on the push to construct a hydro and transportation link between the Kivalliq region and Manitoba.

The connection is expected to reap huge economic benefits for Nunavut as a whole.

But, the project is on hold, stuck at the feasibility study stage, which is expected to cost $500,000.

"We need some co-operation from Ottawa. This is not a lot of money, $500,000 is pretty small," said Mercer.

There is overwhelming frustration that the federal government is not spending enough in the territory.

But Dion said currently the federal government spends approximately $26,000 per capita annually in Nunavut.

That is compared to a national average of $1,500 per capita.

Dion said Nunavut is looking for an investment of $1.5 billion.

"It's not that we are not aware of your circumstances we just need to find this $1.5 billion," he said.

"Twenty million to $1.5 billion is a huge jump."

Nunavut's argument continues to be that money spent in the territory is an investment not an expenditure.

"We ask for so little to just be a part of the country and contribute. We don't want to be a welfare state," said Nunavut MP Nancy Karetak-Lindell.

She said history needs to repeat itself, forward thinkers need to put into action the same initiative that helped to build the west to now build the North.

"We need that kind of investment again," she said.

Dion was also hit with complaints during his first stop in Iqaluit.

There, he met with Premier Paul Okalik who lobbied for the federal government to rethink its decision on Northern fishing quotas.

Dion informed the premier that at this point the decision on fishing quotas is closed.

Dion said Nault and the government are doing what they can to meet the needs of Nunavut.

"It's not perfect," he admits.

"We have frustrations all over Canada."