Rankin Inlet (Apr 13/05) - The Nunavut Development Corp. (NDC) has taken another step towards streamlining its operations.

Controller Darrin Nichol says the embroidery production line has been transferred to the Jessie Oonark Centre (JOC) in Baker Lake from Ivalu Ltd. in Rankin Inlet.

Elizabeth Paungat works on a new garment at the Jessie Oonark Centre in Baker Lake. - Brent Reaney/NNSL photo

Nichol says the embroidery work has been incorporated into the JOC's silk screen and printmaking lines.

"The Ivalu store is closed for renovations and we'll be moving our corporate head office into that building, as well," says Nichol.

"That will result in substantial savings for us because we own the building.

"We'll be making the move somewhere between the middle of October to the middle of November this year.

"Once we've moved, Ivalu will reopen as a retail operation."

Moving the embroidery operation cost Rankin one full-time job.

Nichol says the individual was offered alternate employment with Kivalliq Arctic Foods in Rankin, but respectfully declined to pursue other opportunities.

He says NDC will continue to look at ways to use the dollars allocated to it as effectively as possible.

The embroidery line has been grossing about $70,000 per year, but Nichol says it has the potential to top the $100,000 mark annually.

"About 15 to 20 per cent of the embroidery work is sold in Nunavut, with the balance being sold in our southern sales division.

"Ivalu general manager Mohammed Zidoune will be heading to Baker this coming August to spend one year as a production consultant to enhance the production environment at the JOC.

"We're expecting his presence to enhance production at the centre and, maybe, allow us to command a better price at the end of the day."

No jobs added

The embroidery line won't translate into additional manpower being added to the JOL environment at this time.

Nichol says the existing staff is more than adequate to complete the necessary work.

"We set out to do this with the least amount of negative impact as possible, and we've achieved that.

"NDC is one of, if not the most-transparent Crown corporation in Nunavut.

"We have excellent governance and every move we make, as a corporation, is done with the best interests of our overall portfolio of companies at heart."