Iqaluit (Feb 13/06) - Despite a letter from the circumpolar ambassador for Canada, the Northwest Company won't be getting rid of fees for cashing cheques at its stores.

What the Northern Charges Cheque cashing fee: One per cent of the cheque's total Debit card cash withdrawals: $3 or one per cent for cheques greater than $200 Personal cash transfers: $15 for transfers up to $200; $25 for transfers up to $500 Five per cent for transfers over $500 Commercial cash transfers: $30 for transfers up to $200 $50 for transfers up to $500 10 per cent for transfers to or from any business NWC cheque (money order) Service: $17 (non-profit organizations may be exempt from this fee) - Source: "It Just Makes Sense" pamphlet on fees published by the Northern store

Jack Anawak recently sent a letter to Nunavut's news outlets and the Northwest Company, decrying the five per cent that Northern Stores charge people when cashing a cheque.

In many of Nunavut's hamlets, the Northern store is the only place you can get a cheque cashed.

"In the mid-1900s, the HBC came up to Nunavut and basically pillaged our resources with minimum returns to the people through trade in furs. Today, trading furs is not there any more, but the pillaging goes on through fees that are exorbitant," wrote Anawak.

"I would call this highway robbery except we have no highways and therefore I will simply call it legalized robbery," wrote Anawak.

Jim Deyell, a spokesperson for the Northwest Company, doesn't think they are robbing anybody.

"If you check southern outlets that do the same thing, you'll find that our fees are cheaper," said Deyell.

The company wrote back to Anawak, pointing out that some of his facts were "inaccurate," said Deyell.

Insurance plays a big role in the fees charged.

"Transporting cash is a risky business. There is no Brinks truck coming up to our door. We have lost cash in deliveries in the past and we can't get insurance," said Deyell.

Deyell added that the company's goal is to eliminate as much cash from the operation as possible.

"The eventual goal is to get rid of this cash issue. We are the ones bringing the cash to the communities," said Deyell.

Anawak could not comment further on the issue because he has been slapped with a gag order from the department of foreign affairs.

When asked to comment on that letter for Nunavut News/North, Anawak's office contacted Foreign Affairs to clear the interview request. Foreign Affairs said no.

"We are in a period of transition (in government) right now. Senior officials are not speaking at this point," said Foreign Affairs spokesperson Pamela Greenwell.

Anawak is following the order, but the former Liberal MP said he stands by the comments he made in his letter.