Rankin Inlet (Apr 03/06) - Ellie Cansfield has been re-elected as president of the Kivalliq Chamber of Commerce.

The election was held as part of the Chamber's 26th annual general meeting in Rankin Inlet this past week, March 27-29.

Ellie Cansfield was re-elected as president of the Kivalliq Chamber of Commerce during the Chamber's 26th annual general meeting in Rankin Inlet this past week. She says some of the issues that need to be addressed this year are creating a Nunavut Chamber of Commerce and assistance to Nunavut businesses. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo

The Kivalliq Chamber boasts about 60 members.

Cansfield said she was pleased with the turnout for the meetings, with all seven Kivalliq communities being represented.

She said two of the issues the chamber will address in 2006 are the creation of a Nunavut Chamber of Commerce and the Nunavummi Nangminiqaqtunik Ikajuuti (NNI) or Assistance for Nunavut Businesses policy.

A resolution for a Nunavut Chamber was passed. Cansfield is confident the three regions can lay aside their differences and speak with a unified voice.

"A Nunavut Chamber would do very much what the Kivalliq Chamber does, and that's to focus on policy issues," said Cansfield.

"Policy should affect all regions equally.

"A Nunavut Chamber could focus on larger policy issues and speak on behalf of Nunavut at the national level.

"It's like a family in that no matter what squabbles you may have with your siblings, you present a united front to the outside."

Cansfield said the chamber also passed a motion to lobby the Government of Nunavut (GN) to revisit its NNI policy.

She said while the chamber does support the policy, its members have legitimate concerns over how the government defines Inuit, Northern and local companies.

"We'd like the government to look at the actual definitions, rather than just a simple legal structure of a corporation.

"Maybe, they (GN) could look to where the heart and soul of a corporation is, because that impacts upon the local business community.

"Also, the NNI's documentation requirements can be quite onerous on small family businesses when they're required to fill out numerous pieces of paper.

"It's time they (GN) looked to simplify the process."