Clyde River (Jan 15/07) - The value of building permits in Nunavut is on the rise and that has some construction companies optimistic for a busy year of building.

The most recent Statistics Canada study reveals the value of residential building permits in the territory increased from $1 million in October, 2006, to $9 million in November.

The 637 per cent increase was nearly three times as high as the jump in the NWT, which saw a 215 per cent increase for the same period.

A number of construction and renovation jobs are keeping Nunaliit Mechanical quite busy in Clyde River, said company owner, Rob Myers.

The company recently completed heat recovery ventilation work on 20 homes in Pond Inlet, and they are now slated to work on 10 homes in Clyde River, he said.

Nunaliit has also been busy with furnace cleaning and finishing up some painting at the Clyde River arena.

"We're in the finishing stages of some local projects," he said.

Most of the work has revolved around indoor tasks, and Myers has employed eight full-time workers so far during the winter months. The company has, at times, expanded to as many as 22 workers, he said.

With the potential for housing units to be built in Clyde River and the multi-million-dollar cultural school scheduled to go up in the years to come, more work could soon be on the way, he said.

"Everybody is excited," he said.

Kakivak Construction, in Rankin Inlet, has also been active this winter and hopes to see larger construction projects come on-line for the spring and summer, said co-owner and manager Simeoni Tatty.

"We've been doing renovations on housing and a lot of flooring work," he said.

The company employs up to 12 workers in the spring and summer.

This winter it kept five workers on the payroll, he said. Kakivak Construction is looking ahead to the potential construction of a new trade school and apartment complex, he said.

"This project would probably give us full, year-round employment," he said.

"This project will be good for the entire community."

The total value of building permits across Canada declined in November by 2.2 per cent from the month prior.