Iqaluit (Jan 22/07) - Iqaluit's only swimming pool is closed and it has city employees calling for another look at a controversial plan for a new pool.

"There is no question that the town has outgrown the size of this pool. It is quite old, it was opened in the 1960s. If the town is serious about having a pool, they will probably have to build one," said Rob Smith, facilities and operations manager for the city.

Rate payers shot down a request for a new pool during the municipal election in October, 2006. A proposal to spend $12 million on a new pool was defeated, with 53 per cent of rate payers voting against it.

A problem with the ventilation system has caused the closure of the existing pool, located in the Frobisher Inn.

"(An opening date) is undetermined right now, we are waiting for this ventilation system to be fixed," explained Smith.

For two weeks, the pool has remained closed, and the culprit is a bearing located deep within the ventilation system. Tracking down the proper part was a challenge due to the age of the system. Eventually, Nunastar - owners of the Frobisher Inn - tracked down a bearing, in the back of a warehouse in New York City. It has cleared customs, but installation is still going to be difficult.

This problem couldn't have been avoided even if a new pool had been approved because it would have taken two years to build, Smith noted.

He's quick to praise Nunastar for locating the part, and thinks the closure may result in a refund for the city. Iqaluit leases the pool from the company.

"I have to imagine there will be some compensation from Nunastar," said Smith.

As the highest use recreational facility in Iqaluit the pool is a big part of city programming. A delay in opening that lasts any longer will hurt programs.

"I have programming that starts in February. Aside from the summer, January is really the best time for it to be closed. We also have every school with a time slot at the pool, they usually come once a week," said Smith.

The proposed new pool would accommodate Iqaluit until it reaches 10,000 people.

Iqaluit isn't the only Nunavut town with a pool problem. Of the eight pools in the territory, four were closed for mechanical problems last year. Two others had some closures, due to mechanical and staffing issues.