Kent Driscoll
Northern News Services
Monday, April 02, 2007

CAMBRIDGE BAY - Cambridge Bay council wants something that only one municipality in Nunavut has: the power to tax citizens directly.

Only Iqaluit has that power, but Cambridge Bay Mayor Michelle Gillis wants it too.

"The GN collects property taxes, and payments in lieu of taxes. We are looking at doing the same thing," said Gillis.

"The only reason we are in deficit is we are given a set amount from the GN, but we still have to pay (for services). To provide basic services, we have had to go into the hole," said Gillis.

She said Cambridge Bay has a paid fire chief that is not covered through the GN funding, as an example of where the territorial funding falls short.

The hamlet has made its case to Community and Government Services and is hoping for a quick response from the department on their request for taxation powers.

Not only is Cambridge Bay in deficit, the hamlet has had other financial difficulties.

In a special secret meeting, council voted to dismiss SAO Mark Calliou in September 2006, and submitted to voluntary financial supervision from Community and Government Services (CGS).

The council passed a motion that agreed to "enter into a memorandum of understanding with community and government services for voluntary supervision," with CGS. That voluntary agreement included the financial dealings of the hamlet.

Nunavut News/North asked Gillis the size of Cambridge Bay's deficit, and she did not know the number.

She recommended contacting Cambridge Bay SAO Bill Buckle for the total. Buckle did not return repeated phone calls from Nunavut News/North.