Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, November 28, 2007

BAKER LAKE - Baker Lake Mayor David Aksawnee reminded Northern Transportation Company Ltd. (NTCL) that the people of the Kivalliq should be among its top priorities during the sealift season.

Baker Lake Mayor David Aksawnee had some stern words of warning for the Northern Transportation Company Ltd. during the Kivalliq mayors meeting in Baker Lake in November of 2007 - NNSL file photo

year's sealift while chairing the Kivalliq mayors meeting in Baker earlier this month.

Aksawnee said having two barges turned away and people not receiving their cargo in a timely fashion was a major disappointment for Baker.

He said there were a lot of barges delivered to the mining companies this year and they're expecting another couple of hundred next year.

"We don't want to see community cargo still being delayed after the mining companies have already received so many barges," said Aksawnee.

"Chesterfield Inlet also raised some concern about its sea water with so many barges on the go.

"They want to know barges won't be dumping cargo in their water because they got into trouble with unskilled or improperly trained pilots.

"When we used to get only ships delivering cargo, not barges, they used to hire an Inuk to guide the ships through the narrows to get into Baker."

Aksawnee said it appeared to many people in Baker this year that individual cargo was left too late because NTCL was catering so much to the mining companies.

He said communities should come first because they're paying out of their own pockets and depend so much on receiving their supplies.

"I know the NTCL is getting a lot of money from the mining companies and the exploration is good for the Kivalliq, but the NTCL has to consider the people who are ordering food and vehicles and realize they have to come first.

"The NTCL had turned its back on the Kivalliq, but, at previous mayors' meetings in Chester and Rankin, it wanted to make a comeback.

"It was pleading to the communities at that time, so it has to remember the NTCL would not be back in the Kivalliq without the communities.

"The NTCL assured me there would be positive changes next year, so I'm waiting to hear what, exactly, those changes are going to be."

Aksawnee said another issue discussed was the increase in illegal drugs coming to the Kivalliq.

He said he had entered the meetings thinking Baker was the only hamlet seeing an increase in the amount of drugs coming into the community.

"The other mayors said their communities are seeing the same thing.

"It's scary how much of this stuff is getting in and we let the Nunavut government know we want to see a major push to keep it out of here.

"I know that's easier said than done, but drugs are bad news for our hamlets."

Rankin Inlet SAO Paul Waye said he found the Kivalliq mayors' meetings to be quite constructive.

He said NTCL answered a lot of questions and listened to numerous complaints that were raised.

"The mayors told the NTCL to worry about community freight first because the people are always going to be here," said Waye.

"Exploration comes and goes, but the people aren't going anywhere.

"The region is booming right now because of exploration, but the people need to be treated with respect if a positive relationship with the NTCL is going to continue."

Waye said NTCL president David Foster attended the meetings, listened to concerns and appeared to get the message.

He said it was crystal clear that people in the Kivalliq weren't going to put up with a repeat performance of this season when it comes to community cargo.

"To cut the company a little slack, it didn't appear to realize early enough just how high the volume of cargo was going to be for Meadowbank.

"But everyone realizes this year had far too many problems involved with the sealift and everybody has to start planning things together better."

Waye said the way he understands it, once the cargo in Rankin destined for Baker is identified, M&T Enterprises and Peter's Expediting will Cat-train it to Baker.

He said there has been some concern raised in Rankin about the annual drag races and other events usually held at Itivia because of all the barges being there.

"Everyone has to remember the infrastructure was put in at Itivia by Transportation for this purpose, and that's the reality of it.

"They built the road down there and the dock for the barges, and give us money every year to maintain and upgrade it, so that's what it's there for."