NUNAVUT
The new chair of the Baffin Regional Chamber of Commerce says he is excited about how the upcoming Northern Lights conference and cultural event will highlight business opportunities in the territory.

Baffinland Iron Mines Corporation president and CEO, Tom Paddon, left, and Oikiqtani Inuit Association president Okalik Eegeesiak, signed an Inuit Impact and Benefit Agreement associated with the Mary River mine in 2013 at the Discovery Lodge Hotel in Iqaluit. Paddon was one of the speakers at the 2014 edition of Northern Lights, a bi-annual business and culture showcase that will be at the Shaw Centre in Ottawa from Jan. 27 to 30. - NNSL file photo

"The last time I was involved in 2014, we had the minister from Greenland come in and speak on topics and the president of Baffinland Iron Mines and those sessions were packed," said Victor Tootoo. "It's a very good and healthy forum to bring attention to what the issues are for businesses, not just in Nunavut but across the North."

From Jan. 27 to 30, the four-day bi-annual showcase and trade show held in Ottawa at the Shaw Centre highlights the business opportunities and culture of Nunavut, Nunavik in Quebec and Nunatsiavut in Newfoundland and Labrador. It is co-organized by the Baffin chamber of commerce and the Labrador North Chamber of Commerce. The first event took place in 2008.

Tootoo said Ottawa is an ideal venue compared even to what Iqaluit could provide, considering it is an easier location for businesses to reach.

"Just in terms of total accessibility," he said. "The closer it is to the larger businesses ... the more a chance you have of getting them to come."

Tootoo said the informal networking which takes place among attendees and delegates in between conference sessions is valuable. "I think it's a really good mix," he said. "You see multinationals like SNC-Lavalin send representatives to the conference and you have local businesses based in Ottawa that area all there in some way to make connections."

The hope is that these connections will lead attending organizations to consider Northern business opportunities.

The last Northern Lights showcase and trade show had approximately 160 booths, Tootoo said.

"This year we're hoping to have closer to 200," he said. "With conference registrations, it's usually right up until the last minute.

"In the last week (you get) 30 per cent of your sales."

With more than a month to go, Tootoo said the block of hotel rooms set aside for the conference have already been filled. However, he could not say how many rooms there were.

This year, business-related sessions are set to include discussions on the Inuit labour market, economic development, Northern transportation, Northern fisheries, "The Science Behind Arctic Business," communications infrastructure, Nunavut's economic development strategy for 2025, mining and aboriginal business.

Inuit development corporation Qikiqtaaluk Corporation, investment firm NCC Development as well as many retailers and travel companies are among the Nunavut businesses participating this year, said Tootoo.

Still, Tootoo said the logistics of organizing a conference with people coming from all around the country is a challenge.

"It's difficult to get stuff up North and then it's difficult it get it back down and then up North again," he said, adding that attendees come from Iqaluit as well as all across the territory.

"You've also got travel issues and weather issues, that kind of stuff."

For some attendees, Tootoo said the cost is considerable.

"If you think of someone coming from the Arctic to Iqaluit to Ottawa, I'm going to guess they're paying $5,000 just on their airfare," he said. "Then there's rooms and accommodations and freight because it's expensive to ship south."

But for many, Tootoo said, the return is well worth that kind of financial investment.

"It's the opportunity to get to see the business and government community and see where you can add value to things you didn't know were happening," he said. "I think the payback for the expense is to become aware and take advantage of the opportunities that fit with what you do."

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