IQALUIT
With the Kitikmeot Chamber of Commerce taking form once again, there is renewed hope that a territory-wide Chamber of Commerce could follow by next year.
"Then we have a stronger voice, along with the Canadian Chamber as well, when we're representing your issues that are territorial-wide it comes out with more power at the end of the day," said Chris West, executive director of the Baffin Regional Chamber of Commerce.
West was part of unsuccessful efforts to coalesce a Nunavut Chamber a few years ago.
"There were some personality conflicts," he said, adding that the regions had different priorities. "I think every region is probably the same, to say, 'We've got the strongest business community and there's more happening here than in any other region, sort of thing... so it kind of fell apart."
Now, with the resurrection of the Kitikmeot Chamber of Commerce and with new leadership in the Kivalliq Chamber of Commerce - John Main became president in 2016 - West is seeing much stronger potential for unity among businesses across regional boundaries.
"In the old days there used to be lines drawn in the sand that said the Baffin or the Qikiqtani region will stay out of the Kivalliq or the Kitikmeot, but it's kind of not that way anymore. It's business opportunities," West said.
"It's how we support you and you support us, and working closer together business will grow."
Wilf Wilcox, interim chair of the Kitikmeot Chamber of Commerce, agrees that the atmosphere has improved among the territory's business leaders.
"This time there's a more cooperative feel amongst the different regions," said Wilcox.
"I'm not saying that there was a bad feeling in the past, but people had different ideas. Now there's more of a willingness to work together. We can still look after things in our home regions but where there's things of common interest, we should most certainly work together."
West added that the Department of Economic Development and Transportation has expressed a willingness to provide funding to help bring together a Nunavut Chamber of Commerce.
"It's all about a stronger voice for business when you're advocating for different things. Through the Canadian Chamber we have a direct link to Parliament Hill and various ministers when we're trying to effect change for various things," West said.
