by Jeff Colbourne
Northern News Services

RANKIN INLET (Aug 20/97) - Rankin Inlet's hamlet council is second in calling for a public inquiry into the Keewatin Regional Health Board. It follows one asked for by the Union of Northern Workers last month.

Hamlet council passed a motion, initiated by councillor Hunter Tootoo, asking for a letter to be sent to Health Minister Kelvin Ng requesting the inquiry.

"We felt that before things go any further with decisions like how to deal with the Northern Medical Unit, we really what the truth is and know what's really going on," said Tootoo.

Tootoo's drive for a public inquiry was boosted last week when his council received an open letter from Sharon Macdonald, director of NMU, expressing concern over allegations made by the Keewatin Regional Health Board about the NMU's contract to offer services.

The University of Manitoba's NMU says statements the KRHB made concerning the recent loss of a contract are incorrect.

Macdonald said KRHB chairperson Betty Palfrey's recent open letter required clarification.

"You (Betty Palfrey) personally have told me that you have appreciated the quality of the services we provide and the integrity of the people who work for us. Your public and incorrect allegations to the contrary are of a great concern to me and the University," Macdonald said in the letter.

One of the concerns Macdonald had with the open letter was that the KRHB said the NMU failed to provide the right amount of days under the contract.

Macdonald said this was false and that within the last four years they fell short 29 days or only 1.4 per cent.

"When we include the trips cancelled due to weather, we have more than met the contract target," said Macdonald.

The NMU letter goes on to discuss allegations that the NMU did not follow good business practices. Macdonald said KRHB could be branded in the same way, citing instances of poor business practices.

For instance, the NMU/KRHB contracts for 1995/1996 and 1996/1997 were only made available to NMU in January 1997.

"The contract for April/Sept 1997 has not been sent to us," she said. "We have continued to provide service despite this. Last year we also generated many options for service delivery which never have been acknowledged by the KRHB."

Tootoo is confused about what is happening between the two agencies. He's tired of half-truths about how services are going to be provided after Sept. 30 and how it was offered in the past.

"That's why I made the motion. It's been just quiet, nothing going on. I'd hate to see this issue being another one of these things that gets shoved under the carpet," Tootoo said.

The public inquiry will be request number two. The Union of Northern Workers recently called for an airing our of the "Keewatin Rat's Nest." It alleges that several shareholders who are also health board members will benefit from the privatization of dental therapy services in the Keewatin.

At around the same time the inquiry was called, the Rankin Inlet hamlet council sent a letter to Ng asking for Palfrey's resignation.

Both requests were turned down by Ng who says the union's accusations are unsubstantiated and it is too close to division to review Palfrey's performance.

"I would certainly hope the Minister would look at a request from the hamlet a little differently, and with a little bit more respect than he did the UNWs.

"We want to find out what's really happening there. I think that the public inquiry is the only way to do it. We've got two letters that both contradict each other and there's something wrong."