by Doug Ashbury
Northern News Services

NNSL (Oct 13/97) - Nunavut's political lines have been drawn.

Last week MLAs passed amendments tweaking the new territory's 17 electoral jurisdictions. The moves create what is apt to be the final version of borders between ridings.

The bulk of legislative assembly debate centred on what to do with Whale Cove, a hamlet of about 300 people on Hudson Bay near Rankin Inlet.

The Nunavut Electoral Boundaries Commission decided to put Whale Cove with Sanikiluaq, a hamlet of 630 people in the Belcher Islands.

On MLA Goo Arlooktoo's motion, MLAs gave Sanikiluaq its own riding and put Whale Cove with Arviat.

Kivallivik MLA Kevin O'Brien said putting Whale Cove with Arviat was like "having ten kids, no job, no money and little food and somebody saying:'here, here are ten more.'"

O'Brien said the decision was made without consulting Whale Cove and Arviat.

Neighbouring Rankin Inlet, which will get its own MLA, could accept Whale Cove, opening up opportunities for Whale Cove residents, O'Brien said.

Sanikiluaq and Whale Cove, about 700 miles apart, have no ties. Sanikiluaq residents have cultural and family connections with the Inuit of northern Quebec.

Sanikiluaq deputy mayor Walter Audla preferred not to comment until after Tuesday's council meeting.

Whale Cove mayor Stanley Adjuk said he is not satisfied with the decision to put his community in the same riding with Arviat.

He's worried about representation for Whale Cove.

Arviat is growing extremely fast and in a political race against someone from Arviat, it would be very difficult for someone from Whale Cove to win, he said.

"Whale Cove should have its own MLA and Arviat should too," he said.

"A decision needed to be made on where to put Whale Cove," Baffin South MLA Goo Arlooktoo said.

Arviat and Whale Cove officials both understood Sanikiluaq should get its own riding.

Most of the people who live in Whale Cove are from Arviat, Manitok Thompson, the MLA representing Aivilik said.

Umingmaktok and Bathurst Inlet were grouped with Cambridge Bay because of "government and family ties," Arlooktoo said.

The amended boundaries now go to Indian and Northern Affairs Minister Jane Stewart for approval.