Jennifer Pritchett
Northern News Services

RANKIN INLET (May 27/98) - Nunavut leaders were to decide this week whether or not the Keewatin Pilot Project will go ahead.

Keewatin mayors and senior administrative officers, Municipal and Community Affairs officials and NTI president Jose Kusugak were in Yellowknife earlier in the week to discuss the controversial project that will turn over millions of dollars in capital funding to the Keewatin region in the name of community empowerment.

Kusugak, in a special meeting called in Rankin Inlet last Thursday, said that NTI isn't against the project as was previously reported. Instead, he maintained, whether they support it or not depends on the information that is presented.

"If we are going to support it, we have to have the facts," he said. "So far, we have had three different versions."

Kusugak said late last week that he hopes the Yellowknife meeting will provide some clarity on the issue to enable the leaders to make an informed decision.

The idea has merit, he said, but NTI still has some concerns that need to be addressed.

"The concept is good," he said. "Community autonomy is good. We just want to be sure we have clarity about what's going to happen. We just can't approve anything. We have to do what's it best for the people."

Rankin Inlet's deputy mayor, Louis Pilakapsi, said he, too, feels NTI was opposing the project.

"It's good to know that you are not completely against the project," he said.

Kusugak said that there might be more support for the project if it can be left until after division, but he doesn't understand why the GNWT is pushing a project that won't be in their jurisdiction in just a few months.

"All we're questioning is the timing," he said. "Does the government have the jurisdiction to impose the KPP when the they won't have the jurisdiction after April 1, 1999? There must be an ulterior motive we're not getting."

The NWT legislative committee on government operations last week recommended that all work on the project be put on hold until division.