Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

IQALUIT (Jun 08/98) - Travel costs associated with face-to-face business in the North can drive a company into the ground.

But there are opportunities to get the job done and reduce costs -- usually it means a partnership.

One example is the Northern Enterprise Program. Last week, as part of the program, several business owners from Yellowknife and Inuvik visited Iqaluit.

The group included Paul Tanner, with the Lens Shop, Gordon Stewart with Braden Burry Expediting, Gordon Olson with Polar Tech,

Annemieke Mulders, Arctic Canada Trading, Russell Workun with Idea Merchants, Allan McOuat, Allmark Enterprises and Kathy Fibish with Artisan Press.

Northern Enterprise was established as a trade mission two years ago by Canadian North, the carrier currently being acquired by aborginally-owned NorTerra Inc. As of last Wednesday, regulatory approvals were still pending. The deal is expected to close May 31.

Northern Enterprise participants met with about 30 members of Iqaluit's business community.

Iqaluit was chosen as this year's host because of its strong economic position in Nunavut and because Canadian North wants to make sure east-west trade continues and expands after April 1, 1999.

Annemeike Mulders, with Arctic Canada Trading Co. Ltd. in Yellowknife, said the program allows her to build new links and to further develop existing business ties.

"It's rare to actually get to see our Northern customers and how they're doing in person. I'm looking around the community and seeing how we can have more of a presence and how we can better represent artists in the community," she said.

"Any program that allows you to open up the east-west trade corridors is beneficial," Braden Burry Expediting

president Gord Stewart said. "We had two days in this community and everybody who took part is enough of an entrepreneur to meet the people they wanted to."

Canadian North Regional Director Kelly Kaylo said the program is the carrier's way of contributing to the economic growth of the business community.

"Our bottom line is to try and stimulate and create opportunities for Northern businesses and to explore new opportunities in the NWT, Nunavut and Edmonton," she said. Edmonton is included because of the role it plays as a gateway city to the North.

The program gives small business owners a hands-on opportunity to research new business. For its part, Canadian North offers a deal on transportation.