Jennifer Pritchett
Northern News Services

NNSL (Aug 19/98) - Keewatin residents are expected to have better access to information about division following the opening of a regional office of the interim commissioner in Rankin Inlet on Friday.

The first of three regional offices to open, the Keewatin location is open for business and ready to be of assistance to people with questions about the new territory and how it will impact them. Offices in both Cambridge Bay and Igloolik are expected to open in the coming weeks.

There is also expected to be an office in Yellowknife to help coordinate correspondence between the GNWT and the Nunavut government. Sandy Kusugak, coordinator of the Rankin Inlet office, said her role is mainly to inform the public about the changes taking place as the Nunavut government is developed, but also to let people know about the jobs coming up in the new system. "We will be helping people apply for jobs," she said. "All of the Nunavut jobs are listed here. We will make sure people know how to apply and really make sure they are aware of the opportunities." But Kusugak will also be acting as a liaison between the deputy and assistant deputy ministers in Iqaluit and three assistant deputy ministers in the Keewatin. Jason Brown, assistant deputy minister of transportation, will join Kusugak, John Hickes, assistant deputy minister of renewable resources, and Chantal Maley in the new office. Brown is excited about the arrangement and doesn't see it as a challenge to have some of the assistant deputy ministers in Iqaluit and some in the Keewatin and other parts of Nunavut.

"The decentralized model we're currently working toward is creating lots of opportunity for people in the region," he said.

"We'll continue to work with our deputies and establish our departments."

Kusugak said that the office, expected to be open until division, is really there to make the transition smoother.

"We're here to help with the process of change," she added. Interim Commissioner Jack Anawak was attending meetings in Iqaluit and was unable to attend Friday's grand opening.