Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

NNSL (Nov 30/98) - Nunavut Tunngavik's president Jose Kusugak said last week's general assembly in Cambridge Bay was a success.

He noted that the moods of the participants and the executive were celebratory and that they accomplished quite a bit of work during the last general meeting that will take place before division.

Budget discussions and bylaw amendments took up most of the time, but Kusugak said one of the biggest issues raised involved interim commissioner Jack Anawak's office and his practice of not complying with Article 24 of the Nunavut Land Claim Agreement.

Kusugak said Anawak's office is obligated to adhere to the section that requires contracts to be given to Inuit firms and businesses when possible. Anawak suggested that his office didn't have time to stick to the requirements of Article 24, but Kusugak maintained that he was legally required to make time.

"If anybody who is to comply with the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement doesn't comply, it is within our mandate to make sure they do," said Kusugak.

The general assembly directed Anawak to change his actions and Kusugak said if he didn't, they would consider taking specific contracts to the NTI arbitration board and would consider suing the office of the interim commissioner.

"There is also the legal route which is not preferable because it takes time and money. The direction the assembly gave is to do whatever is possible," said Kusugak.

The matter will be further discussed at a meeting in January.

Kusugak also explained that bylaws were passed extending his term as president until December of 1999 to avoid paralleling Nunavut's first election and he said the terms of all the executive members would be extended from three years to four.

The position of second vice-president will not be eliminated however, because as Kusugak explained, people felt it was necessary and would cancel needed employment.

The windfall allocation was also discussed at length and Kusugak said NTI was in the process of deciding how to spend the money. Kusugak said one possible suggestion was the purchase of a portable mammography unit.

"Before we hear about any more women having problems like that, we can't excuse ourselves from trying to do something."

Full speed ahead

Tagak Curley is a happy man.

The president of the Nunavut Construction Corp. (NCC) said work on the Nunavut legislative assembly was going well and that he still thought they would be able to meet their estimated finish date of March 15, 1999.

"That's still the target," said Curley.

"It's all closed in, the drywall is up and we're ready for the first coat of paint in some areas on the first floor." Curley said between his own 40-odd employees and those brought in by the sub-contractors for mechanical and electrical work, more than 60 people were working around the clock to bring the $11- million building in on time.

He also noted that construction on residential units and office structures in the 11 other Nunavut communities is going well and that workers would enjoy a well earned two-week break at Christmas time.

Curley said NCC executives and their shareholders were considering condensing the final two years of their four-year contract and finishing the bulk of the remaining 104 residential units and seven office buildings next summer.

"We may move some of the projects ahead. We could probably do most in the third year. Some will still spill over into the fourth year...but the Nunavut leadership is anxious to have those done."

Construction association

On other construction matters, delegates from around Nunavut met in Iqaluit last week and formed the Nunavut Construction Association.

Along with selecting an executive and adopting bylaws, the group discussed the advantages of forming their own association. Issues surrounding apprenticeships and P3 Programs were also brought to the table.

CGH & T

The Nunavut government department of community government, housing and transportation brought more than 100 mayors and senior municipal staff members into Iqaluit last week.

To take over for the GNWT's Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, Deputy Minister Mike Ferris brought the delegates in to look at policies and legislation that affect hamlets and towns across the new territory.

The four-day conference gave the group the opportunity to participate in smaller workshops, meet with employees in other hamlets and identify common concerns and work out possible solutions with the territorial government.

Ferris is expected to draw on advice he receives from the municipalities in forming the policies of the new department.