Doug Ashbury
Northern News Services

NNSL (Feb 22/99) - Only a month after a Kivalliq trade mission to Manitoba, leaders from that province are poised to come North.

Several Manitobans, among them business, community and political leaders, have accepted an invitation by Whale Cove Mayor Stanley Adjuk to visit the Kivalliq region. Delegates are also scheduled to fly to Iqaluit.

Adjuk helped lead a successful trade mission to Manitoba. About 60 Kivalliq residents visited Manitoba.

Manitobans, led by Rural Development Minister Len Derkach, are tentatively scheduled to visit Arviat, Baker Lake, Coral Harbour, Whale Cove and Rankin Inlet before heading for Nunavut's capital.

Historically, the flow of business between the Kivalliq region and Manitoba has primarily favoured Manitoba.

Prior to last month's trade mission south, Rankin Inlet Mayor John Hickes said, "We're always the purchaser or buyer of products...we're saying we too have products to sell." Today, trade has to be a two-way street, he added.

Kivalliq and Manitoba have recently taken steps to create a more balanced and mutually beneficial business and political environment, said Robert Connelly with Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development in Rankin Inlet, said.

Arts and crafts, energy and transportation, tourism, resource development, training, health, food development, community services, and construction and manufacturing are areas the two jurisdictions may find mutually beneficial.

The Kivalliq region purchases over $250 million annually in goods and services from Manitoba.