Doug Ashbury
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jun 28/99) - Pond Inlet businessman Simon Merkosak has been appointed acting chairman of the NWT Power Corporation.

Merkosak, the former mayor of Pond Inlet, was first appointed to the NWT Crown corporation's board in May 1996 and was appointed vice-chairman in December 1997.

The announcement was made last Tuesday at a corporation board meeting in Hay River.

Merkosak's employment history includes Merkosak Construction Ltd., a business started in 1987, and J.M. Sportswear, a retail sporting goods business started in 1995 with his wife Jeeteetah Merkosak.

Merkosak is also chairperson of the Okpik Youth Club and a director of Toonoonik Sahoonik Co-op.

Past positions include hotel manager, Toonoonik Sahoonik Co-op. and administrative positions with the hamlet of Pond Inlet.

From 1976 to 1977, Merkosak was assistant senior administrative officer with the hamlet and from 1987 to 1997, he served as the hamlet's senior administrative officer.

He assumes the Power Corp. chair from Pierre Alvarez, who has held the position since April 1996. Merkosak's appointment is effective July 1.

Alvarez was recently appointed president of Calgary-based Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers. Alvarez, who moved to Calgary, will continue as a regular member of the Power Corp.'s board.

"This is an important period of transition for the corporation," Charles Dent and Edward Picco said jointly in a release. Dent and Picco are ministers responsible for the NWT Power Corp. and Nunavut Power Corp. respectively.

"We are both pleased that Mr. Merkosak has accepted this challenging role and are confident that the corporation will continue to receive sound and professional direction," they said.

Governments for the two territories recently restarted discussions on the future of the corporation and possible long-term joint-ownership.

Power Corp. has operated as a single entity since division.

The two governments hope to determine the utility's structure by March 31, 2000.

If a plan is not finalized by next April, independent corporations will be set up in Nunavut and the NWT.

Power Corp. has annual revenues of about $100 million. Its 295 employees serve 25,000 customers in 54 communities across the North.