Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

IQALUIT (July 05/99) - A new boarding home for Inuit visiting Ottawa for medical treatment was opened with plenty of fanfare two weeks ago, but has yet to secure a contract from the Baffin Health Board for the service it hopes to provide or even approval from the city to operate as a boarding home.

"They allowed us to have the opening, but they won't allow us to put anyone in here," said a worker at the home Friday.

Two days before the June 26 grand opening of the Larga-Baffin Home, City of Ottawa building inspectors showed up for a follow-up to an earlier inspection. They noted several deficiencies which they said had to be corrected before the home could operate.

According to a press release issued to promote the opening, the home is a joint venture between Nunasi Corp. and the Qikitaaluk Corp.

The home was renovated over a 10-month period by the Larga Corp., a private business.

Another company, called Larga-Baffin, was established to operate the home. Nunasi president and CEO Fred Hunt is chairman of the board of Larga-Baffin and Qikitaaluk President Gerry Ell is vice-chairman.

The home was built as a home away from home for Baffin residents travelling to Ottawa for medical treatment. It was to be staffed by Inuktitut-speaking help and feature a menu of country food.

But the Baffin Regional Health Board has a contract for boarding services that requires patients be housed at another place, the Rotel (owned by the Rotary Club of Canada). That contract runs until 2001, said Minister of Health Ed Picco.

"Because we have a contract with them, it's very difficult for us to refer patients to another home," said Picco.

He added that he is not sure the contract prohibits sending any patients elsewhere.

Picco said when the contract expires, the government will likely put out a tender call for the service.

Picco, who was at the opening, said the home was quite attractive and seemed well-suited to the needs of Inuit patients. During a visit to Ottawa next month he will take a look at what the Rotel has to offer.

Larga-Baffin President Bill Davidson was on vacation and unavailable for comment.

The City of Ottawa and the Baffin Regional Health Board did not return calls.