Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

NNSL (Sep 13/99) - There's no end in sight to the long wait for a decision on how many, if any, federal government jobs will be moved north from Hull, Que.

A report on the pros and cons of shipping 60-70 Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development positions north was completed March 25, but the person responsible for making a decision on it does not yet know of its existence.

"We have a new minister and we have not had a chance to brief on that him yet," said DIAND ADM Jim Moore.

There are about 45 files ahead of the report in the minister's briefing lineup, said Moore.

When it happens, Robert Nault will be the second DIAND minister to be briefed on the report. Jane Stewart, reportedly was also briefed shortly after the report was completed.

"I wouldn't say it's collecting dust, but it is on the shelf," said Moore.

Prepared by the consulting firm KPMG, the report focuses on positions in Hull in DIAND's Northern Affairs Program and NWT-specific positions in its Claims and Indian Government section.

The study was done in response to repeated calls from territorial MLAs for DIAND jobs dealing with the North to be moved north.

Among the observations made in the study was that most Hull staffers have no desire to move North.