Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

REPULSE BAY (Nov 03/99) - The subsidization of water and sewer services and its costs to the hamlets has reached a crisis situation which has to be addressed now, says Repulse Bay SAO Sheldon Dorey.

The longest serving Kivalliq SAO, Dorey made the remarks after SAOs from the Kivalliq came together in Rankin Inlet for their AGM this past week.

Dorey says the AGM is very important to the region because it gives SAOs a chance to work things out face to face.

He says the water and sewer problem is indicative of the region in that the hamlets share many of the same problems and concerns.

"These meeting can help you with fresh ideas in addressing certain concerns," says Dorey.

"I might come up with an opinion that nobody else thought of or vice-versa."

Dorey says better communication has to be put in place to help hamlets deal with the water and sewer issue.

He says users have to be better educated about the program and what it entails.

"To be honest, not a lot of people fully understand what is involved in the program, especially when it comes to the cost as it applies to the hamlet.

"In Repulse Bay, we're a year or two away from saying this has to be addressed now. The financial drain is getting to be too much.

"As a region, the water and sewer problem needs to be addressed and a solution found now."

Arviat SAO Darren Flynn says he also came to the meeting looking for answers to the water and sewer problem.

He says there's mounting pressure on hamlets with more and more private ownerships and apartments becoming available, whose tenants are expected to pay the water bills themselves.

"We have a capped subsidy rate with the Department of Community Government and Transportation," says Flynn.

"As a result, we have all this pressure on the system because you have water that has a value in Arviat of 4.5 cents per litre being sold to the private person for 27/100 of a cent per litre.

"It costs $453 to deliver 10,000 litres and the hamlet receives revenue of $27 when it goes through the private sector."

Flynn says there was progress made during the AGM, but there's still many questions to be answered.

He says SAOs have to go back to their communities to review rates, ensure costs are what they should be and see if there's areas they can be more efficient.

"At the end of the day, we have to come back to the government with some recommendations on what we're going to do to make this program continue to be viable."

The Rankin meeting was the first for Kivalliq SAOs since this past December.

Flynn says it's important for SAOs to get together to discuss common problems and try to work out common solutions.

"It also provides us with the opportunity to give direction to the regional Department of Community Government and Transportation so it can advocate on our behalf with the powers that be in Iqaluit and that's very important to our entire region."