Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet (Apr 26/00) - The saga of the van used by Rankin Inlet elders and the physically-challenged may have reached its final chapter. The van has been out of service since April 5 due to a lack of funding.

Myrna Michon is the executive director of the Paulaarvik Kablu Friendship Centre, which is responsible for operating the van.

Michon says Nunavut Health Minister Ed Picco promised his department would pay for annual operating and maintenance costs, but the centre still needs money to pay for a driver.

"We met with a delegation during the legislative assembly's visit to Rankin and Picco said he's committing the health board to this," says Michon.

Friendship centre staff are frustrated over a lack of commitment to the service from the municipal, territorial and federal levels.

Michon says not only has the centre not received any replies to its requests for assistance, but numerous requests for information on where to look for funding have also been ignored.

She says staff are still hoping to get funding through the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth Contributions and Grants program.

The CLAY program is the only one the centre has been able to officially apply to.

"We've approached the hamlet and, although they were very sympathetic and understanding, they had no money for us.

"I wrote to (Nunavut MP) Nancy Karetak-Lindell's office to ask where we could apply federally for some help, but were told there was nothing available.

"This is the Year of the Elder Person for God's sake. What do we do, just make pretty posters?"

The friendship centre has 343 signatures on a petition supporting the free service, and letters of support from the hamlet, health centre and local organizations.

Michon says if the centre were to get funding for a van operator, it would look at fund-raising to purchase a new van with a hydraulic lift.

"It's extremely frustrating," says Michon.

"I don't know, maybe we're not tickling the right toes for this kind of funding. But if that's the case, I wish those toes would let us know where we can find them.

"We need someone to come up with some salary. I can't put a volunteer in that van."