Arviat staff house for employees only
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Arviat (Nov 22/00) - The Nunavut Department of Education is not competing against local business interests in Arviat.
The department responded to concerns raised last week by Linda and Paul Pemik, who own and operate Bayside Ingiraniit Ltd., a tourist home in Arviat.
The Pemiks became concerned when people from Repulse Bay cancelled their reservations, and stayed at the government-owned staff house.
Linda Pemik says she has no problem with lodging provided for direct employees, but doesn't think it's fair if room is made available to people from outside the department.
"I asked for their guidelines and they don't have any," says Pemik.
"I've written a letter to Minister of Education Peter Kilabuk stating that this is not good business practice on the part of the government.
"They've also opened one in Pond Inlet. If they can do it in two communities, why not right across Nunavut?"
Murray Horn, director of corporate services for the Department of Education, says allowing the Repulse Bay visitors to stay at the staff house was a mistake.
He says the house is temporary accommodation for staff only, and the department has no intention of competing with local interests.
"Unless they're Department of Education staff and affiliated with our headquarters operation they should not have been staying there," says Horn. "Clearly, we need to tighten up our guidelines."
Horn says he has already assured Pemik the staff house will not be competing with her business.
"I promised Linda (Pemik) we'd have a series of guidelines, clearly spelled out, to both operations this week."
Horn says with limited housing in both locations, staff-house lodging for department employees is simply more cost-effective.
"We have people who come in for extended periods of time and felt a staff house would be a little more comfortable than a hotel room. "That's only who the staff house is for."
