Thorunn Howatt
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Nov 26/01) - Nunavut is open for business but not at any cost.

"We're trying to promote to get the mining companies to come up and work and to develop those lands but also to do that in an environmentally sensitive and sustainable manner," said Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. research exploration geologist, Robin Wyllie.

Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) is a private corporation where the Inuit of Nunavut are its beneficiaries. The corporation wants business to know that the land is rich in resources and a settled land claim will make business operations smooth.

"We don't want people up here that are going to make a mess and spoil the land and make a lot of people mad but in the same token we want to make sure we can get some type of mining revenue into the economy of Nunavut," said Wyllie.

NTI is trying to streamline the regulatory process that resource development companies have to go through. It is encouraging prospectors and junior developers to do business there.

There are three operating mines in Nunavut but two of them, Nanisivik and Polaris, will be closing within the next year. The third mine, Lupin, is expected to wind down in a few years.

Each of Nunavut's three regions -- Kitikmeot, Kivalliq and Baffin -- have designated Inuit organizations that hold surface title to Inuit-owned lands. NTI has been managing sub-surface rights since 1983. Since that time, there have been about 100 exploration permits activated. There are 68 exploration permits active now.

The newest effort in streamlining processes for investors is an online

application. By early next year companies will be able to save money and time by sending in exploration applications digitally. Geological information and maps may also be viewed on the Web.