Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

Repulse Bay (Apr 10/02) - The closure of the Area Firearms Office in Nunavut may not affect hunters in the Kivalliq region.

According to Joanni Kringayark, a wildlife officer with the Department of Sustainable Development in Repulse Bay, the recent closure of the territorial office -- based in Iqaluit -- will have little to no impact on hunters in his area.

"We've been out of the involvement of the firearms stuff," explained Kringayark. "We don't really agree with the new act and we don't keep up with the training," he said.

Under federal government legislation, Canadians who own firearms are required to carry a licence as of Jan. 1, 2001. The Canadian Firearms Centre has stated that 90 per cent of the estimated 2.3 million gun-owners in the country have complied with the law, but Nunavut officials estimate that hundreds of the territory's 6,600 gun-owners are still waiting for their licenses.

Various Nunavut organizations believe the closure will bring the already beleaguered system to a halt, but Kringayark maintained that he didn't think it will matter in his area.

Re-opening uncertain

A Firearms Centre spokesperson said the closure is temporary, but he was unable to say when services in the territory would resume.

"I know there are lots, lots of people still waiting for their licences. They just kind of gave up," said Kringayark. "For a while they were panicking about getting their licenses, but there was delay after delay so they let it go."

Because a licence is required to purchase ammunition, hunters without the proper certification turn to a black market of sorts to get bullets to hunt. Friends, neighbours and relatives all chip in and share ammunition.

"That's the only way to get animals," said Kringayark.

He said when a resident expresses interest in taking the required gun safety course, he does what he can to assist them, but generally speaking, he said most people have no interest in the issue.

"People are not even worried any more. They have no interest in pursuing if their licenses are being processed."

Nunavut Tunngavik however, believes the closure will hurt Inuit. It means service in Inuktitut is no longer available and it means Nunavummiut must deal with CFC workers in Regina.

John Lamb, NTI's chief executive officer, said officials from his organization plan to talk to CFC employees in Ottawa this week.

"It's going to cause real problems. There's no way around that. The process of getting Inuit applicants processed is already slow," explained Lamb.

"It's going to grind the whole thing to a screeching halt," he said.

"This process is not good ... We're certainly going to register our concern loud and clear," said Lamb.