Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (June 17/02) - Despite reassurance that the Nunavut Area Firearms Office would reopen in early May, the door remains locked and the blinds are pulled.

Don Labelle, the manager of communications for the Northwest region for the Canadian Firearms Centre in Edmonton, said last Wednesday the office was still closed because officials were awaiting the results of a security check.

The office, which helps Nunavummuit apply for firearms possession and acquisition licences and register guns, closed in the middle of March, when Josh Mitsima left the position.

The CFC has reportedly found a candidate to take over the stressful job, but the security clearance process has stalled the hiring.

That means Nunavummiut in need of assistance with firearms issues must continue to contact the Yellowknife office.

Service in Inuktitut is currently not available.

Labelle was unable to say when the government would be able to get through its own red tape.

"It could come any day, it could come next week or in two weeks or three weeks," said Labelle.

Under the Firearms Registration Act, Canadians who own firearms were required to carry a licence as of Jan. 1, 2001. Full enforcement of the act has been put off, however, while bugs are ironed out of the registration and licensing processes.