Christine Kay
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (June 24/02) - New hospitals are promised for each region in the Nunavut territory.

The Nunavut Investment Review Committee made the announcement during a June 15 meeting in Yellowknife called to discuss development in the territory.

The vice-president of finance for Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., Paul Kaludjak, said the development agreements for three new hospitals in the territory are being signed off and the design phases are on their way.

The three hospitals will be built in the Kivalliq, Kitikmeot and Baffin regions with a total cost of $70 million.

The Kivalliq hospital has already been started and all three projects are expected to be finished within the next three or four years.

"We're having some good progress. We had some problems starting up but the government is willing to work with us now," said Kaludjak.

The review committee also discussed the importance of developing fisheries in Nunavut.

The group will explore how to help Inuit exploit the fishery industry in the territory in order to reach the maximum benefit for local communities.

Studies will help the committee determine how to do ensure no opportunity is overlooked.