She's been with the Petroleum Products Division (PPD) since it was decentralized to Rankin Inlet from Yellowknife in 1994.

PPD staff were informed last week of an agreement reached in principal to have PPD decentralized to Baker Lake by April 1, 2004.

"I have a house in Rankin and this is my home," said Niviatsik.

"I went to the NWT for training to be a revenue clerk, then I moved up to a senior revenue clerk, and now I'm training to become the revenue manager.

"All the training I've taken is going to be wasted."

Niviatsik said Public Works and Services won't find anyone in Baker with the necessary training to replace current PPD employees, which means positions are going to be filled by Southern workers.

She said that's a loss for all Inuit, not just Rankin.

"This government said it was going to be for the people, but it's obvious the premier doesn't care about want the people want.

"The government wants to do this, so that's the end of the story."

Niviatsik said the entire process has been handled poorly by the government right from the start.

She said department heads should have met face to face with PPD staff, not let them hear what was about to happen through word of mouth and the media.

"This is a big loss to Rankin which is going to affect our economy, schools, local businesses, everything.

"This move was never included in Footprints One or Two and, to the best of my knowledge, PPD was never consulted on any part of this decision."

Questions to be answered

Rankin is the only community being negatively affected by the birth of the Qulliq Energy Corp.

While there are no positions from the fuel side of the new corporation situated in Iqaluit, the Nunavut Power Corp. still has its headquarters in the capital.

There has been no indication if those positions will be decentralized to Baker.

Public Works Deputy Minister Ross Mrazek said it's still too early to determine how the PPD move will affect the decentralization model, as it pertains to Rankin Inlet.

He said in addition to the obvious need for both staff housing and office space in Baker to be addressed during the transition stage in 2004, potential training will also have to be seriously considered.

"The current employees will be given the option to relocate, seek employment in Rankin or resign," said Mrazek.

"If resignations are the case, there will need to be a plan in place to bring some employees into intensive training.

"Quite a number of those positions are of a technical nature and require highly specialized knowledge."

Mrazek said the next step is a change in legislation for the existing Nunavut Power Corp. to change into the Qulliq Energy Corp.

That is expected to happen by March 31.

"Once that's done, we have a number of high positions to be staffed, such as the president and the chief financial officer.

"After that, there will be two subsidiary corporations -- fuel and power -- and they will both report to the Qulliq Energy Corp.

"Everything has to be in place by April 1, 2004."

Community reaction

Both Rankin and Baker are reacting strongly to the news.

Baker MLA Glenn McLean said he's happy to see the creation of 13 new jobs in his community.

"I fully support the premier and the decentralization policy," said McLean.

"I'm pleased the premier has kept his promise to the people of Nunavut, and Baker Lake, to supply employment opportunities to the have-not communities."

Rankin council has circulated a petition, which almost 600 people have already signed, to keep the PPD in the hamlet.

Council discussed plans earlier this month for Rankin Mayor Lorne Kusugak and a hamlet delegation to call a press conference in Iqaluit to present the petition to the Nunavut government.

"The timing will be right to present the petition when we're in Iqaluit to meet with the premier and Minister (Ed) Picco because of the media exposure there," said Kusugak.

"If the Nunavut government can do something like this to Rankin Inlet, other communities in Nunavut should be worried about what they might decide to do next."