Chris Puglia
Northern News Services

Cape Dorset (Mar 17/03) - The Housing Corporation's brand new regional office in Cape Dorset will likely mark the end of Nunavut's decentralization process.

The final phase of decentralization --Phase III -- called for the creation or relocation of 72 positions over the last year within the territory's Human Resources and Public Works departments.

That makes a total of 429 positions across the territory over the last three years that have been added or moved elsewhere, according to David Akeeagok, assistant deputy minister of decentralization.

The Housing Corporation office was relocated from Iqaluit to Cape Dorset to act as a regional office for the Baffin region.

"Pre-Nunavut Iqaluit was a regional centre. When it became a capital city it was decided no regional offices could be located here," said Akeeagok.

The office opened in February with 19 staff positions, most of which have been filled. Akeeagok said they are working at hiring more staff for those that remain.

"In the previous two years, August and September is when the relocation took place. This one was in February because there wasn't enough housing," said Akeeagok.

Since then, enough housing has been built and they were able to meet their deadline at the end of this fiscal year.

Other Baffin offices were set up in Pangnirtung, Iglulik and Pond Inlet.

The budget for this year was $5 million. Akeeagok said the total cost of decentralization has not been determined yet.