Cambridge Bay (May 12/03) - There is power in numbers.

Canadian communities are beginning to understand this concept, and across the country municipal associations are pooling their resources to get what they want from higher levels of government.

"Being the first level of government means we are often on the front lines dealing with social, health, housing, education, language, economic development and insurance issues," said Keith Peterson, president of the Nunavut Association of Municipalities (NAM) and mayor of Cambridge Bay.

"Our residents turn to us first for leadership and to communicate their collective voices to other levels of government."

Peterson was one of over 50 mayors and senior administrative officers from 26 Nunavut communities to attend the NAM annual general meeting this year, April 25-28.

During the meeting, a number of pressing Northern issues were discussed and 30 resolutions were passed.

"We can't just sit around and wait for things to happen. We have to roll up our sleeves and get something done," he said.

New insurance deal

Probably most notable of achievements reached over the weekend was the completion of Nunavut Municipalities Insurance Exchange, or NAMIX for short.

It's considered a "made in Nunavut solution" to the growing insurance crisis in the territory.

"We were basically uninsurable," said Peterson.

Since 1999, municipal insurance premiums in the territory have tripled. If the municipalities hadn't pooled their resources, premiums would have shot to a combined total of $6 million annually.

The pieces of the NAMIX puzzle all fell into place on April 25 when the Nunavut government pledged to invest $5 million over the next four years into program.

NAMIX insures NAM communities for up to $20 million with a $2 million deductible.

"There was too much liability," said Peterson, who referred to the $4 million in losses due to fire in Repulse Bay and Clyde River last year.

Aside from cheaper premiums, which will drop from $2.3 million a year to $1.9 million, Peterson said the deal means more investment dollars will remain in the North.

Southern exposure

The NAM conference has also opened the door for educating Southern leaders of the needs of Canada's newest territory.

Deputy mayor of Kugluktuk Peter Taptuna said that exposure is very important to Nunavut's future.

Through the NAM conference, a resolution was passed to institute a Nunavut public relations campaign.

"Not too many MPs in Southern Canada know what Nunavut is all about," said Taptuna. "They don't know the cost of doing business. It's a unique territory, not many people know what's needed up here."

With an emphasis on public relations toward their Southern counterparts and the federal government, Taptuna is hoping all that will change.

He said the federal government needs to invest more in Nunavut. They need to increase focus on health and education but most of all, they have to begin developing infrastructure.

"That will help make Nunavut a self-sufficient entity that doesn't have to depend on government hand-outs," said Taptuna.

He points to the over $6 billion in foreign aid Canada handed out last year.

"That is money we never even heard about," said Taptuna. "That's a lot of tax money going out of the country."

Taptuna said they will continue to work through NAM to lobby the federal and territorial government to help build Nunavut into a healthy and diverse region of the country.