Iqaluit (May 26/03) - Federal officials touring Nunavut were bombarded with wish lists which included infrastructure, housing, economic development, education, culture and health care.

Mom Ikayutuk Tunnillie, 20, and children Joanasie, 8 months, and Charlie, 2, sit by a window as four members of the federal tour group look through their home in Cape Dorset. She said 10 people live there and conditions are poor. - Chris Puglia/NNSL photo

"We could use more money from the federal government. We've tried to do as much as we can with what we have," Premier Paul Okalik said when he met with them in Iqaluit.

The bureaucrats began a four day arctic tour on May 20 that took them to the communities of Kuujjuaq, Iqaluit and Cape Dorset.

Organized by Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami the tour was designed to educate federal staff on the needs of Northerners.

Most of the federal staff had never been to the North before.

They toured government buildings, met with territorial and municipal leaders and went into Inuit homes.

Cape Dorset mayor Saveajuk Jaw was delighted by the visit and the chance to discuss the hamlet council's concern with housing.

"The lack of housing is very much a problem here and health effects happen because of the number of people residing in a house," said Jaw.

In the three local homes the group visited there was an average of 10 people per household.

The homes were small, with problems that ranged from bad septic systems and poor ventilation to neglected maintenance.

Of the nearly 300 housing units in Cape Dorset all but 20 are public housing.

The hamlet council also cited a need for youth and elders centres and office space for future employment opportunities.

Conclusions

Patricia Tremblay, regional manager for assisted living with the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation, was one member of the tour.

"There is a need, I guess everybody recognizes that," she said.

Michelle Kovacevic, a senior policy analyst for Health Canada, noted that like most Northern communities Cape Dorset provides limited health services.

"Sometimes it's hard to stomach," said Kovacevic, who had never been to Nunavut before the tour.

"I grew up in Northern Ontario and I thought I understood the plight of small living. This is much, much more."

Robert Martel, chief operating officer with ITK, said he believed they achieved their objectives with the tour and got the federal officials seriously thinking about Northern needs.

"I think we opened a lot of minds," he said.