Rankin Inlet (Dec 10/03) - It appears as though the Kivalliq Inuit Association's (KIA) funding impasse with Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) may soon be resolved.

NTI vice-president of finance Paul Kaludjak said the KIA has indicated to him that it has managed to compile backup documentation for the money in question.

NTI had said it would withhold funding from the KIA if it could not account for more than $40,000 in claimed expenses.

"I understand the KIA's auditors are quite satisfied with the backup documents the KIA has provided," said Kaludjak.

"I have been advised that those documents will be tabled during the KIA's AGM and everything should be fine from there."

Former KIA president Tongola Sandy (Monday's election results were not known at press time) was surprised by earlier statements made by Kaludjak.

Sandy said he had been told by both the KIA's finance and chief finance officers that there was no clarification needed from his use of the KIA's Visa.

"Because I was going to run for the KIA presidency, I wanted to make sure there was nothing I owed to the organization," said Sandy.

"I even told them if there was anything unclear about anything I may have used the card for, I'd like to pay it.

"They told me there was nothing at all."

Booking tickets

Sandy said the majority of the credit card use revolves around booking tickets for KIA board members trying to get in or out of communities when bad weather strikes.

"We can't get the receipts from the travel agents that quickly. It's hard to get a receipt from them when you phone in with a Visa number.

"I would never misuse a corporate Visa card."

Kaludjak said at no time did NTI ever insinuate there was any misuse of corporation credit cards.

He said the issue was one of simple accountability, and the KIA had to supply backup documentation for its claimed expenses.

"It was never the intent of NTI to point a finger at any individual in regards to the expenses we needed clarification on, nor did we ever suspect anyone of any type of wrongdoing," said Kaludjak.

"The KIA is fully aware it signs, as do all the Regional Inuit Associations, a contribution agreement.

"And they all know that means no statements, no money."