Rankin Inlet (July 21/04) - High bids on labour tenders have resulted in a delay in the construction of 17 public housing units in the Kivalliq region.

The units likely won't be built until the spring of 2005.

Projects being delayed by the Nunavut Housing Corp.'s decision to not award the tenders are a triplex and a single-family dwelling in Whale Cove, a fourplex in Repulse Bay and triplexes in Rankin Inlet, Chesterfield Inlet and Coral Harbour.

A 10-unit project in Rankin is proceeding, as are a fourplex in Arviat and a triplex in Baker Lake.

Housing Corp. president Peter Scott said talks are still ongoing with Coral Harbour in hopes of trying to continue with a project there.

"The prices that came in on the labour-only tenders exceeded our budgets and we're looking at alternate ways of getting the units constructed," said Scott.

"We're still looking at our options and the materials are being delivered as we speak, but we're probably looking at the spring of 2005 before these projects proceed."

Scott said there is speculation that contractors included the penalties for not reaching the Inuit content requirements of the NNI policy in with their bids.

He said the Inuit content percentage can vary in different communities, based on past performance and current construction.

"Arviat's Bob Leonard employs high Inuit content, so we've gone up to 85 or 90 per cent there.

"We also look at what else is going on in a community.

"If there's a new school and health centre being built, Inuit content is going to be spread thin and contractors can't make 50 or 60 per cent.

"In those cases, you have to look at reducing it to a more realistic level or the contractor would face potentially high penalties."

Scott said the delayed units will probably go back out to tender later this year.

He said the Housing Corp. is also looking at the feasibility of combining community-based projects and additional trades training to have the units built.

Winter training

"The training would have to take place during the winter and that creates other logistical-type problems.

"We're meeting in Rankin this week to further discuss our options."