Arctic Bay (Feb 07/05) - Arctic Bay residents hoping Nanisivik was the solution to their housing woes will have to look elsewhere.

They may only end up with a few 2X4s and some plywood, and maybe a Housing Corporation trailer out of the former mine site.

Government officials and two people employed to demolish the buildings told residents during a Jan. 31 public meeting the buildings are too contaminated to use.

"Based on what (the demolition guys have) seen, they did not recommend moving buildings from Nanisivik," said Arctic Bay Mayor Niore Iqalukjuak.

He said the pair described clouds of foul-smelling dust created during the demolition of the buildings.

The community wanted to take the materials, and some buildings intact, and bring them down the 34-kilometre stretch of highway to Arctic Bay in hopes of alleviating the housing crunch.

As of 2003, 30 families were on a waiting list for housing.

Premier Paul Okalik, along with cabinet ministers Peter Kilabuk and David Simailak, and MLA Levi Barnabas were in Arctic Bay to answer questions from residents during a two-hour meeting at the Inuujaq school gymnasium.

"I think (residents) felt that it was a little late for them to come up. Most of the buildings have already been demolished," Iqalukjuak said.

The demolition process should be complete by the end of the summer. Iqalukjuak had hoped the meeting would bring closure for the people affected, but he said it didn't have that affect.

The lead-zinc mine, which had been in operation since 1976, closed in 2002 when CanZinco Ltd. said low prices in the world zinc market made producing ore at the site unprofitable.

With the mine went more than 30 jobs held by local residents, leaving a large economic void in Arctic Bay, a community of about 550 people.

During the meeting, there was also a request to have a trailer belonging to the Nunavut Housing Corporation moved to Arctic Bay because the unit has wheels.

Iqalukjuak did not feel he was given an answer as to whether or not this would happen.

A study to determine the cost of transferring the mine site's multi-complex building -- which includes a recreation centre -- is also underway, Iqalukjuak said.

Though it seems unlikely that entire buildings will be relocated, a plan to salvage plywood and 2X4s is now in place, Iqalukjuak said. The materials are expected to be used to build shacks and shelters out on the land.

The community also requested the results from contaminant testing done on sculpins and cod found in the area surrounding the mine.

Testing of the land surrounding Nanisivik was also requested, and Iqalukjuak said it sounded as though that would eventually be done. Residents said they remembered that samples of blood and hair that were taken from community members before the mine began production in the 1970s.

Current testing of blood and hair samples was requested, which the politicians said was available at the health centre.

"They want to find out how their health is by doing the same kinds of tests and seeing what the difference is," Iqalukjuak said.

The ministers held a one-hour meeting with hamlet council members prior to departing Feb. 1 and a commitment to build a new airstrip closer to the community was made.

Planes currently land at the Nanisivik airport where poor weather conditions at the elevated location often affect flight schedules.

Reporters were invited to the public meeting, but the cost of $2,200 for a seat on the GN charter stopped most organizations from attending.

Calls to the office of the Minister of Community and Government Services Peter Kilabuk were not returned before deadline.