Gjoa Haven (Apr 04/05) - Control of the Gjoa Haven Housing Association has been moved back to the Nunavut Housing Association headquarters (Kitikmeot branch) in Cambridge Bay, and that has one former town councillor worried that local housing workers will be out of jobs.

Matt Gee, a former Gjoa Haven town councillor, says he fought hard to prevent the move from happening.

"I pleaded with council at end of November 2004 not to make that decision," said Gee in a phone interview.

Gee didn't want to see seven local people lose their jobs as a result of the move.

He was also afraid there would be alot more red tape for local people to get through for their housing needs once the office moved to Cambridge Bay.

Mayor Sam Puqiqnik says local jobs are not in jeopardy.

"A new manager is taking over here April 1," he says.

"I don't see any jobs lost."

Gjoa Haven has handled their own housing association for the last three years.

The housing association is responsible for ensuring people in the community have access to adequate housing.

Concerns were raised about Gjoa Haven's local management of the Housing Association after the Nunavut Housing Association office in Cambridge Bay conducted an audit on the community's Housing Association in June 2004 and found many problems.

"There was a large report of problems and things that needed to be fixed. And council said, 'Oh oh,'" recalled Gee. "I read it and thought, OK. Most were fixable."

But the town council eventually decided the housing association should be moved.

While the mayor says there will be no job losses as a result of the move, Gee still isn't convinced.

"It could have been done locally," he said.