INUVIK - The owner of the Perry Building is looking to recover more than a year in rent from the territorial government.

Catia Stamatelakis'late husband Perry built the structure in 1972 in response to the GNWT's need for office space.

From left, lawyer Steven L. Cooper, Catia Stamatelakis and legal articling student Christina Henriques are pictured in Cooper's Edmonton office. Stamatelakis owns the Perry Building in Inuvik and wants the territorial government, only tenant of the building, to pay full rent on the building. Government offices on the second and third floors were closed after an engineer declared the building unsafe in February 2006. - photo courtesy of Steve Cooper

In February 2006, an engineer hired by the government condemned the top two floors of the building and government workers moved out.

The GNWT still has workers in the first floor of the structure.

Stamatelakis blames the building problems on renovations on the second floor of the three-storey building.

She claims that walls were taken down without her knowledge and a private engineer was hired to inspect the building last year.

According to Stamatelakis, on Feb. 2, 2006 an engineer's report declared the building was unsafe. It was evacuated on Feb. 5, 2006 and offices on the second and third floors were shut down.

When the lease for the building was signed, it stated that monthly rent would be $21,070.53, plus operating and maintenance costs.

Since the offices on the second and third floors were closed, the government has paid $9,500 per month, plus operating and maintenance costs.

Stamatelakis said the lease states that changes to the building could only be done with written consent from both parties.

"They had to tell us in writing, which they never did," said Stamatelakis.

"We couldn't approve of renovations we didn't know of."

Public works regional superintendent Roy Clarke declined to comment. Stamatelakis had her own engineer inspect the building in February 2006.

In his March 31, 2006 report, the engineer states that the building's structure was changed by the removal of walls on the second floor.

He said, however, that in his opinion the building was safe for use, with limited usage of the third floor.

Stamatelakis' Edmonton lawyer, Steve Cooper, said he is confused at why the GNWT would still be using a building after their inspector called it unsafe.

"This report has words like, 'loss of life,' warning about the state of the building," said Cooper.

"That has all been proven wrong, but why put their employees back in the offices after just calling it unsafe?"

Cooper said he is looking for the money owed for the rent over the last 13 months.

"There is damage to that building and we're not here to discuss who pays for it, not yet," said Cooper.

"All my client wants right now is the money that is owed to her."

Stamatelakis is frustrated that the GNWT will not negotiate with her about resolving the issue.

In a meeting last year, I told them I would go public with this if they did nothing," she said.

"I'm tired of fighting for something I didn't do."

She said when her husband Perry was alive, the relationship between the landlord and tenant was a good one.

"Perry would meet with the government and they would talk face to face," said Stamatelakis.

"They will not negotiate with me, it makes me wonder if it's because I'm a woman."

Perry and Catia moved to Edmonton in 1986 due to Perry's health and medical needs.

"He loved Inuvik; it was our home. We were ready to spend the rest of our lives there," said Stamatelakis.

"When Perry passed away, the government seemed like they wanted to force me to sell the building. They might accomplish that goal."

Stamatelakis is now living in Edmonton with her son.

Cooper said that legal action is not what they are looking for, but will take the matter to court if the GNWT will not respond to their request for negotiations.