RANKIN INLET - Good news from the mining-and-exploration sector and a promise of better performance from sealift companies highlighted the commerce meeting of the year in Rankin Inlet this past week.

A total of 80 delegates attended the Kivalliq Chamber of Commerce (KCC) annual general meeting, a significant increase over the 55 who attended the 2006 event.

KCC president Ellie Cansfield said the news was all good from mining-and-exploration companies.

Shear Minerals announced the company is proceeding with exploration again this year.

Starfield Resources announced it was notified this past week it had obtained $15 million in financing to proceed with exploration this season.

And AREVA Resources outlined the process of starting up its mine, with 2012 marked as the year production will start.

"The three companies all outlined the number of jobs they hope to create, and Complex Minerals indicated it was also expecting to have an expanded season this year, which will also result in more local jobs and business opportunities for our region.

"The mining sector was very positive and had tangible plans for the upcoming years, not blue-sky estimates.

"They presented us with firm commitments."

Cansfield said the region's sealift companies all came to the table and identified weaknesses they felt occurred during this past year's operations.

She said the companies addressed the concerns of the membership to the point where they expect the upcoming sealift to be satisfactory to all parties involved.

"There were concerns expressed to the Northern Transportation Company Ltd. (NTCL) on its performance during the past sealift.

"NTCL discussed the steps it has taken to address the specific concerns, and felt part of its problems stemmed from start-up issues it was dealing with and, now that it's gone through that phase, we can expect a better level of service.

"All the groups are going to focus on improved communication with their customer base.

"We had a weakness in that area which was identified and, hopefully, resolved."

Cansfield said the membership was disappointed that both the Department of the Environment and Canada Post declined to attend the meeting. She said the KCC has been trying to discuss hunting tags with the department for the past three years.

"Sport hunting and tourism is an area that should be developed in Nunavut, so we hope the department will come to the table to discuss the issue with us in 2008.

"We weren't happy Canada Post didn't attend because the food mail program is a key concern of every Kivalliq resident.

"There's been no response to our inquiries on the status of the program.

"We passed a resolution to note our concern, which we will forward to the federal minister responsible for Canada Post, as well as the president of the corporation."