Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, January 16, 2008

RANKIN INLET - Rankin Inlet Mayor Lorne Kusugak wants to get a lot done during his final year as municipal head.

Kusugak, in his third term as Rankin mayor, has announced he will be leaving municipal politics to run in the Rankin Inlet South/Whale Cove riding in Nunavut's next territorial election.

Mayor Lorne Kusugak will be leaving municipal politics to run in the Rankin Inlet South/Whale Cove riding in the next territorial election. - NNSL file photo

"I deserve a chance at territorial politics and I hope that's what the people think at election time," said Kusugak.

"But, in the meantime, this is the first all-Inuit council I can remember for the past 10 years and it's going to be an interesting group to work with.

"All of them have served on previous councils and a key to our success will be their willingness to take a leadership role on our committees and deal with the issues we are faced with.

"I'd also like to see them become more vocal and a little more aggressive in making things happen for the hamlet."

Kusugak said among the items he sees as top priorities in 2008 is taking steps to upgrade recreational facilities in the community.

He said there is a group interested in fundraising for a new arena, and the community hall can no longer meet the needs of Rankin's growing population.

"The Government of Nunavut continues to waste money trying to upgrade our community hall and arena.

"We need to start looking at ways to build new infrastructure, not continuing to prop up existing structures that have outlived their usefulness.

"We can only be poor and keep saying we have no money for so long.

"Getting our debenture paid off early may prove itself to be a positive step in taking on more responsibility as a hamlet."

Kusugak said Rankin also has to get ready for mining, and that means completing the plan for Area 5's subdivision and working with government and private industry to improve its port.

He said it was a dog-and-pony show when Northern Transportation Company Ltd. (NTCL) was trying to off-load equipment.

"At least 50 per cent of it was NTCL's problem because it has terrible equipment.

"But we have to set up our docking facility so that it's easy for companies to get in and out quickly.

"The faster the barges get in and out, the faster we get our items and we have to take some responsibility for that happening.

"A better port would help the mining companies, the shipping companies and, most importantly, the community."