Herb Mathisen
Northern News Services
Published Monday, July 21, 2008

IQALUIT - City council took its latest meeting to Abe Okpik Community Hall in Apex last Tuesday, July 15, giving local residents a chance to discuss zoning changes needed to make way for a new convenience store.

"There is a great need for a convenience store," said Apex resident Anne Crawford.

She said not all residents can afford the constant cab fares to get to Iqaluit to buy groceries and supplies, adding that during and after blizzards, the community is cut off from store access when the road to town is not driveable.

The Abe Okpik Community Hall in Apex is 2.8km from the nearest convenience store.

Crawford and two other residents raised concerns over increased garbage from the potential store, and had specific concerns with how the Rotary Park on the hill may get more litter.

Crawford is concerned that, should the store open up in Apex, there will be more plastic bags and candy wrappers flying around.

"Look how clean it is compared to town," she said, pointing to an Apex street outside the community hall.

Crawford suggested creating a bylaw to have garbage cans outside all convenience stores.

Inookee Inookee, 10, and older brother Anu, 12, said they would welcome a convenience store in Apex.

Councillors recommend raise in their travel reimbursements

Iqaluit city councillors spent more than 30 minutes last Tuesday evening discussing how they should be reimbursed for lost income while away travelling on approved city business.

As the bylaw is written, members who can prove they lost wages while away from their jobs because they were travelling on city business could claim up to $250.

Hunters, fishers, carvers and artists, however, were only allowed to be reimbursed $100.

Some members felt that amount should be bumped up to $250, and they let council know it.

Glen Williams, who operates a tourism company, said creating the difference between taxable wage earners and hunters, fishers, artists and carvers was sending the wrong message to kids - these jobs were not being treated as viable professions.

"By not being here, (hunters, fishers, artists and carvers) are not able to do their job," Williams said. "They should be compensated equally."

Claude Martel wondered why the amount could not be lowered to $100 across the board, saying it is a privilege to travel and it doesn't happen very often.

"Why don't we lower it to take the burden off the taxpayer?" he asked.

In the end, five members voted to recommend raising the reimbursement to $250. Hunters, fishers, artists and carvers now do not have to provide proof that they lost wages while travelling.

Arena funding denied

Prior to adjourning council, Mayor Elisapee Sheutiapik noted that a request for funding to have an engineering report done on the Arctic Winter Games arena floor had been denied by the Department of Economic Development and Transportation.

A letter, dated June 26, read: "this particular project is capital in nature and is the primary responsibility of the city or the Department of Community Government Services."

"It's disappointing news," Sheutiapik told council.