BAKER LAKE - A Kivalliq and a Quebec operation have joined forces to provide services to the mining industry in Nunavut and Northern Canada.

After months of negotiations, the Qamanittuaq Development Corp. (QDC) and Fernand Gilbert Ltee. announced the formation of Qamanittuaq Sana, which has already been successful on two tender bids in Baker Lake.

The new joint-venture company will mainly provide civil engineering, road and dyke construction, crushing and consolidation, and environmental services.

QDC, a 100-per cent Inuit-owned business based in Baker, is the majority shareholder of the new company, owning 51 per cent.

Fernand Gilbert, based in Chicoutimi, Que., was established in 1957 and is a major civil-engineering contractor to Hydro Quebec, the Quebec Ministry of Transportation and Rio Tinto Alcan.

It has also worked with Northern Quebec mining companies such as Trolius, and with Agnico-Eagle in Baker. Joint-venture company president David Simailak said QDC is fortunate to be partnered with a company such as Fernand Gilbert, which has such a rich history.

"QDC had been looking for opportunities to get involved in the industry with the Meadowbank mine opening in Baker," said Simailak.

"I was asked to help in looking around and this opportunity came up.

"We started talking and, the next thing you know, we had a deal."

Simailak said the new company will provide more Inuit content for the Meadowbank workforce.

He said new heavy equipment, including excavators, a gravel screener and a large gravel crusher, just arrived on the barge for the new company.

"Right off the bat, we were looking for eight Inuit to work on the project and we've already hired seven.

"Our new company has been successful in winning two tenders at Meadowbank; one for gravel crushing and one for some dike work, so we're off and running."

Simailak said the new company will eventually look beyond Baker for projects.

"I don't think we'll limit ourselves to Baker Lake.

"Why do that? If an opportunity comes up through public tender, we'll bid on it and let the numbers speak for themselves.

"We're already looking to the future in terms of training programs for people we hire, so they have an opportunity to grow with the company."