RANKIN INLET/KIVALLIQ - The Kivalliq Chamber of Commerce will be hosting one of its most important series of meetings in Rankin Inlet later this month.

Senator Dennis Patterson conducted a pre-budget consultation with the Kivalliq Chamber of Commerce during his stop in Rankin Inlet this past month. - photo courtesy of Dorothy Tootoo

The chamber will host its annual business symposium and general meeting at the Siniktarvik Hotel from March 15 to 17.

The five areas the chamber will focus on at the gathering are infrastructure, transportation, mineral exploration and mining, socio-economics, and education and human capital development.

Event co-ordinator Brock Junkin said a number of excellent presentations are on tap for the event, which should lead to heavy discussions of both public and private interest. He said the chamber expects to have three to five speakers address each topic.

"We're really interested in all of them, but infrastructure is, probably, at the top of the list," said Junkin.

"Close behind would be the human resource deficit we're facing right now.

"Yes, we have schools and colleges, but, no, we don't have skilled people.

"This isn't a finger-pointing exercise, but, rather, all about finding out what's going on and how we can work more productively to address these particular issues."

With the Meadowbank gold mine near Baker Lake set for production, and rumours swirling around the Meliadine project in Rankin, the business symposium has an added importance this time around.

Junkin said the chamber has the attention of a number of politicians on the growing needs of the region. He said Dennis Patterson, senator for Nunavut, recently spent a considerable amount of time with the chamber on a pre-budget consultation.

"Also, some who haven't been prepared to attend our conferences in the past, and I'm thinking of the Department of Education in particular, will be making an appearance this time," said Junkin.

"The mineral exploration and mining people are always interested in waving the flag for more infrastructure and skills training.

"We can't move forward as well as we should be unless we resolve our infrastructure problems, and the human resources element is a part (of) that.

"The chamber will also be distributing the proceedings this year to help keep everyone informed about what we're talking about and what's being done about it."