IQALUIT - The first Northern Economic and Sovereignty Infrastructure Conference wrapped up in Iqaluit last week, with four delegates telling News/North that attending was worth their while.

The three-day conference featured presentations and discussions on financing major infrastructure projects in the North and energy solutions for Northern development.

"Whenever you get the ears of the federal government, the ministers and senators, of course it's a good thing," said Charlie Lyall, president of the Kitikmeot Corporation. "I think the main thing is to get the word out of the stuff that needs to get done in the territory."

Kitikmeot Inuit Association president Charlie Evalik said the conference was a good idea.

"It is very important for the Inuit to know that infrastructure is greatly needed for proper development of Nunavut. I think this conference will assist that," he said.

Some 130 delegates attended the inaugural conference, said Patrick Doyle, a senior partner at Northern Strategy Group, one of the organizers.

"We're quite happy with the attendance. So far, it has gone very smoothly. Great feedback. A lot of the people commented on the quality and the content. Overall, it has gone quite well," he said.

Organizers are waiting for suggestions from delegates and speakers before deciding the format and content of possible future conferences, said Brendan Bell, the president of Northern Strategy Group.

"The feedback so far has been overwhelmingly very, very positive. People are telling us that the quality of speakers is first-rate but most importantly, they are able to do business in a conference like this," he said. "If we are able to be a part of helping people find deals in Nunavut and open up new markets for them and at the same time, generate investment here in the North, then I think we can consider it a job well done."

Northern community concerns with wharfs and wharf facilities is something Maj. Bryan K. Manson, a construction engineering officer with the Canadian Forces, said he noted.

"For the military, that's an issue too because we can't always fly stuff in," he said. "If there is a better port and wharf facilities, that would help us. It's not just a military component at this point, it's a community effort. There are a lot of communities that could use the extra infrastructure."

Manson said the conference was "very useful," giving him the opportunity to hear some of the "offline" comments by both the territorial and federal government.

Sheldon Nimchuk, a construction manager with NCC Dowland, said the conference brought insight in the challenges of doing business in the North and solutions from various companies.

"The exposure to the types of projects and initiatives that might be coming in the future allows us to start planning, to position ourselves in a manner that we could participate in some of this upcoming infrastructure work," he said. "Having attended a lot of conferences, I think this has been very positive in that it is really bringing the best of some of the government minds and private minds together in a relatively small context."

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