NUNAVUT - A tour operator set to pump more than $100,000 into the Nunavut economy has cancelled his photography trips to the territory due to the Nunavut government's handling of the Tom Faess situation.

Award winning professional wildlife photographer John E. Marriott won't be booking any more tours to Nunavut after the way the government handled outfitter Tom Faess's (Tundra Tom) suspension this past summer. - photo courtesy of John E Marriott

Faess had his outfitter's licence suspended, and later revoked, in Baker Lake this past summer following a complaint by a disgruntled client.

John E. Marriott of JEM Photography in Canmore, Alta., said he cancelled his trips because he's afraid the government could take the same type of action again.

A 2008 Canadian Geographic Wildlife Photograph of the Year winner, Marriott has cancelled his 2011 and 2012 trips to Nunavut.

He said he will never operate in Nunavut again until he is fully reimbursed for the money he lost when Faess's licence was revoked.

"This was a premature and unsatisfactory decision by the Government of Nunavut (GN) and I still want to know why it took two months to tell me why his (Faess) license was suspended," said Marriott.

"Two months tells me the GN had to scramble to build a case behind its initial knee-jerk reaction to one complaint.

"I have posted my experiences online with photo forums around the world to warn other photographers and tour operators of the chances they are taking with their money by booking Nunavut adventures.

"Until the GN steps up and takes ownership of the mistake it made in handling this affair, I will continue to speak negatively of Nunavut Tourism."

Economy

Marriott's trip to Pond Inlet with six clients this past June put about $40,000 into Nunavut's economy.

He said he had 12 people on a waiting list for seven spots he had available for a 2011 trip to Nunavut.

"Between everything combined, we're looking at about another $60,000 that would have gone back into the Nunavut economy.

"I informed the clients on my list that I've cancelled the 2011 trip because I won't take the chance the Nunavut government will pull the plug like that again."

Marriott said nobody in the GN cared enough to contact him directly when his trip to Baker was cancelled.

He said he received an e-mail from Nunavut Tourism executive director Colleen Dupuis the day he was supposed to leave.

"Tom (Faess) was the one who actually let me know what had happened.

"If I'd waited to hear from the GN, I would have been in Baker before finding out the trip was cancelled.

"When I phoned Dupuis she was extremely vague about what happened, but she did tell me Nunavut Tourism was aware of incidents involving Tom in the NWT.

"If that's so, why did they ever grant him a licence in the first place?"

Investigation

Marriott said it was almost two months before he received a letter on the particulars of the GN's investigation into Faess.

He said when Nunavut Tourism first contacted him, he was told it was looking into how the affected clients were going to be reimbursed.

"The next thing I know, I get a letter from Gordon MacKay (assistant deputy minister for Economic Development and Transportation), stating Nunavut has no program in place to compensate or reimburse tourists.

"It said the department regrets any inconvenience and cost experiences by visitors to Nunavut as a result of the operations of TT Enterprises (Faess).

"How to they expect companies like mine to operate up there when they're behaving like this?"

Pulling out

Marriott said he's confident he won't be the only one pulling out of Nunavut.

He said everyone involved with the case is irate over how it was handled.

"A group of us are considering a lawsuit, but, whether anyone goes with me, I'll be taking it to small claims court.

"It took the GN two months to come up with reasons for the suspension.

"Give me two months and I'll come up with something negative on any company."

Marriott said he's spoken to others who've indicated they won't be doing business in Nunavut until the situation has been resolved.

He said the only way he'd consider doing business in Nunavut again is if the GN apologizes for the way it handled the situation.

"I'd also want to know why the investigation took so long, why we weren't told right away and, most importantly, I'd need to be reimbursed and/or granted a credit for a future trip up there.

"That's the only way I'd start booking trips again."

Gordon MacKay did not respond to requests for an interview from the Kivalliq News.

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