AUSUITTUQ/GRISE FIORD - The mayor and residents of Grise Fiord are prepared to wait longer for a new hamlet building but they are also wondering if the territorial government is short on cash for the project.

The old RCMP detachment building will be taken down and will be the home of the new hamlet building. Construction has been delayed and is now slated to start a year later than anticipated in the summer of 2012 with completion in 2013. The project might also be short on funds. - Emily Ridlington/NNSL photo

"We've told them (the Government of Nunavut) if we have to wait another year, we will do so," said Mayor Meeka Kiguktak.

She said the hamlet was told the GN was $7 million short for the project, which is to build a 11,170 square metre hamlet building housing a gymnasium, community hall, hamlet chambers and office and office space for five staff with room for the Iviq Hunters and Trappers Organization and the Qikiqtani Inuit Association.

Earlier this winter, Kiguktak said she talked with Conservative MP Leona Aglukkaq when she visited Grise Fiord and Aglukkaq told her she was not aware of missing funding.

According to Roy Green with the Department of Community and Government Services, the budget for the project has yet to change from the amount he gave News/North in October.

"The original budget was at $12 million and we're still at the same budget," he said.

As planned, he said 75 per cent of the funds for the project are coming from the Building Canada Fund.

Construction materials were supposed to start arriving on this summer's sealift with construction slated to be done in 2012.

Green said the delay is because the design options have taken longer than expected.

Construction now will take place in the summer of 2012 with the building scheduled to be done in fall of 2013.

The original design, he said, was too big and that is why a redesign was needed. All those who were promised space will still get it.

"Until the design is complete and we are provided with the construction estimates by the consultant we don't know if there will be a budget shortfall or not," Green said.

He re-iterated several times nothing is on the chopping block.

Once the designs are done, the department and the Yellowknife-based consulting company will go back to the hamlet with the revised plans.

What has been confirmed is the site of the building.

It will be located on lots #151 and #152, where the old RCMP detachment sits.

Kiguktak said she and residents are looking forward to getting an update on the project.

"We're just wondering what's going on," Kiguktak said.

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