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RANKIN INLET/KIVALLIQ
Opportunities through mining and exploration was the hot topic during the annual Kivalliq mayors' conference in Rankin Inlet this past week.

Arviat Mayor Bob Leonard is impressed by how well Kivalliq leaders are working together for the overall good of the region. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo

Arviat Mayor Bob Leonard said he was impressed by how the Kivalliq mayors are working together on the issues.

He said it's better for the region when its leaders speak as one voice.

"It's partly because of economic activity in the region, but there's really no rivalries anymore," said Leonard.

"Everybody's just trying to get the job done.

"It was encouraging to see that attitude reaffirmed.

"The region has always worked well together over the years, but it's nice to see it the way it is now."

A change made to access road funding by the Government of Nunavut was not a popular one among Kivalliq mayors. Leonard said the GN used to select a number of projects and fund them entirely for the communities involved.

He said the change made will severely limit many hamlets' ability to build roads

out onto the land.

"The GN arbitrarily said this year everybody gets $20,000, instead of picking five to seven projects and properly funding them to the tune of, say, $50,000 to $150,000 like it used to be.

"Basically, $20,000 isn't enough money to mobilize your equipment.

"You just get out there and you have to bring it back in."

Leonard said the mayors spent a good deal of time talking about training and getting ready for the Meliadine gold project near Rankin Inlet.

He said Meliadine seems to be growing a bit more in scope every month.

"There was talk about the delay in getting the road built so the project can advance to the next stage. I believe every Kivalliq mayor has written a letter in support of the road during the past few months.

"Some of us had the chance to meet with the prime minister about a month ago, and we let him know what we thought about the hold-up.

"We couldn't discuss it in great detail because Whale Cove Mayor Percy Kabloona sits on the Nunavut Impact Review Board, but Rankin Mayor Pujjuut Kusugak let everyone know his community has come out very strongly in support of Agnico-Eagle."

Leonard said, overall, the conference was upbeat, but the mayors realize there's still a lot to be done in preparation for future developments.

He said the mayors understand everyone's going to be fighting for the same small labour force, and he doesn't see that causing any cracks between the leaders.

"It will be an unusual problem for us up here.

"We see it in Arviat because we have so many working in Baker Lake, but everyone knows it's coming.

"The biggest issue is our lack of infrastructure, and we have to talk more to the federal government about what it's responsible for with ports, small boat harbours, airports, power and a road to Manitoba.

"The federal government said it's interested in projects leading to economic development, so we're going to challenge it on that and see if it steps up."

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