Red Pedersen and Jeannie Ehaloak outline improvements for Kugluktuk, Cambridge Bay

Miranda Scotland
Northern News Services
Published Monday, December 16, 2013

NUNAVUT
With new mandates and new members of hamlet councils elected, the acclaimed mayors of Cambridge Bay and Kugluktuk are setting priorities for the near future.

Kugluktuk Mayor Red Pedersen said he plans to push for better communication between community members and public servants.

"I would like to make the hamlet office and staff more accessible to the public," said Pedersen.

The hamlet, he added, could also use some sprucing up. It's looking "shabby."

Pedersen said he would love for high school students to be hired on for the summer to paint housing exteriors.

The hamlet will also need to work with the territorial government on problems it can't tackle alone, he continued.

Although as mayor he doesn't have much control over areas such as public housing, he can provide input and advice to MLAs.

"If we're ever going to get any attention it has to be in this government," he said.

The territory's newly elected premier, Peter Taptuna, is from Kugluktuk. Plus, Cambridge Bay MLA Keith Peterson is minister of Finance and Netsilik MLA Jeannie Ugyuk is minister of Family Services.

That said, Pedersen recognizes that it's a democratic system and at the end of the day it comes down to numbers.

"I was in cabinet myself and when you sit in cabinet you can't favour your own constituency," he said.

"The reality is, due to the population density, the number of MLAs in the Baffin region outnumber the combined number between the Kitikmeot and Kivalliq.

"We have to come forth with some persuasive arguments to get the things we need."

Meanwhile, in Cambridge Bay, incumbent Jeannie Ehaloak, was acclaimed as mayor and said she is excited to return for another term.

Cambridge Bay residents were very pleased when Taptuna was named premier, said Ehaloak adding it's great to finally have someone from the Kitikmeot in the position.

"If myself and other mayors in Nunavut, if we all work together to come up with common goals for our communities, I'm sure Peter will listen and take into consideration all of our concerns and issues."

Ehaloak's main reason for running was so she can ensure plans for a recycling program in the community come to fruition.

"Each household will get two bins," Ehaloak said, adding the containers are sitting in a warehouse, waiting to be distributed.

"But before we start, we have to educate the community. The first place we're going to go is to the schools because our kids are the easiest to teach and they're the ones who are going to be able to teach their parents."

If the program is successful, Ehaloak hopes to see it spread to other communities in the territory.

Raising funds for a multi-use facility is another priority for Ehaloak.

At a recent council meeting she learned the recreation committee had raised $53,000 for the project.

"I know it's not enough, but if we start early and start preparing now, at least we'll be able to work toward our goal in the next few years."

The project will likely require private and public funds, she added.

The hamlet has been working with the Canadian High Arctic Research Station (CHARS) team and asked them not to build a recreation area in the new facility.

Instead, they requested the team support Cambridge Bay's plans for a complex "so CHARS can feel like they're part of the community," said Ehaloak.

"They've agreed."

Also on her priority list is the airstrip. Between CHARS and increasing mining activity in the region, Cambridge Bay needs a paved runway.