Business and Economic Development

Business and Economic Development dealt with Inuit interests in many aspects of the Nunavut economy in 2005/06. A comprehensive review was made of the Inuit Firm Registry. Four firms were removed due to changes in ownership and 28 firms were removed because they were no longer in business or could not be contacted. Thirty-four new firms were added to the registry in 2005/06. The department worked with the GN’s NNI Secretariat to update the NNI Policy. Most changes to the policy were agreed to in 2003. Some changes, which NTI did not agree to, were suspended. A new section will be added to the policy to describe consultation with NTI on future changes. The GN’s Contracting Data Report for 2004/05 shows a decline in the total value of GN contracts awarded to Inuit firms since 2000/01. NTI is seeking the reasons for this decline.
NTI records with regret the passing away of Pat Lyall who served as an NTI appointee on the NNI Appeals Board (established to hear appeals of contract awards). John Ningark was nominated by NTI in January 2006 to take Mr. Lyall’s place.
On April 26, 2005, Ethel Blondin- Andrew, the former Minister of State (Northern Development) stated that DIAND would negotiate a clean-up agree- ment for contaminated sites under its management, like the agreement between the Department of National Defence (DND) and NTI. Preliminary discussions were held and NTI’s 1st Vice-President and Vice-President of Finance James Eetoolook was named NTI’s negotiator by an NTI AGM. However, there were no formal negotiations and NTI raised the lack of progress at the Nunavut Senior Officials’ Working Group in March 2006. The department attended community consultation sessions on DIAND contaminated sites at Ekalugard Fjord and Sarcpa Lake. The sessions were held in Qikiqtarjuaq, Hall Beach and Igloolik. A meeting of the Nunavut Investment Review Committee (NIRC) was held in Ottawa in December 2005. NIRC funding of $2.1 million a year, from the Nunavut Trust, expired in 2004/05. Nunavut Trust agreed to transitional funding of $2.1 million for 2005/06 if permanent cost savings can be found. This is being discussed with the RIAs. Continued NIRC funding will be available in subsequent years with the amounts to be reviewed annually. NTI provided $40,000 to the Nunavut Economic Forum (NEF) for 2005/06. The department helped organize NEF’s AGM in Iqaluit in June 2005. The department’s director, Monica Ell, was re-elected President of NEF at the AGM. The department took part in the development of the GN’s arts strategy, Sanaugait. Monica Ell traveled to Kimmirut for a workshop involving artists, educators, tourism, government and others in July 2005. Sanaugait is intended to be released in 2006.
The department provided $40,000 to the Nunavut Arts and Crafts Association (NACA) to assist with the Nunavut Arts Festival in September 2005, and $15,000 to Ajjiit Nunavut Media Association to assist with the Nunavut Film Extravaganza in April 2005.
The department took part in the Nunavut Tourism Task Force, intended to help develop the tourism industry. This included helping with the development of a Sustainable Model for Arctic Regional Tourism (SMART). This is an international marketing tool and training program for Arctic tourism operators. An electric power rate increase, proposing a Capital Stabilization Fund, was applied for by Qulliq Energy Corporation (QEC). NTI made a submission to the Utility Rates Review Council (URRC) in August 2005. The URRC later recommended against QEC’s proposal.