January 19, 1994

The newly-appointed Nunavut Implementation Commission held its first meeting early in 1994. The people of Nunavut anxiously awaited as the NIC went to work on issues such as the structure of Nunavut's government and the location of Nunavut's capital.

NIC off to good start

TODD PHILLIPS
Nunatsiaq News Staff

RANKIN INLET — Ten of the most influential people in Nunavut met for the first time as a group last week in Rankin Inlet.

"On their shoulders will rest many of the most important decisions which will face us between now and 1999," said Amittuq MLA Titus Allooloo, in recognizing members of the Nunavut Implementation Commission at last weekend's Nunavut leaders meeting in Rankin Inlet.

For two days last week, the 10 members of the commission were briefed on their duties by federal officials, and sorted out some procedural bylaws. They are now beginning the process of deciding how the new territory of Nunavut should be created and how it should work.

"We've started. We've just met in Rankin Inlet. We can still not say a whole lot of things while we are setting up our mandate," NIC Chief Commissioner John Amagoalik said.

"1999 is not very far away. It is only five years," Amagoalik said. "I don't think it is too late to start thinking of ourselves as the provisional government [of Nunavut]."

Amagoalik also said the NIC will set up its office in Iqaluit and that they will hire nine full-time staff members.

He also said that he feels that tourism holds enormous economic potential for Nunavut communities, and he said the infrastructure could be put in place before 1999.

Nine key areas

Amagoalik also outlined nine areas the NIC will work on:

• the timetable for the assumption by the government of Nunavut of responsibility for the delivery of services;
• the process for the first election, including the number of members and the establishment of electoral districts;
• the design and funding for training programs;
• the process for determining the location for the seat of government [capital] of Nunavut;
• the principles and criteria for the equitable division of assets between Nunavut and the NWT;
• the new public works necessitated by the establishing of Nunavut and the scheduling of the construction of the works;
• the administration design of the first government of Nunavut;
• the arrangements for delivery of programs and services where the responsibility for delivery by the Nunavut government is to be phased in;
• any other matter referred by the Prime Minister, with the consent of the Government Leader of the NWT and of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.
  

Amagoalik explained that the work-plan for the NIC will become more clear in the next three to six months.

He said the commission members will try to visit the 26 or 27 communities in Nunavut over the summer and fall to get input from the communities.

He said he hopes to meet with local governments in the communities to get advice.

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