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Guy Quenneville
Monday, January 21, 2008
Feasibility study done for port and road
Kinnguak/Bathurst Inlet
The Kitikmeot Inuit Association and Nuna Logistics submitted the first draft of an environmental impact statement on the proposed Bathurst Inlet port and road project earlier this month to the Nunavut Impact Review Board, according to Bob Gilroy, project manager for Nuna logistics.
"The board will look at the draft and give us a preliminary thumbs up this week," said Gilroy. "Then they will take 60 days to go over it from a technical standpoint."
While the submission marks a significant milestone, there are many more to come.
"We don't expect the final impact statement - incorporating the board's notes - to be submitted until at least the fourth quarter of this year. Some more field work will need to be done this summer."
Slow period
Qamanittuaq/Baker Lake
The Baker Lake Lodge, open since 1967, is experiencing a lull in business that has forced it to close down for the winter, says its current co-owner, Boris Kotelewetz.
"There's not enough business to keep it open," he said. "In the summer, everybody is busy. But during the winter, all of my competitors and I argue about how slow it is."
Kotelewetz is still keeping one of the lodge's buildings, which can house up to six people, open in case a sudden flurry of activity occurs.
Make it work
Sanirajak/Hall Beach
Jack Kammuka, owner of J & E Enterprises in Sanirajak, which offers sealift, gravelling and retrofit services, says his business hasn't had a contract in a while.
"It's almost two years now, since 2006," he said.
He said his business began to suffer when the Hall Beach hamlet took over sealift operations for the local housing corporation, a service that Kammuka used to provide.
"I've been keeping busy working as a mechanic for the hamlet," he said.
French services
NWT
One out of four businesses in the NWT offer French language services, according to a study released by le Conseil de developpement economique des Territoires du Nord-Ouest, an economic development agency promoting French business in the North.
The study also found that 29 per cent of businesses that do not currently provide such services are considering doing so.
"It shows us that there are many other francophone businesses, in places like Inuvik or Hay River, that are interested in offering such services," said Patrick Lachapelle, the economic development officer with CDETNO.
Fuel shortage
Inuvik
A shipping oversight has resulted in a short supply of fuel for James Firth, operations manager for Mackenzie Valley Construction, which sells fuel at the pumps.
"We're on an emergency ration for both gasoline and diesel fuel," said Firth.
"At the gas bar, I'm allowed 185,00 litres for the months of January, February and March."
Judging by the past three years, Firth said he will likely run out of that much fuel by February.
According to NTCL spokesperson Sunny Monroe, a lighter than usual barge shipment of fuel to Inuvik this fall was due to a late shipping request from Imperial Oil that could not be accommodated.
Fuel prices in Inuvik, which were at $1.35 at Christmas and $1.43 last week, are expected to rise as much as 20 cents a litre in the months ahead.
- Dez Loreen