Minister to Travel North About Implementation Problems
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FROM: MAKIVIK CORPORATION P.O. BOX 179 KUUJJUAQ, QUEBEC JOM ICO newsletter of the TAQRALIK makivik corporation FIRST CLASS APRIL 1981 Minister To Travel North About Implementation Problems Northern Affairs Minister John Munro plans to travel to Northern Quebec on April 26 and 27 on a "fact finding tour" about the many problems with the imple mentation of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement. One of the reasons for the trip is that the Minister wants to see for himself the conditions and lack of services in the communities that are as a result of the non-implementation of many of the major provisions of the agreement. Most of the Minister's trip will be taken up with meetings with Makivik Charlie Watt, President of Makivik (right officials in Kuujjuaq about the numerous Mark R. Gordon, 1st Vice-President. implementation problems. However, Mr Munro does plan to make a quick trip to one or spirit or intent of the agreement, instead two other communities to see the situa of just a strict legal interpretation of tion the people are tolerating because of it, a position that Makivik has long ad the almost non-existant airstrip facili vocated. ties, a severe housing shortage and a Although the Minister's trip is lack of many other essential services. scheduled for April 26 and 27, a resump One of the reasons why the Minister tion of the constitutional debate in the House of Commons may force a change in is travelling north on the matter is be his plans. cause the Federal Government is finally starting to take notice of the many pro In addition to the Minister's trip, blems with the implementation of the agree representatives from Transport Canada are ment that the Makivik Corporation has long also supposed to travel to Kuujjuaq to been pointing out. wards the end of the month. Their trip is also the result of the attention Makivik According to Kit Spence, an assistant has managed to focus on the implementation to the Minister, Mr Munro will be propo problems. The Transport Canada people sing some solutions to the implementation will be consulting with Makivik, the Ka- problems as well as discussing them when tivik Regional Government and Air Inuit he is in Kuujjuaq. Mr Spence explained about improving the airstrips in Northern that the Minister will be looking at the Quebec. Taqralik 2 Quebec Foils To Contribute Funds Towards Northern Housing The 28 northern houses that Northern Quebec will be receiving this year will hardly make a dent in the severe housing shortage that the Inuit communities have been suffering. However, it appears that is all the houses Northern Quebec will be receiving this year because the Quebec Government will not be providing any of its own funds for northern housing, even though they have just been given responsi bility Over this area. In the past, Quebec had said that it was ready to provide large numbers of northern housing for Northern Quebec, but Michael Amarook, President of ITC, Mark that it could only do so once the responsi T. Gordon, 3rd Vice-President of Makivik bility and some funds for northern housing Charlie Watt, President and Johnny Peters was transferred to it from the Federal 2nd Vice-President. Government. Once this transfer would occur, Quebec indicated that it would add its own funds to the money already available, and Makivik was insisting that the Quebec then provide enough houses to actually Government commit itself to a long range start to seriously reduce the housing housing program that would adequately meet shortage. the housing needs of the communities before the responsibility for this area was trans Due to this, the Federal Government ferred from the Federal Government. But finally did agree to transfer some funds the Federal Government did not wait for and the responsibility for housing in this commitment from Quebec as the Makivik Northern Quebec to the Quebec Government Corporation had asked. Instead, the a few months ago. But once the province Federal Government went ahead with the got control over this area, the Quebec transfer, an action which Makivik considers Treasury Board cut more than half of the a breach of Section 29.0.40 of the James proposed housing construction and renova Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement. tion program. Instead, 3.6 million was approved, only enough for the construction of 28 TAQRALIK is published by the Communications houses and the renovation of 2 existing Department of the Makivik Corporation. houses. This is far less than the number TAQRALIK is a monthly publication. of houses people were led to believe would be provided if the transfer agreement was William Tagoona Director of Communications to be allowed to go through. Alexandra Fangor Managing Editor The worst thing about the situation Michael McGoldrick Communications Officer is that Quebec isn't even contributing Issac Anowak Video Technican any of its own money for the northern housing. Half of the 3.6 million is made TAQRALIK is distributed free of charge to up of Federal money that was transferred all the communities in Northern Quebec. to Quebec under the agreement, and the For more information on how to be added other half is coming from the Canada to our mailing list, please contact us at Housing and Mortgage Corporation. Quebec (819) 964-2925. Our mailing address is will not be contributing any money towards P.O.Box 179, Kuujjuaq (Fort Chimo), Quebec the cost of the 28 northern houses. JOM ICO. Taqralik 3 Kigiak Bids For Contracts Laurence Hazell, General Manager of Kigiak Construction, said the com pany is progressing well. Last year The maintenance division is now they had several large projects among working at securing contracts for out them the Kuujjuaq Inn, the new fourplex side organizations like the Kativik the Air Inuit staffhouse and the School Board, the Kativik Regional Service Center. Government, the Ungava Hospital and At present, Kigiak is bidding on the other Northern Communities. various projects, housing for the new hospital, DOT renovations of their Once Kigiak has the results of office and warehouse, municipal ser its bids and knows which contracts vices in Great Whale River, work for they have secured, they will be able the Kativik School Board and other to utilize their facilities and to projects in various settlements. develop into a profit making venture. L.H.C. May Get Additional Loans Landholding Corporation (LHC) came of $1,000,000 from Makivik, which is to under scrutiny during the Annual General be used to improve services in the co Meeting, that it had not done enough mmunity. A resolution was moved by research into economic development for Mark R. Gordon and seconded by Peter the communities in the north. One su Inukpuk that the $1,000,000 grant re ggestion put forth by Jobie Epoo to re main the same for next year, however medy this situation was "to increase an additional amount of $1,050,000 be the present size of the LHC and start made available in loans to the LHC to to plan for next year's projects." help in financing their projects. The LHC in Kuujjuaq is presently Before any loan is approved a project trying to increase their staff. They must be submitted to the Board of Directors are looking for an economic develop at the latest, three months before the ment officer who would be responsible next Annual General Meeting. The board for developing projects for Northern would be able to approve or reject a pro Québec» ject . To help with financing, each LHC After discussions on this and other would have to justify the economic matters in relation to development, each feasibility of their proposed project, representative briefly mentioned different then Makivik could guarantee the bank projects that they felt were needed in loan for the LHC. The major problem their community. The majority of projects with such a plan is that if some un were for an office building or restaurant/ expected problem arose and the LHC snack bar. could not pay back their loan, Makivik would be responsible to the bank. The next Board of Directors Meeting All the LHCs share an annual grant is in June 1981 in Tasiujaq. Taqralik 4 Air Inuit - Progressing Well Air Inuit reported that they Expansion on the Hudson Coast is finally sold the DHC-4 Caribou. Al not progressing. Austin Airways does though it was sold at a loss, the not want to dispose that sector of their company gains financially since it does operations. If Air Inuit has been in not have to pay, among other costs, formed properly, Air Gava is on the storage or insurance for the plane any verge of bankrupcy and soon should be more c ceasing its Kuujjuaq - Schefferville run. If this is the case, Air Inuit Presently Air Inuit is negotiating has had contact with a supplier in with Air Gava Ltd. about acquiring a Schefferville who would be interested fourth Twin-Otter. If this purchase is in continuing the route. finalized it would include a cargo ware house in Kuujjuaq and a one year The new staff house for Air Inuit contract with the James Bay Energy employees was finished in the beginning Corporation. This would benefit Air of March and the employees have moved Inuit greatly since it would provide in. In the event of acquiring Air Gava's a guaranteed monthly income. warehouse in Kuujjuaq, it would be pos sible to convert it into a heated ware This summer the base at Stewart house and therefore the old staff house Lake won't be needed because amphibious wouldn't be needed and could be demo float gear has been bought for the lished as required by the Ministry of Single Engine Otter.