Business and Economic Development

The Department of Business and Economic Development made progress in a number of areas this fiscal year. We upgraded our website so organizations and governments can search the Inuit Firm Registry by goods and services, as well as alphabetically. This has proven challenging but is expected to be completed when NTI’s new website is established this year.

There were delays in implementing the recommendations from the 2003 Nunavummi Nangminiqaqtunik Ikajuuti (NNI) Comprehensive Review. There were also delays in carrying out the 2004 NNI Annual Review. These delays were connected with the transfer of responsibilities and the establishment of a new NNI Secretariat within the Government of Nunavut (GN). The Secretariat was not established in the GN’s Department of Economic Development and Transportation until late 2004.

As provided for in the 2003 NNI Comprehensive Review, the GN established a Contracting Appeals Board in 2004. NTI nominated Pat Lyall as a Commissioner on the Board, and Patrick Tagoona as an Alternate Commissioner. The department took part in numerous discussions with the territorial and federal governments and members of the Nunavut Economic Forum (NEF) regarding a 2004 federal budget announcement of a $90 million Northern Development Fund for the three territories over five years. The department assisted NEF in preparing a comprehensive response to a series of questions relating to Northern development requirements. This response was issued by NEF in the form of a report: Qanijijuq (Preparing for the Journey). Approximately $3 million was provided to Nunavut from the fund this past fiscal year, but no decisions were made on the provision of funding for the remaining four years.

The department helped organize NEF’s first Annual General Meeting (AGM), and provided $40,000 in funding for the organization. The department sits on NEF’s Board, and Monica Ell was elected president and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the organization. In addition to an annual financial contribution, NTI also provided in-kind support for office space. NEF is important for coordinating the implementation of the Nunavut Economic Development Strategy. The department continued to support the Nunavut Arts Festival – another $40,000 was provided to assist with the Nunavut Arts Festival in Rankin Inlet.

The Nunavut Investment Review Committee (NIRC) met in July. They provide $1.8 million in funding to the regional birthright development organizations, and $300,000 in funding for Nunavut Sivummut small business grants. Nunavut Sivummut funding is beneficial to carvers, fishers, artists and small business owners.

The department took part in a meeting with United States (US) Ambassador Paul Cellucci in October. We raised the problems created by the American Marine Mammals Protection Act. Ambassador Cellucci said this issue was not brought to his attention by the Government of Canada but that he understood the concern and would inform Washington.

The department worked with NTI’s Department of Finance, Atuqtuarvik Corp., Arctic Cooperatives Ltd. (ACL), and an Iqaluit credit union interest group on options regarding a financial institution for Nunavut.

The department participated in a hearing of the Utility Rates Review Council (URRC) in November 2004 in Iqaluit. The department followed the presentation with a written submission. This dealt with the regulatory process, the impacts of a utility rate increase on Inuit business, impacts on the Nunavut economy, and NLCA-related matters. The URRC final report quoted NTI’s position and a number of NTI’s recommendations were adopted.

The department worked with the Government of Canada, the GN and the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts, on the Boston Cultural and Trade Mission. This included arranging a photographic display of historical photographs and current Nunavut landscapes and wildlife. The department also contracted two throat singers and one drum dancer for performances at the Museum and in Boston. Inuit art received a two-page feature article in the Boston Globe (circulation of 800,000) as a result of this activity. Jonah Kilabuk was appointed NTI’s representative on the Nunavut Tourism board. The department continued to be an active participant in the Nunavut Tourism Task Force, an interagency group intended to further the developing tourism sector in Nunavut.

Beginning in January 2005, the department worked extensively with NTI’s Department of Legal Services and Executive Officers to secure an Article 24 agreement with the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (DIAND) to cover contracting for the clean up of contaminated Distant Early Warning (DEW)-Line sites. The intent was to secure an agreement comparable to that negotiated with the Department of National Defence (DND). A written commitment to negotiate such an agreement was received from Honourable Ethel Blondin-Andrew, Minister of State (Northern Development) in April 2005.

The Department of Business and Economic Development cooperated with Atuqtuarvik Corporation on a study of Inuit firms based on the Inuit Firm Registry. This was completed and released in April 2005. After the initial registration of Inuit firms on the Inuit Firm Registry in 1996, an average of 20 to 30 firms have registered every year. This year, the department was active in contacting firms that had not returned their annual updates. This resulted in more than 20 firms requesting removal from the Inuit Firm Registry. NTI took part in the Nunavut Trade Show in Iqaluit as a Platinum sponsor.