Nunavik co-ops approve a $12 million return

Co-op members met the FCNQ’s new general manager François Day, left, who is replacing outgoing general manager Heng Kun, right, during the organization’s annual general meeting in Kuujjuaq last week. (PHOTO BY EMANUEL LOWI)

The FCNQ’s vice-president for the Hudson coast, Saroillie Weetaluktuk, left, and president Aliva Tulugak were both returned to their roles by acclamation last week in Kuujjuaq. (PHOTO BY EMANUEL LOWI)

Delegates at Nunavik’s Fédération des Co-opératives du Nouveau-Québec, or Ilagiisaq, approved a $12 million return to the region’s 14 co-ops last week during the organization’s annual general meeting in Kuujjuaq.

The return reflects a boost in the FCNQ’s revenues over the past year: $104 million overall in 2015-16, up seven per cent from the previous financial year.

For the 2015-16 year, FCNQ’s subsidiaries, including Nunavik Petro Inc, Schefferville Petro Inc., FCNQ Construction Inc., Taqramut Transport Inc. and Voyages FCNQ Inc. delivered a total consolidated revenue of $259 million.

FCNQ’s board of directors and co-op delegates met April 5 to April 7 in Kuujjuaq, where the assembly also approved a new fund to support projects in Nunavik communities.

The FCNQ and member co-ops agreed to invest a total of $600,000 in the new Heritage Fund for 2016. The organization hasn’t yet announced how communities can access the funding.

During the general meeting, the Montreal-based Ilagiisaq also held an election for its executive committee, although only one position was actually elected by vote.

The board’s incumbent president, Aliva Tulugak of Puvirnituq, was acclaimed to serve another term, while the board’s two vice presidents, Charlie Tukkiapik for Ungava and Saroillie Weetaluktuk for Hudson, were re-acclaimed to those roles.

Bobby Baron of Kangiqsualujjuaq joined the executive committee by acclamation, while Maggie Saviadjuk of Salluit was elected as an executive member.

Individual co-ops were honoured for strong sales in 2015. The Inukjuak Cooperative Association picked up the Peter Murdoch trophy for the Best Performance Co-op, named for a former general manager of the FCNQ who passed away last year.

The Akulivik Cooperative Association won Most Improved Co-op for 2015.