Photo: QEC plays to an empty house

Playing to an empty house. At public hearing in Iqaluit, held the afternoon of Nov. 10 by the Utility Rates Review Council on a new rate plan from the Qulliq Energy Corp., only two or three Iqaluit residents showed up to listen and none spoke when invited to comment on the proposed new system. The QEC’s plan wouldn’t generate any extra money for the corporation, but would rebalance the Nunavut power rate system by having some communities, such as Iqaluit, pay up to five per cent more, while many other communities would pay up to four per cent less. Peter Mackey, the QEC’s CEO, said Nunavut could be able to move gradually to a territorial-wide power rate system in about nine years. A second meeting was scheduled for 6:30 p.m., also at the parish hall. (PHOTO BY JIM BELL)