Chamber says NTI voting voucher should include all Inuit businesses
Kivalliq Chamber of Commerce asks NTI to revise policy ahead of Dec. 9 election
Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. is setting aside $2 million so it can give people a $100 voucher redeemable for a gift card if they show up at a polling station in the upcoming presidential election. The organization’s Iqaluit office is seen here. (File photo)
Kivalliq business leaders want Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.’s $100 voucher program for voters to include all Inuit-owned businesses.
“What frustrates us, as a membership for businesses in the Kivalliq region, they were really excluding the opportunity for other businesses to be able to participate in the program,” said Tara Tootoo Fotheringham, president of Kivalliq Chamber of Commerce, in an interview with Nunatsiaq News.
Her organization sent a letter Nov. 29 asking NTI for an amendment to its program announced last month that gives $100 vouchers to anybody who votes in the Dec. 9 presidential election.
All voters who show up at the advance polls on Dec. 2, mobile polls Dec. 3 to Dec. 6 or on election day Dec. 9 will receive a voucher that can be redeemed for a $100 gift card from their local Co-op or Northern store before the end of the year.
But the chamber wants the program to include all Inuit-owned businesses, rather than just the territory’s two biggest retailers.
“Our members feel excluded in your decision,” the letter, addressed to NTI CEO Kilikvak Kabloona, said.
The letter also noted the chamber’s members were “not in favour” of the voucher initiative itself.
NTI has not responded to the letter, Tootoo Fotheringham said.
She said she first approached NTI about the issue a week and a half before releasing the letter because she was “very shocked” about how the program was handled.
There are currently 153 Inuit firms — businesses with 51 per cent Inuit ownership or more — in Kivalliq recognized by NTI, Tootoo Fotheringham said.
NTI maintains a registry of all such businesses.
The chamber’s concern is not specific to the Kivalliq Region, according to Tootoo Fotheringham.
“I was hoping that other chambers would also recognize that there should be an overall inclusion,” she said.
Representatives with the Baffin Chamber of Commerce declined to comment. Kitikmeot Chamber of Commerce didn’t respond to an inquiry by Nunatsiaq News.
NTI is the organization responsible for ensuring obligations made to Nunavut Inuit under the Nunavut Agreement are upheld.
Representatives from the organization didn’t respond to a request for comment by Nunatsiaq News.
– Nunavut is made up of more then 51% Inuit.
– The GN is elected by Nunavut… therefore the elected officials are elected by more then 51% Inuit. so it is and Inuit owned government (technically I know not really because we all know who the MLAs are)
– The Beer and Wine Stores are GN run… therefor they are 51% or more Inuit owned.
Haha that was to be funny. I am not suggesting anything serious.
From now on I will expect (because I am entitled to) a payment to vote. If this isn’t a continued thing then this was definitely a way to pay for votes and seems kinda sneaky for this year. With inflation at the next vote I expect this amount o increase or I won’t vote.
Also I think Hamlet should now incentivize council and mayor voting as those numbers are low as well.
I got my $100 today and didn’t even pick up the pencil, I just threw it in blank… Now to buy a steak and a pop for super 🙂
Thanks for the $$$$ NTI I deserve it. My beneficiary monies well spent…
Only a self-righteous fool would waste a vote.
Your going to have the largest voting turnout ever. Filled with people who don’t have a clue who or what they are voting for. I can not believe this is happening. My voting days are over.
Leave it to NTI to destroy Democracy.
I don’t hold the ideals of liberal democracy highly, but wouldn’t a higher turnout technically mean a greater level of democracy?
Only one who knows nothing but the comforts of liberal democracy could make a statement like that.
Curious what form of political organization you might prefer?
A higher voter turnout does not mean that the voters are engaged in the campaigns of each candidate. Going to a poll to tick a box and cast your vote just to receive $100 is not proper participation in the democratic process.
It’s a great social experiment. Let’s see how many people will vote and who they vote for. $100 is nothing compared to funds doled out under other “programs”.
So am guessing local municipal voting will be $50-75/voter. GN MLA’ territorial voting should be more, around $200-400/voter. And Federal elections per Nunavut voter should be in the $1000/voter range.
NTI membership is made up of PEOPLE and not businesses.
Where is the“birth certificate “ of those businesses. Isn`that what the process for getting the card and status associated with your ancestry ?
Give yourself a big shake.
And by the way I am totally against the payment. I agree with some of people posting. A lot of people will show up just for the cheque ( in reality who would not do that ) They probably don`t have a clue how important this vote is.
They probably will vote for a name they recognize without knowing if that person is qualified or their policies ( if any ).
Guys this an important vote for a very important position
Thanks
The Chamber is not arguing that businesses should receive cheques, but that they should be eligible vendors, where people can spend them. It’s an excellent point too. Why shouldn’t an Inuit owned business be given a level playing field with the Northern store? Think about it.
The complaint was that the gift cards are limited to the Northern or Coop and not other businesses, specifically this complaint is about it not being elidable at Inuit owned businesses.
They are not suggesting businesses get giftcards as your comment would suggest…
You clearly didn’t read the article….
100 % NTI vote turnout
Disaster today at the Coop in Kug crazy long lineups was wondering what was going on as with any voucher program it will be used all in the same day causing chaos at store level, best pre vote turnout ever I’m sure did we not learn anything from the Cvd disaster, guess not smh!
Waiting for Paul Murphy to comment but what a crazy situation this will become mark my words, more thought needs to be put into this stuff why not hand out a food hamper, let the Inuit organizations do the work they do nothing or is it already Xmas break? Time to look into these Inuit 51% business, raise it to 99%.,,
Truth Teller:
Let me save Paul Murphy some time and say “This would never have happened when Leona was our MP.”
Typical Liberal practice.
Maybe it was done before to pay people to vote, but not to my knowledge. In many ways the gesture to pay Inuit to vote is disrespectful to those who would vote without the payment.
It’d be much more sincere, pragmatic, and lasting for representatives from NTI in each community to hold sessions in high school Social Studies classes, NAC’s adult-learning-centers, five minutes before the start of weekly bingo, during community meetings, and so on to explain about NTI and the election. Even put a small flyer in each mail box in each community in the local dialect explaining about NTI and elections.
But no, NTI has to do things like pay people to vote. In most ways, this ‘policy’ by NTI is a perfect analogy for NTI. It’s a classic example of George Orwell’s “Animal Farm”.
Not to knock Kivalliq Chamber of Commerce but in many ways it epitomizes NTI. Its members are the whose who of large, long-established big-business in the Kivalliq and Nunavut as a whole. There aren’t any small businesses in its membership and obviously not represented on its Board.
There are 32 members, which include most of the Hamlets in Kivalliq, RBC, Lester Landau, other Chambers, Co-op and Northern Stores, Calm Air, NEAS, GN, Agnico Eagle (mining), etc.
In all these years, KCoC has not ‘represented many individual entrepreneurs. It’s the same for KIA, NTI, and even the GN’s ministry of Economic Development. I could go on and ono and on … but hey, what does it say about Nunavut or Canada when some people would still vote Liberal in the next federal election and organizations think it’s okay to pay people to vote?
S you are just spouting off, and there is small business involved in the KCoC always were and always will be, the issue right now is the anti business sentiment by NTI , no support whatsoever ever for small business development, the only Inuit business development is the RIAs grabbing all the work from the mining activity.and pushing small company’s out of business, and this voucher issue shows it. Nunavut in general is anti business. Just outside company’s flourish
Thanks, Sam, always good to hear from you. Yours is a curious comment that there is any ‘small business’ presence at the Chamber, when there isn’t
That aside, I agree with the spirit rest of your sentiment. Also, there is entrepreneurism in Nunavut; much of it is reflected by artists, hunters and gatherers, domestics, and uncertified tradespeople. It is admirable and real. Sadly, the rest of the entrepreneurs are tied up in the gambling, and the drug and alcohol business
S you sure are anti business and I don’t want to call you what you really are, you don’t have a clue about the business community out there, there sure is a traditional. Economy and going back to my point of NTI not supporting the business community, you don’t have figures or numbers, so quit knocking business in Nunavut when you have no part in it, this is a typical anti business attitude in Nunavut . Gn or NTI person
Thanks, Sam; I appreciate your enthusiasm and persistence though it is misguided. If you aren’t, hope you will strive to be entrepreneurial and acquire business skills.
Entrepreneurs are special people, as are artists, writers, professionals, volunteers, adventurers, inventors, scientists.
Nunavut does NOT have a homemade culture that fosters those special people. Nothwithstanding, as I pointed out earlier:
“there is entrepreneurism in Nunavut; much of it is reflected by artists, hunters and gatherers, domestics, and uncertified tradespeople. It is admirable and real. Sadly, the rest of the entrepreneurs are tied up in the gambling, and the drug and alcohol business”.
Sure there are a few other businesses. And there is a good representation of businesses started by people from the South.
The dominant career path in the territory is either ‘bureaucrat’ or ‘welfare recipient’; it MUST be ‘entrepreneur’. When that happens, a healthy society will follow.
Google “traits of a successful entrepreneur”
S I finally drew you out, and totally understand your southern mentality, and you nailed it. Another typical anti business anti north academic that’s bitter and twisted about the north and it’s people , Your a troll and I can do this all day no nothing, thanks
Im not sure they’ll be able to do this again. Say the winner of this election is on the ballot again next time. That sitting prez would be buying themselves votes
Thanks nti I supported my local business with that 100 dolla gift card
Very different to see many people go out to vote not knowing who to vote for, they were voting for $100 gift card. People rushing, is NTI is closing it’s doors? It felt like I was part of a 3rd world country where my vote is being bought or if I don’t vote, I’ll be arrested. One, maybe two had some key points during the live debate, more like a forum than anything. What a different year for voting, now my fellow Inuit will expect to be paid for any vote they cast whether it’s territorial, municipal or regional. Deja vu!
On December 9, vote Elmer Fudd for NTI President. Just pencil his name in.
He will do an excellent job as our President. Probably just as good as any other candidate to further Inuit socially and economically, especially during wabbit season.
You will still get the $100 voucher, and you can send our leadership a very clear message.
I think it is high time NTI gains a better understanding of how they really ought to to become more relevant in the lives of ordinary Inuit.
Bribing people to vote in their elections just isn’t it.
If they truly wanted to help out everyone with some spending money, why have they steadfastly refused to issue annual dividends, like the Inuvialuit and Inupiat?
No. What other Inuit organizations do as a matter of course is not good enough.
For NTI, when they disburse our own money to us, they expect something back in return.
We do not work for you NTI. You are supposed to work for us.
I voted becoz I was bribed.
I took my$100 card and hope it helps with the turnout. I am not an endless grumpy person who is complaining without offering any suggestion whatsoever on how to get the turnout up. The card has created discussion on the election itself so thank you endless whiners. Hope my candidate wins.