Decentralization “a figment of someone’s imagination”

I have read, with great concern, about the decentralizing of government jobs. The power company moved to Baker Lake.

Since this has happened, our lives have been miserable. Not only have rates skyrocketed, but continually, we get 48-hour disconnection notices for bills that are already paid.

Now, did you realize that every time you get a disconnection notice, you are charged $26.75 for them to issue the notice?

Given that you can pay your bill on the first of the month, at your local Northern store, or at the local power plant, it then takes up to two months (and that’s being very generous) for the payment to finally show up on your bill.

What happens next? The disconnection notice and more charges.

When was the last time you called and tried to get your billing straightened out? It’s next to impossible!

And the vicious circle goes round and round, with the charges piling up and nobody knowing what the hell is going on.

The next complaint I have is government housing. I live in Pangnirtung, and we have many, many government staff houses that have been sitting empty, some of three or four years. They are new and never lived in.

I want to know why they can’t put some of the people on the housing list into this government housing. It’s quite obvious that the idea of decentralization is a figment of someone’s imagination. It doesn’t work. People don’t want to live here, for a variety or reasons. Just look at the WCB you wrote about two weeks ago.

Why are these houses empty? Why can’t a “normal” person move into these houses? Wouldn’t the government still get the rent paid through the housing association?

With the severe shortage of public housing, you would think that someone would take the initiative and get some of these people into them. After all, a government worker is no different than anyone else, except that they have the title of “government” as their employer.

Thank you for hearing me out. I would also ask that you withhold my name, as I work with all facets of people and companies.

(Name withheld by request)
Pangnirtung