Energy Minister responds to Auditor General

Energy Minister David Simailak says Nunavut Power has cleaned house since the 2002-2003 fiscal year, which the Auditor General recently condemned for fiscal mismanagement.

In a statement to the legislative assembly last Wednesday, Simailak outlined the following improvements at Nunavut Power:

* An experienced deputy minister was appointed as President in March;
* Senior management has moved to headquarters in Baker Lake to reduce travel costs;
* New board members are being recruited and will be in place by the fall;
* Three new designated accounting staff have been hired;
* Excessive management bonuses have been eliminated;
* The board has agreed to follow the GN’s Financial Administration Act and other policies to tighten financial controls and reporting to the board;
* And a new billing system launched in April will provide bills in Inuktitut and will provide the corporation with enhanced financial data over time.
* Simailak also outlined the following future objectives:
* Collecting more unpaid bills;
* Bringing staff housing policies and benefits in line with GN policy;
* Working with the Department of Human Resources to train staff in financial management;
* Reviewing financial statements and projections
* monthly;
* And developing a general rate application that will bring in the revenue needed to run the corporation.