NTI presses GN for info on NNI policy

CHARLOTTE PETRIE

Reacting to word on the street, and what its own office says it witnessed, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. is requesting that the Government of Nunavut turn over data that will either confirm or negate rumours that Inuit employment provisions in contracts awarded under the Nunavummi Nangminiqaqtunik Ikajuuti policy aren’t being respected.

“NTI’s position is that the NNI policy isn’t being implemented and adhered to,” said Nancy Campbell, NTI’s communications director.

NNI is a preference policy designed to promote the use of Nunavut workers and materials in government contracts. Under it, contractors may receive competitive advantages for hiring Inuit and buying materials from Inuit-owned companies.

“Every contract can have its own little wrinkles in there,” Campbell said. “From there, it’s a question of analyzing what happened at the end of the day compared to what the contract said.”

In order to conduct an annual review of how the policy is working, NTI needs to look at data on contracts given out under the NNI. The only problem is that the GN is in possession of this data and doesn’t appear to be in any rush to hand it over.

The issue was recently raised at NTI’s board of director’s meeting in Cape Dorset, where NTI officials said they felt “that timeliness wasn’t being addressed.” A letter to the same effect was sent to Peter Kattuk, the minister responsible for addressing the public’s feedback.

NTI’s letter to Kattuk also emphasized the need to impose the appropriate penalties when Inuit labour requirements are not met, and said that it will ensure that Inuit employment during the 2003-04 contracting season is maximized.

A second disputed issue, the appointment of a mediator to deal with appeals, will be resolved shortly when a mediator is appointed, Campbell said.

“We need to get a mediator in place to deal with appeals, so that when they arise they can be dealt with promptly and professionally,” she added.

A spokesperson from Kattuk’s office said the minister is unwilling to respond publicly right now, but is preparing a written response.