We are not negative

Quotes attributed to me in the March 7 article “NTI to review regional development corporations” might have given beneficiaries a sense that the motivation for this review is negative. I would like to clarify that this is simply not the case.

NTI has taken several steps over the past couple of years to strengthen its accountability to the people it represents. This review is simply a further step in that process.

The development corporations were set up nearly 10 years ago to help ensure that Inuit participate acitively in Nunavut’s economy.

Every year NTI provides $1.8 million to the regional Inuit associations, which provide funding to the regional development corporations, and to the community economic development organizations, as well as other funding provided by other Inuit organizations, such as the Atuqtuarvik Corp. NTI also provides grants to small business (Nunavut Sivummut) totalling $300,000 annually through the regional community economic development organizations.

The development corporations report annually to NTI via a committee process. Our organization is obligated to ensure continued growth. It makes sense to take a look at how the development corporations are working after a decade of operations and to find ways to strengthen them.

A review at this time is a sensible way of ensuring that Inuit economic well-being is being achieved in the best way possible. No one should be worried about it.

Paul Kaludjak
Vice President of Finance
Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.