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Jennifer Obleman
Oil and gas nominations
Oil and gas nominations
Indian and Northern Affairs issued a call for nominations in December for parcels of land in the Beaufort Sea/Mackenzie Delta and Central Mackenzie Valley.
Requests must be received by the end of January. The government is expected to call for bids in early February.
A call for submission of nominations for the Arctic Islands of Nunavut was also posted last month. Requests must be in by Feb. 6. Calls for bids are expected to be launched in March.
Exploration licences in all three areas would be issued for nine years for successful bids.
Retail sales up
Retail sales in Nunavut totalled nearly $22.7 million in October, which was down slightly from September sales but up four per cent from October 2006, according to Statistics Canada data. Nationally, retail sales increased 6.8 per cent.
Although retail sales were on the rise in Nunavut in October, total sales for restaurants, caterers and taverns added up to $359,000, which is a decrease of 4.4 per cent from October 2006. However, statisticians caution the percentage change reflects a relatively small volume of food service sales compared to larger regions.
Overall, food service sales in Canada rose 3.7 per cent in October compared to the same period last year.
Rankin woman chairs board
Nicole Sikma, of Rankin Inlet, has been appointed as the chairperson of the Nunavut Liquor Licensing Board.
The announcement was made by Premier Paul Okalik last month.
The board is responsible for advising the minister on matters concerning the Liquor Act, making regulations related to liquor licences and permits, issuing and reviewing liquor licences, and ensuring liquor licensees comply with the Liquor Act and regulations.
- Darrell Greer
Cell service now available
For the first time ever, businesses in Fort Simpson can take advantage of cell phone service.
Last month a cellular communications tower was built in the village for Latitude Wireless Inc., a subsidiary of NorthwesTel Wireless Inc. The approximately 46-metre high tower will deliver both digital cellular and mobile Internet service in the community.
"I'm very happy we're getting a cell service," said Kirby Groat, president of the Fort Simpson Chamber of Commerce.
"In this day in age it's a must."
Private businesses need to have a line of contact all the time, he said, especially small businesses that don't have an office full of people to answer the phone.
Fort Simpson is the second community in the NWT to receive Latitude service. The service was installed in Norman Wells last June and is being launched in Rankin Inlet in January.
- Roxanna Thompson
Quiet in Cambridge Bay
Businesses in the hamlet of Cambridge Bay opened up again last week after the Christmas and New Year's holidays, but the community was still pretty quiet.
"Things are pretty slow," said Kitikmeot Foods general manager Dale Smith.
"Everyone is just getting back to work after the holidays."
Kitikmeot Foods will be one of the businesses at the Kitikmeot Trade Show in Cambridge Bay next month, Smith said.
Iqaluit gets some Snack satisfaction
Iqalummiut craving for a poutine fix were satisfied Dec. 29 with the long-awaited opening of the Snack restaurant.
Business has been booming from the start, according to Lorraine Hebert, who was busy juggling eat-in and takeout orders on New Year's Day.
"It was so crazy, but a good crazy," she said.
The Snack burned down in a fire in January 2007.
It is well known for offering Iqaluit's only 24-hour delivery service for food and cigarettes.
- Karen Mackenzie