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Business Briefs

Jennifer Obleman
Monday, June 16, 2008
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Road woes

The closure of Highway 7 has kept the shelves emptier than usual lately at the Liard Valley General Store.

"Our business is suffering because of the road closure. We haven't had a truck for two weeks," said manager JoAnne Deneron last Wednesday.

"We have no milk, no eggs. We're lucky to find a noodle on the shelf. It's never been this long before."

The last time the store had received a full truckload was May 22. A truck from Edmonton was expected last week - at great expense.

"Costs will go up for groceries," said Deneron, adding she hopes the road is fixed soon.

Outfitters welcome American visitors

Thebacha/Fort Smith

The high Canadian dollar hasn't deterred U.S. tourists from venturing North, according to Dan Wettlaufer, owner of Andrew Lake Lodge, Lynx Tundra Lodge and Reliance Airways.

Wettlaufer is looking forward to welcoming close to 300 guests to the NWT for fishing, hunting and wilderness adventures. About half of the visitors are from the United States.

"We've actually done very well retaining U.S. customers and attracting new ones," he said.

"It's very good new for us. We were expecting U.S. visitors to decrease, but it's about the same."

Under construction

Uqsuqtuuq/Gjoa Haven

In addition to meat, vegetables, bubble gum and frozen foods, the Northern store in Gjoa Haven is also packed with refrigeration crews, plumbers, electricians and carpenters.

The store is in the midst of a major renovation that will add 2,000-square-feet of selling space, expand the produce and cooler sections and add a Fun to Go counter featuring hot foods and coffee.

Renovations will be celebrated at a grand opening in July, even though the store is staying open during construction.

"All our customers are being very patient as we move things around on a daily basis," said store manager Matt Gee.

Regulatory improvement

Nunavut

Indian and Northern Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl announced last week that the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement had been amended in partnership with Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.

The federal government said the change would make the environmental assessment process more efficient and the investment climate more favourable.

"This amendment will help ensure that the principle of 'one project, one environmental assessment' is respected in Nunavut, while recognizing the excellent work of the Nunavut Impact Review Board," Strahl stated in a prepared release.

No room at the inn

Kahbamiue/Colville Lake

There haven't been any empty rooms at the Colville Lake B & B for the past few weeks.

"Right now we're full. There's a company claim staking in the field," said Isagani Bueno, who has been looking after the business.

The bed and breakfast can accommodate nine guests.

Summer is usually a busy time, as government departments arrive to do maintenance work, said Bueno.

New executive

NWT and Nunavut

Whale Cove's Agnes Poksiak-Turner was acclaimed for a second term as regional vice president at the Northern Territories Federation of Labour convention in Yellowknife May 29 to June 1.

"We need to have a voice to make our workplaces free from harassment and discrimination and work towards equality, justice and for human rights," said Poksiak-Turner.

Newly acclaimed as regional vice presidents were Jennifer Corporon for the Kitikmeot and John Vander Velde for Qikiqtani.

In the NWT, Sheila Sauteur-Chadwick was acclaimed for a second term as regional vice president for Dehcho/South Slave, as was Dudley Johnson for Sahtu/Inuvik. Past treasurer Tim Laity was elected for Tlicho/Somba K'e.

Mary Lou Cherwaty was acclaimed president for a third term. New members joining her on the executive committee will be Sonja Boucher as NWT vice president, Geoff Ryan as Nunavut vice president, Sharon Gibbons as treasurer and Wes Smith as secretary.