Native Canadian Tribe preference imitates Native Alaskan Tribe problems?

Inuit business owners slam policy meant to help them

Nunavut’s policy to give Inuit-owned and northern businesses an advantage came under fire this week, with business people calling it confusing and ineffective.

The policy, called Nunavummi Nangminiqaqtunik Ikajuuti (NNI), is designed to give these businesses a leg up when bidding for government contracts. The policy was made by the Nunavut government and the Nunavut land claims organization, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (NTI).

It’s largely meant to encourage Inuit participation in government contracts to reflect the population of the territory.

But at a meeting in Iqaluit this week, many of those who are supposed to benefit from the program criticized it as confusing and ineffective.

One of the criticisms of the program is that it’s often not clear if a company is Inuit-owned or not.

Louis Bruce, who owns Sudliq Developments in Coral Harbour, recently lost a fuel contract in the community. He said he wants NTI to review the registry of Inuit firms to see if there are non-Inuit or non-northern people and companies taking advantage of the policy.