The president of the Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA) is heading to the Olympics in London this weekend.

Okalik Eegeesiak said the all-expenses-paid trip by ArcelorMittal won’t hurt her organization’s ability to negotiate benefits for Inuit.

"Part of this trip, too, is to urge ArcelorMittal of what Inuit would like to see in the IIBA and hope that we get even a better deal than what Baffinland might be able to offer," said Eegeesiak.

Eegeesiak said her trip will not affect the negotiations between the QIA and Baffinland on the impacts benefits agreement from the proposed iron ore mine. (CBC)

The QIA and Baffinland Iron Mines, which is owned in part by ArcelorMitall, are negotiating an impact benefit agreement for the proposed, multi-billion dollar Mary River project in Nunavut.

The negotiations towards that agreement are confidential, but Eegeesiak said they are in the final stage.

Ramsey Hart, with Mining Watch Canada, said QIA should adopt a code of conduct.

The industry critic says rules make it clear how projects are assessed and what offers are acceptable.

"If those codes of conduct are not established and followed, then it very much leads to controversy and potential conflict,” Hart said.

It’s not clear if other QIA board members accepted their invitations to London. One member told CBC News he was still deciding.

"I personally don't think it's appropriate for individuals representing the Inuit to be taken on a junket of sorts to go to the Olympics,” Hart said.

“If it was a strictly business meeting with very clear expectations and parameters around what was going to be discussed and that sort of thing, that might be different."

Eegeesiak said that while the trip is for business, the Mary River project is not a done-deal. She said ArcelorMittal still needs to decide if it will ultimately go ahead with the project.

She said the QIA fully supports the project and is encouraging Baffinland and Arcelor to follow through.