Northern News Services

NNSL (Jul 06/98) - Three federal departments will pay $30 million to boost marine facilities in Nunavik, Makivik Corporation said.

Funding will come from Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Transport Canada and the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development.

Each department will contribute $1 million a year over 10 years.

The marine facility agreement was signed by Indian Affairs and Northern Development Minister Jane Stewart and Makivik Corporation president Zebedee Nungak.

"This announcement is long overdue. It will assist the Nunavik region to develop in a way that will help our people maintain their marine traditions," Nungak said.

"We view this funding as a first step in a lengthy process," he said.

Stewart said: "This investment will contribute directly towards the creation of jobs over the 10 years of the construction stage and during post-construction."

The facilities will also provide training opportunities, Stewart added.

The goal of the new infrastructure is to spur economic development in the Nunavik region by providing proper docking facilities for Nunavik communities.

It will promote resource development, commercial fishing, trade between communities, marine-based tourism and improve cargo handling, Makivik information officer Stephen Hendrie said.

It is hoped construction of the port will solve numerous problems like unsafe anchoring of vessels, protection of boats during storms, lack of access ramps and winches, insufficient unloading areas, and lack of proper navigational aids.

Following final engineering work to be conducted July through September, initial construction is slated to begin late this fall.

It is expected Nunavik communities Kangiqsualujjuaq, Quaqtaq and Puvirnituq will be first to benefit from the funding. Eventually, the project will link all Nunavik communities.

Makivik represents the Inuit of northern Quebec.