Jennifer Pritchett
Northern News Services

RANKIN INLET (Sep 23/98) - The construction of a road to Arviat from Churchill may be just around the corner.

The prospect is becoming more of a possibility, said Kivallivik MLA Kevin O'Brien, who announced in the legislative assembly last week the federal and Manitoba governments have contributed $250,000 each toward researching the feasibility of a road and power grid to the Keewatin from Manitoba.

"...it's a really good sign that Ottawa is willing to put money into research," he said on Monday.

The announcement follows the Manitoba Trade Mission last February, when politicians and business delegates met in Arviat and Rankin Inlet to strengthen business ties between the two regions. More than $100 million from the Keewatin is spent on Manitoba goods and services each year. Since that time, a committee has been set up to investigate the merit of these projects and a feasibility study has been started to assess the possibility of a power line and road access to the region.

O'Brien, who met with Manitoba government officials three weeks ago, said a road would mean major reductions in the cost of living for residents of Arviat in particular.

"I think when you look at it overall, you can just imagine what a road linkage would do for a community like Arviat," he said. "When you pay eight dollars for a two-litre of coke and three for a loaf of bread...it would be a big boost for the community."

The road could also bring benefits for the Keewatin as well as the whole Nunavut territory.

"I see Arviat as the gateway," he said. "Iqaluit may be the capital, but they will never get a road because of the location."

The potential benefits for Arviat, the Kivalliq region, as well as Nunavut as a whole are limitless, especially in tourism and mining, according to O'Brien.

"A lot of tourists come as far as Churchill...you could set up a bus route...," he said. "It would encourage mining -- it would bring down the high cost of getting their equipment in and getting their product out."

"It would open us to the rest of Canada," he added.

An official from Canada Manitoba Economic Development Partnership Agreement confirmed on Monday that an announcement about the funding is expected on Friday.