Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

RANKIN INLET (Aug 04/99) - Once funding has been found to complete the final five kilometres of a recreational road from Arviat to the popular Maguse River, why shouldn't it continue to Whale Cove and beyond? is the question being asked by Arviat senior administrative officer Darren Flynn.

Funding for the existing road has been ongoing for the past five years after staring out as part of the GNWT's Recreational Access Roads program. The hamlet managed to put in about 15 kilometres of road during that time, at a cost of about $230,000.

Flynn says Nunavut's Department of Community Government, Housing and Transportation approved $20,000 for the road this year, which council decided to use to upgrade the existing road.

"The $20,000 honoured a commitment made by the previous government," says Flynn.

"We had been cut back the past two years to $40,000 from the $50,000 we received for the first three years, with the idea they were going to give us an additional year.

"When the capital plan came out this year it wasn't included. We brought it to Transportation Minister Jack Anawak's attention at a meeting and we recently received a letter from Deputy Minister Mike Ferris confirming we were getting the $20,000.

"Council decided to use the money to upgrade the existing road because $20,000 wouldn't go very far as an actual extension. We're very happy to get the $20,000 and, in the future, we're hoping it will be considered as a capital project to continue on with the road."

Flynn says recreational roads contribute greatly to Kivalliq communities, giving people somewhere to go. He says roads leading to popular areas also save surrounding environments because most vehicles will stay on the one trail.

Arviat has done well under the program, lengthening the road from what was originally six kilometres to what's now 21 kilometres towards Maguse River and Flynn says area residents get their money's worth out of the road.

"You ought to see the traffic go over that road. I have a cabin along that road and it would amaze you the amount of traffic on a Saturday or a Sunday, with people heading out hunting, fishing or whatever. It's really a good thing for the community.

"All we need now is the funding for another five or six kilometres to get the road to the point of the river where people use it. But, why stop at the river? Might as well keep going to Whale Cove."

Flynn says if recreational roads are continued to be built coming out of Kivalliq communities, one day they may actually connect and Kivalliq would end up with its first highway.

"We're definitely going to look for funding to continue the road. Hamlet council has made a submission to the department for extra dollars for upcoming years and, hopefully, it will get submitted as part of the capital budget and we'll get it.

"But, in the meantime, we were very happy to receive the $20,000 this year."