Doug Ashbury
Northern News Services

NNSL (Dec 13/99) - A national award won by Nunavut Construction Corporation shows the corporation is capable of putting together big projects, Tagak Curley says.

The corporation recently picked up a Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships Award for innovation and excellence.

"This award recognizes the ability of Nunavut Construction Corp. to finance and develop construction and real estate management projects on a grand scale," Curley, the corporation's president, said.

The award of merit acknowledges the corporation's role as the private-sector partner and developer of infrastructure projects such as the Nunavut Government legislative assembly building, Nunavut Government offices built in 10 communities and 250 housing units.

The projects involved arranging private, capital market financing of about $150 million.

"The program was 100 per cent privately financed," said Curley.

"This involved the challenge of breaking new ground in financial capital markets for Nunavut-based projects," he added.

"Mainstream financial institutions assessed and accepted Nunavut Construction Corp. for financing."

The Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development received the Public-Partner Award for the Nunavut projects.

The Canadian Council fosters co-operation between public and private sectors in developing ways to finance infrastructure.