Rankin Inlet (Oct 15/03) - The long-awaited feasibility study on a road linking the Kivalliq region to Manitoba was announced in Rankin Inlet earlier this month.

Nunavut Liberal MP Nancy Karetak-Lindell made the announcement on behalf of Northern Development Minister Robert Nault.

The federal government is kicking in $625,000 towards the $1.1-million study.

Nault's department is contributing $500,000, while Transport Canada is adding $125,000.

The Kivalliq Inuit Association (KIA) has anted up $100,000 and the Government of Nunavut another $125,000.

It is expected the Government of Manitoba will add $250,000 to the study. The feasibility study will examine six potential routes, eventually identifying and assessing two optimal road corridors to link Northern Manitoba to the Kivalliq.

The study will also attempt to develop a possible staging strategy to enable the 1,200-kilometre road to progress from a winter only, to an all-weather road.

About $2 billion

Initial estimates place the cost of an all-weather road at about $2 billion.

There are only three companies in Canada capable of taking on such a project.

While the feasibility study is a positive first step, initial estimates place actual completion of the project at a minimum of 10 to 15 years.

Lindell said a Nunavut-to-Manitoba road has long been a priority for the Kivalliq region.

"In speaking to representatives of the Kivalliq Inuit Association, the Kivalliq Chamber of Commerce and communities along the coast of Hudson Bay -- they have been pushing to do a feasibility study for many years to see if there's an option worth pursuing," said Lindell.

"We're all aware of the high cost of living in the North and this may be one way of lowering those costs."

KIA president Tongola Sandy said the study was a long time in coming, but is a positive step forward for Nunavut.

"It has taken two years to get to this point," said Sandy. "We're both relieved and excited by the announcement, so that we can now move forward."