Christine Grimard
Northern News Services
Wednesday, July 4, 2007

RANKIN INLET - The community of Rankin Inlet discussed possible locations for the new correctional facility during a public meeting June 25 at the community hall.

Justin Merrit, the councillor who heads up the lands committee, presented three options to the 20 members of the public who came to the meeting Monday night.

The first location would be just outside the new development area suggested past area five, between the town and Nipisar Lake. The second option would be to build the prison in the corner of the new development area. The third option would see the prison built past that area.

Merrit noted that council was most in support of the first, because it had a larger buffer zone than the second location, and it would help with the development costs of the new residential area. The third option would not help with development costs, and could block off the area for further development.

Some members of the public questioned why the jail couldn't be built further away from the community. Merrit explained that the jail had to have access to utilidor services, and these three locations were best sited with that requirement in mind.

He also noted that the decision needed to be made fairly quickly.

"We want to get the land identified as soon as possible to make sure this facility gets built," said Merrit.

Sandra Oolooyuk had some concerns about the aesthetic appeal of the first location.

"If I were a resident, wanting to live where [the first location] is, I wouldn't want the view there," said Oolooyuk.

Merrit said the jail would likely disrupt the view regardless of either option.

"In any location, residents will be looking at where the prison it," said Merrit.

A few community members brought up building the jail either on or behind the old landfill site. Merrit said that the area is contaminated and developing around there wasn't an option.

As the meeting was closing, Oolooyuk suggested taking a show of hands so council could see what site the community favoured.

Around eight people voted for sites one and two each, with no-one in favour of the third site.

Other suggestions came forward on getting more input from the community.

"With the show of hands they were practically equal," said Theresa Irwin, "maybe the hamlet can hire summer students to do a survey and get more input from the community."

Johnny Ayaruaq suggested that they hold radio shows to get input from the community.

Merrit said he would take all these suggestions to the next council meeting, however that hamlet council would make the final decision.

"That's what we're voted for, and that's what we're going to do."

The next hamlet meeting is set to be held July 9.