INUVIK
There a still a number of hoops to jump through before construction can start on the Inuvik-Tuk highway Project, said premier Bob McLeod during a presentation to the Beaufort-Delta Regional Council.
An environmental review still needs to be completed and a cost estimate must also be done, he said. (Preliminary estimates suggest the all-weather highway will come with a price tag of between $200 and $300 million.)
Still, a number of BDRC leaders expressed their eagerness to see progress on the project. Nellie Cournoyea, chair and chief executive officer of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, suggested the government get a jump start by improving the access roads. However, McLeod said they wouldn't be going ahead with further work until approval was received from the legislative assembly and the federal government.
"We can't do it until we get funding," he said.
The legislative assembly's next sitting is set to convene Feb. 6. McLeod said he hopes to get approval during the session.
Concerns over NWT housing brought forward
The minister of the NWT Housing Corporation was bombarded with questions Jan. 14 as Beaufort Delta Regional Council (BDRC) leaders brought forward concern after concern about the organization's practices.
The main issues that began to emerge from the discussion related to derelict houses and maintenance.
A number of community leaders expressed concern over empty, run-down buildings because of the fire risk they pose. Some BDRC members felt the organization should tear the buildings down sooner rather than leave them. Another suggestion that came forward was for the housing corporation to provide communities with a list of vacant buildings they could consider buying. Premier Bob McLeod said his department does recognize the need to deal with older units and assured the group that the housing corporation was working on it. Additionally, he said the organization is willing to sell any of its buildings.
Issues relating to mould, sticky doors and general upkeep of the buildings were also brought forward. Many members said the corporation's maintenance workers aren't responding to residents' concerns quickly enough and asked McLeod to make a note.
"We like to think our maintenance workers respond to maintenance issues as quickly as possible," McLeod responded.
Creating a regional business plan
Inuvik Mayor Floyd Roland said he wants the Beaufort-Delta region to become less dependent on government funding and non-renewable resources.
To make this happen, he suggested that communities in the area make more of an effort to work together on projects and initiatives when they can. Roland's comments prompted a motion to adopt a regional business plan, which was subsequently passed.
