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INUVIK
The Environmental Impact Review Board has approved the Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway project, and the mayors of both communities are excited to get the ball rolling.

As of Jan. 25, the federal government had 30 days to respond to the EIRB's 300-page report on the project.

Jim Stevens, the project's manager, said he expects a response will be timely.

"We have some certainty that toward the end of February there should be a letter from the federal minister with his advice relative to their recommendations," he said.

The 140-km all-weather road will link Tuktoyaktuk to Inuvik and the Dempster Highway. Initial costs are expected to be $230 million, the report stated.

However, the Department of Transportation has stated the cost could be as high as $300 million.

The federal government had pledged to contribute $150 million.

"The Inuvik-Tuk group have worked hard to build the support for the road with both governments," Inuvik Mayor Floyd Roland said. "With the report being finally done it is now in the hands of both the federal government and the GNWT. The GNWT needs to take the next steps to move this project forward."

Tuktoyaktuk Mayor Mervin Gruben says the people of his community are very pleased with the board's recommendation.

"This has been a long time coming," he said. "Let us help make Diefenbaker's vision of a road to resources, combined with Prime Minister (Stephen) Harper's goal of finishing the highway system from coast to coast to coast, a reality and get our people back to work in the real far North."

The report also highlighted recommendations and is calling for a follow-up program that would be managed independently to ensure environmental impacts of the road are monitored.

One of the environmental concerns identified in the report was the Husky Lakes area.

Nellie Cournoyea, Inuvialuit Regional Corporation chair and chief executive officer, said the area is important to the Inuvialuit.

"The Husky Lakes area is a very treasured traditional area," she said.

Stevens said the road will be kept one kilometre away from the Husky Lakes area at all points along the route.

"Husky Lakes is a very culturally, environmentally, wildlife sensitive area," he said.

"It recognizes the sensitivity of Husky Lakes."

The report also gave a "worst case scenario" in terms of environmental impacts, which it noted as a fuel tanker rollover. It was noted that in the event that a fuel tanker spilled its contents and diesel fuel ended up in Husky Lakes, it would cost $1 million to clean it up.

Economic benefits

The road will drastically cut the cost of shipping goods into both Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk, the report stated.

Shipping goods to Tuktoyaktuk by air now costs $3 per pound. Truck delivery via the road would cost 15 cents per pound.

It will also create jobs. The report stated that more than 1,000 jobs would be created over the four-year construction period.

An additional 42 jobs will be created to maintain the road.

Cournoyea said the road will boost tourism in the Beaufort region. It will also allow for the expansion of the oil and gas industry and help solidify Canada's Arctic sovereignty in the area.

"It's a sovereignty issue, too," she said. "It ties Canada sea to sea to sea and that's an exciting phenomena."

The project now must be approved by the territorial and federal governments.

– with files from T. Shawn Giilck

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