No tanks

by Jeff Colbourne
Northern News Services

RANKIN INLET (DEC 06/96) - Making Rankin Inlet the hub of Keewatin resupply means good news for Rankin, but bad news for five other communities in the region.

The Keewatin resupply committee have released a preliminary report reviewing resupply options and the Rankin Inlet hub option is the region's worst case scenario.

"The report confirms our fear," said committee chair, Kevin O'Brien. "The tank farm only benefits Rankin Inlet."

If Rankin were to get the tank farm and become the hub the report indicates significant benefits for the town.

On the downside it means higher costs for transporting goods and fuel. Building the platform and tanks in Rankin will cost an estimated $16.3 million. The overall transportation costs will also increase, approximately $1 million over current costs.

O'Brien, who's also the Kivallivik MLA said direct delivery is cheaper and better.

It lowers transport costs for all Keewatin communities and creates employment opportunities in each of the six communities involved.

To handle direct resupply from Montreal or Halifax however, pipeline extensions in Arviat, Coral Harbour, Rankin Inlet, and Chesterfield will cost an estimated $8.1 million. Unfortunately, the shipping season will be reduced by two to three weeks with this option.

If Rankin Inlet were to become the hub, O'Brien said residents would pay only 6 cents per litre of fuel while other communities would pay upwards of 30 cents per litre.

The committee's report states that under the full hub option, fuel transportation costs for each home in Rankin would cost residents only $612 a year. In the other five communities it amounts to just under $2,000.

Under direct delivery Rankin will only have to pay $663 annually, but other communities can expect a drop in costs also. In Whale Cove for instance, residents may pay only $458 a year.

Recommendations from the report are expected after community leaders from across the Keewatin meet, O'Brien said. They were supposed to meet in Chesterfield Inlet early last month but inclement weather made it impossible.

From the recommendations established by leaders, Minister of Transportation, Jim Antoine decides if the project should go ahead or not.