Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet (Oct 28/02) - The Kivalliq mayors' meetings began with a good news announcement for the hamlets of Chesterfield Inlet and Coral Harbour. The meetings were held in Coral this past week.

Nunavut MP Nancy Karetak-Lindell and Transportation Minister Manitok Thompson were in Coral on Oct. 22 to sign an agreement to provide $6.7 million in joint federal-territorial funding until March 2007 for priority transportation infrastructure projects in Nunavut.

The agreement is part of the $600 million Strategic Highway Infrastructure program announced by federal Transportation Minister David Collenette in April of 2001.

The federal government is providing $4.3 million of the $6.7 million in funding.

Coral Harbour will be receiving $1.2 million for the construction of a new air terminal building in that community.

Mayor Marvin Dion said Coral residents have been lobbying various levels of government for the new terminal building for the past three years. He said the present terminal is too small and not suited for the harsh Kivalliq climate.

"I don't know where they purchase these buildings, but they're not adequate or made for the North," said Dion.

"Our present terminal has only been in service for about 13 or 14 years.

"A little Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, or common sense, has be used in the construction or purchase of these buildings.

"We have to look at having our buildings last at least 20 to 30 years up here."

Chesterfield Inlet Deputy Mayor Tony Amouyah said his community is overjoyed to finally receive the necessary funding for an access road out of the community.

Chester will be receiving $492,000 to construct a 3.2 kilometre seasonal road.

"We've been wanting to get a road in place from our community up to Josephine River for some time now," said Amouyah. "That area is heavily used by people in Chesterfield for both hunting and camping. The road will help our hunters, as well as families who may just want to go out and enjoy themselves on the land for awhile."