SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Money for infrastructure projects in and around Yellowknife was announced late last week, including almost $2.2 million for the Yellowknife landfill expansion, upgrades to Fred Henne Territorial Park and Yellowknife River.

Nunavut senator-elect Dennis Patterson, left, and Finance Minister Michael Miltenberger announced over $90 million in money for infrastructure projects across the NWT, including almost $2.2 million for three projects in Yellowknife, including the expected dump expansion. - Andrew Livingstone/NNSL photo

Finance Minister Michael Miltenberger and Nunavut Senator-elect Dennis Patterson announced two infrastructure funding initiatives at the legislative assembly Thursday morning to help fund construction-ready infrastructure projects across the NWT.

"It provides funding to construction ready infrastructure projects that can be completed within the 2009-2010 construction seasons," said Patterson, speaking about the $7.9 million announced through the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund. The costs of the 15 projects will be covered by federal, territorial and municipal funding.

"Our government recognizes infrastructure investments will help northern Canadians work through the global recession as quick as possible and set the stage for long-term social and economic stability."

The city will receive almost $700,000 from the federal government for the expansion of the Yellowknife dump into the rock quarry adjacent to the current location. The city is required to supply just over $1.3 million for the project, estimated to cost $2.0 million.

The city plans to move ahead with the expansion after Transport Canada approves their application. Mayor Gord Van Tighem said in a previous interview he expects the expansion to take place within the next three years.

"We've been putting money aside for several years now," Van Tighem said. "Over the years we've been spending money processing fill, which means getting contaminated soil and cleaning it to be used to cover up things. It's been an on-going project."

No money was announced for Yellowknife projects in the second infrastructure announcement. The infrastructure money doled out from the Provincial-Territorial (PT) base funding agreement between the NWT and the federal government, totalled $85.8 million and covered 26 projects laid out in the territorial government's 2009-2010 capital plan.

"We still have applications in for some of the other funds that are to become available and we await that," Van Tighem said, adding the city plans far in advance for capital funding projects so they can access the money more easily when it becomes available.

"The big thing is to ensure the forward plans of the community are well defined and we do that with a three-year rolling budget and our capital budget takes a peak outside ten years. If someone says 'OK, shovel ready projects' we say here's three."

Money was previously announced from the PT-based funding agreement for the $17 million fieldhouse and rehabilitation work on the Ingraham Trail.