TALOYOAK/SPENCE BAY - Taloyoak feels left out as it has been waiting for a new health centre for more than a decade and is now awaiting word on funding for a new air terminal building, said the senior administrative officer.

The Nunavut government is proposing to build a new airport terminal building in Taloyoak to replace the current one built around 1981. But the community is waiting for the legislature to approve funding. It will vote on the 2012/13 budget at its fall sitting starting Oct. 18. - photo courtesy of the Hamlet of Taloyoak

A new health centre for the community has been on the capital plan since 1999 and the Nunavut Legislature is set to vote on funding for a new airport terminal building at its fall sitting starting Oct. 18.

Chris Dickson said the community feels, in certain ways, left out and forgotten.

"We feel it's (the airport) long overdue but we do have other issues. Our health centre has been on the capital plan for over 10 years," he said."Our airport is, I believe, one of the only ones in Nunavut that has not been replaced. It's over 30 years old - a small little trailer."

The community feels "extremely frustrated" by all the delays and are "not very confident" they will get funding for the airport in 2012-13.

"We have been writing letters to our MLA and to the legislative wanting answers, especially about the health centre. It's been three times the community council has been told it's approved and three times it's been canceled," he said.

He added with the health centre, hamlet council dealt with two different sets of architects on plans – in 2008 for a retrofit and expansion to the existing facility and in 2009/10 for a new facility, deemed more cost effective.

But territorial government officials flew into the community late last year, telling them the health centre project would not go ahead due to lack of funds.

Nattilik MLA Jeannie Ugyuk raised the issue at the legislature on June 9.

"The current air building in Taloyoak is old and in poor condition. I have been advised that there is not enough space for airline staff," she stated.

She added the five-year capital plan for the Department of Economic Development and Transportation indicates $50,000 funding during the 2012-13 fiscal year for the new air terminal building. Ugyuk asked when design and construction tenders expect to be issued.

But ED&T minister Peter Taptuna stated in the legislature he could not provide an answer as he did not have the information with him at the time.

The territorial government is proposing to build a new terminal building, double the size of the current one built around 1981, said John Hawkins, the director of transportation, policy and planning.

"Certainly, the public waiting area would be at least double the size that it is now," he said. "It would be about double the size as it is now. It would be somewhere in the 210 to 215 square metres total floor space."

He added such projects cost at least $2 million and close to a year should be scheduled between the materials' arrival and the opening.

If the planning phase is approved this fall, it would be a couple of years before construction of a new terminal starts, said Hawkins.

"We realize that by that time, the building that's there, it's already constrained for size, it's wearing out. They weren't the most permanent buildings, I guess," he said. "It's a priority alright. Taloyoak is our top community airport terminal building priority right now."

Ugyuk said she would like to get support from her fellow MLAs this fall when the legislature votes on the funding for a new terminal building. She added she will push until Taloyoak gets the new facility.

"I am hoping we'll get enough support because we have one of the oldest terminals. It's being overcrowded. The building is so old that it's hard to maintain," she said.

Ugyuk tabled a letter directed at Nunavut Health Minister Tagak Curley in the legislature this spring, asking him, among other things, when Taloyoak would get its health centre.

"He's going to have to answer to the people of Taloyoak," said Ugyuk. "At one time we had a plan and they spent money, you know good money on it and it never happened. There's money wasted already. The community of Taloyoak was shown actual plans of a new health centre and where the lot is going to be but it never happened so people of Taloyoak are disappointed and they want answers."

She added she understands Repulse Bay was in greater need than Taloyoak but now Taloyoak is next.

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