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IKALUKTUTIAK/CAMBRIDGE BAY
Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced a new science and technology program and the winning bidder for the design and construction of Canadian High Arctic Research Station (CHARS) during his visit to Cambridge Bay last week.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper poses with elders in Cambridge Bay on Aug. 23. The federal government will invest $142.4 million over six years, beginning this year, for the construction of and equipment needed for Canadian High Arctic Research Station. - Navalik Tologanak/NNSL photo

The lost ships of the Franklin expedition and the Arctic Council were also on the agenda during the prime minister's visit to the community on Aug. 23.

The federal government will invest $142.4 million over six years, beginning this year, for the construction of and equipment needed for CHARS, Harper announced. He added an additional yearly investment of $26.5 million, as of 2018-19, has been earmarked to operate the station and its programs.

Two Montreal-based firms, Fournier Gersovitz Moss Drolet and Associates as well as NFOE operating as a joint venture, will design and supervise the construction of the multi-disciplinary facility.

Cambridge Bay Mayor Jeannie Ehaloak said they were pleased to hear the announcement of funding for constructing CHARS and the station's new program.

"That's what we were hoping for and our wish came true," she said. "It will mean employment opportunities for our residents and future employment for our youths in the science and technology program."

The high Arctic research station will operate a new science and technology program, with between 35 and 50 seasonal, part-time and full-time staff to be employed, set to start when CHARS opens in 2017.

The federal government will invest $42.6 million over six years, starting in 2012, for the program, announced Harper.

"This new station will undertake science and technology research that will support the responsible development of Canada's North, inform environmental stewardship and enhance the quality of life of Northerners and all Canadians," stated Harper.

Harper went on to announce that Parks Canada will again search for the lost Sir John Franklin's ships, the HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, Harper announced. This year's expedition is expected to cost about $275,000.

Both ships were lost during the British explorer's ill-fated exploration of the Northwest Passage in 1845-46. They are a designated national historic site, the only one still undiscovered.

The federal agency will lead this year's four-to-six-week expedition in the region of the Victoria and Alexandra Straits as well as the southern region near O'Reilly Island, west of the Adelaide Peninsula.

The research vessel, Martin Bergmann, named in honour of the director of the Polar Continental Shelf Program who died in last summer's First Air crash in Resolute, will join the search this year.

The first three expeditions, in 2008, 2010 and 2011, although unsuccessful in finding the ships, have narrowed the search area as an increasing area of seafloor has been systematically ruled out. Challenges include varying accounts of the fate of the Franklin ships as well as the vast and harsh weather conditions of the Arctic.

The prime minister had more news for the territory last week, as he appointed Nunavut MP Leona Aglukkaq as Canada's chairwoman of the Arctic Council. He added he intends to also name Aglukkaq as minister for the Arctic Council.

The Arctic Council's program will be developed when Canada presides the council, under the leadership of Aglukkaq, from 2013 to 2015. Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, the Russian Federation and the United States are also members of the intergovernmental forum where issues faced by people and governments of the Arctic are discussed.

"The North is an integral part of our heritage and holds tremendous promise for our country's future," stated Harper, adding Aglukkaq has a "deep understanding" of the North and its inhabitants.

Canada was the inaugural council chair from 1996 to 1998.

Aglukkaq will continue with her existing responsibilities in addition to this new assignment.

Harper also met with Premier Eva Aariak and Cambridge Bay MLA Keith Peterson while in the Kitikmeot community, a meeting the latter described as positive.

"Issues we put forward, of course, were our very serious housing situation and he was asking a lot of good questions," said Peterson, adding they also raised the infrastructure deficit. "We talked about we've got to find a way to keep our young folks in school so they can get a good education so they can participate in the opportunities that are coming up over the next many years."

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