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ARVIAT
Yet another deadline has come and gone for the opening of the Arviat arena.

The entire 2011-12 hockey season was lost in Arviat when planned upgrades to its arena went horribly wrong during construction.

The latest date set by Community and Government Services (C&GS) was Sept. 1, but Mayor Bob Leonard said the community is still waiting for Dowland Construction to arrive to finish the work.

He said no one is allowed to enter the building as it's still considered a construction site.

"C&GS Minister Lorne Kusugak came about a month ago to assure us we'd be in the building by hockey season, but they didn't make Sept. 1 to finalize the work," said Leonard.

"They still need to seal the top of the concrete floor to keep water from getting in and doing damage.

"They're supposed to come back next year and put a more permanent membrane on top of the floor.

"I'm still confident we'll be open for hockey because the Nunavut government is taking this situation very seriously."

Leonard said while the community is disappointed the latest deadline wasn't met, residents are still holding firm in their belief another season of hockey won't be lost.

He said the community just wants to see its arena safe and open.

"Hockey was making a comeback in Arviat the past few years and we don't want to lose another season."

Acting deputy minister Darren Flynn said C&GS has given Dowland a final deadline of Sept. 15 to have the polymer coating down to protect the floor.

He said the cement is barely acceptable, but ripping it out would mean another season without hockey and C&GS isn't prepared to do that.

"It's more important we have a concrete pad that lives up to expectations than rushing to meet a supposed Sept. 1 deadline," said Flynn.

"Do you want a piece a crap or something that's going to serve the needs of the community?

"Dowland will be in Arviat this week to complete the work and our engineers, and the Dowland engineer, agree the polymer coating is a proper and suitable remedy.

"Dowland will sign off on a five-year warranty on the floor, so, if for whatever reason this thing starts cracking up, Dowland will have to replace it and its cost."

Flynn said if C&GS isn't satisfied with the finished product, Dowland will have to rip the whole thing out.

"This has, no doubt, meant money lost for Dowland.

"But I want to make it clear there's been no additional expense to the government above what was awarded as a contract."

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