Upcoming year will see continuation of efforts in economic and resource development

Elaine Anselmi
Northern News Services
Published Thursday, January 22, 2015

INUVIK
With a new year comes both a new budget and new opportunities for the Town of Inuvik. The Inuvik Drum spoke with Mayor Floyd Roland about his priorities and focus for 2015.

"We're continuing to try to boost our tourism, looking at the Sunrise Festival and working with the Muskrat Jamboree, and that's one side of it," said Roland.

"Probably more critical to the sustainability of the community is to work on a long-term solution for our energy supplies here in the community."

Working with the joint venture group, Roland said the town is looking at the feasibility of switching to liquified natural gas (LNG) rather than the synthetic natural gas, a propane-air mix, that currently fuels the town.

LNG, Roland said, would mean a stable supply for the community at an equal or lesser cost. In addition, he said the option of developing the resources available within the region is still very much on the table.

"I've had meetings with the (Inuvialuit Development Corporation), talking about how we should be thinking about stuff like this, and reaching out to the groups in town to see if there is an interest there," said Roland.

"It's still the early days but I think it needs to be pursued and I'm looking forward, long-term, to continuing to pursue that."

While no formal deals have been made or signed, Roland said there has been interest shown from a company in Houston, working with oil and gas, and converting gas to liquids. He is also in talks with Decentralized Energy Canada, which works with communities on sustainability in terms of energy and finding alternative sources.

"The pieces are coming together on that side," Roland said.

The Mackenzie Valley Fibre Link, Roland said, and Inuvik's satellite receiver station are other important pieces to the future of the community.

"The initial benefit is there are contacts with the Gwich'in Development Corporation on this end of the line, on getting the line built, there's that immediate benefit," said Roland.

"The other one, a positive thing to that is, as this contract's been met, there's been interest from other groups and companies in establishing business that would align with the satellite development."

The construction of the water treatment plant and working with the territorial government to improve Airport Road remain focuses of the town this year, Roland said.

Other projects on the go include developing the emerging technologies event that will replace the the Inuvik Petroleum Show.

"We're working along those lines to approve and come out with a new package for June 2016," said Roland.

"When that comes out, it is a much more broader view and hopefully draws a lot of attention. That's where, again, the gas to liquids piece comes in."

Roland also talked about his role generally.

"The reason I got involved and stepped up to the plate to take on this role is to look at the opportunities. Yes, we have challenges and there are many of them, and if all we do is stare at the challenges and not look beyond that for the opportunities that come as a result, than we've got a huge challenge in the future," said Roland.

"In my future, I would hope that we see the gas to liquids develop here, that we start developing our own resources, start becoming net benefactors of that development. That will be a huge piece for this region and the Arctic, I believe."