Feds to help fund Pond Inlet sea port
Project conditional on Government of Nunavut approval and 25-per-cent stake
Stewart Burnett
Northern News Services
Monday, June 29, 2015
MITTIMATALIK/POND INLET
A new federal funding announcement has opened the door to a $40-million marine facility in Pond Inlet.
Nunavut MP Leona Aglukkaq, who was in Pond Inlet to make the announcement on June 26, said the community has been asking for this for "many, many years."
"Today our government listened," she told Nunavut News/North. "The Pond Inlet marine infrastructure investment is very important to the community."
The project's goal is to promote tourism, increase local employment, aid shipment of supplies and food to the community and provide a safe harbour for small vessels.
"It's certainly a step in the right direction," said Monica Ell, Nunavut's minister of economic development and transportation.
"We have a small craft harbour report that we want several small craft harbours built in Nunavut, and this will definitely bring us in the right direction in accomplishing that."
Beyond Pangnirtung and Pond Inlet, other possible small craft harbour destinations are Broughton Island and Clyde River, said Ell.
Part of the New Building Canada Plan, the project would see 75 per cent funding from the federal government contingent on the Government of Nunavut approving it and putting up 25 per cent, or $10 million.
Ell said the project will require approval in Nunavut's legislative assembly this fall.
"The building of infrastructure such as this always benefits Nunavummiut in several ways," said Ell.
"Having a better port facility, once complete, will provide an ability for other transportation to get into our communities. We would hope to see more ships being able to go there. That would increase tourism. The making of the project could increase labour in the community. The potential benefits from this project is increased employment, tourism opportunities and especially the enhancement of boater safety."
Aglukkaq couldn't name a specific number but said the project would create local jobs, if it goes through.
"Certainly this infrastructure investment will benefit the community, and at the same time creates jobs during the construction phase," she said.
Aglukkaq said she is proud to be able to answer the community's request for a facility like this.
