Finally, a port for Iqaluit
Ottawa earmarks $63.7 million for long-discussed infrastructure project; Nunavut will have to pitch in $21.2 million
Casey Lessard
Northern News Services
Monday, August 3, 2015
IQALUIT
Iqaluit is finally getting a port, provided the territory contributes and the project stays alive following the Oct. 19 federal election.
Nunavut MP Leona Aglukkaq announced July 30 that the federal government would provide up to $63.7 million in funding for a marine port and small craft harbour in Iqaluit. - Casey Lessard/NNSL photo |
"This is a game changer," deputy premier Monica Ell said, expressing the feelings of many in the capital after the federal government announced July 30 it would provide up to $63.7 million to fund a marine port and small craft harbour in Iqaluit.
The first federal feasibility study happened in 1980, and the City of Iqaluit directed its economic development officer to find the money in 2005. It took decades of pressure on the territorial and federal governments, but if the money is indeed there - the Government of Nunavut has to agree to pitch in the rest, currently $21.2 million - residents could see a major change in Koojesse Inlet soon.
"We've been waiting for this kind of announcement for a long time," said Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu MLA Pat Angnakak. "I'm just one of many that has raised this as an issue. When you start to look at the economics of it, the safety of it, what we have now is so inadequate."
Waterway users are thrilled with the announcement.
"It's good news," said Georges Tousignant, vice-president of operations for shipping company NEAS. "I'm very pleased because the operation will be more safe."
The Government of Nunavut is planning for a marine port at South Polaris Reef - the preferred option pitched to residents in 2010 - and improvements to the small craft harbour at the in-town breakwater. The project could start construction in 2017 and be complete by 2018, said Paul Suvega, deputy minister of the Department of Economic Development and Transportation.
"There's a few critical steps that have to happen first," Suvega said. "Obviously the approval in the assembly. We have a lot of work ahead of us, and that includes geotechnical and habitat assessments, as well as critical consultations with stakeholders, local and regional."
The port is predicted to reduce dry cargo offloading time to 20 working days from 60, reduce fuel offloading to five days from 15 days, and increase water access during low tide while improving safety and making search-and-rescue operations more efficient.
Alternate deputy mayor Simon Nattaq, representing the city at the announcement, has long pushed for the port.
"For 16 years, (I have) been a councillor in the city of Iqaluit, and we have been talking about this infrastructure," Nattaq said through a translator. "For many years, it seemed like all those discussions went to waste when we didn't see anything happen. (I am) very happy to see that it is finally happening."
Nunavut MP Leona Aglukkaq's election opponent, Liberal candidate Hunter Tootoo, said he supports the project, but predicted the "re-announcement" earlier in the week.
"A marine port and sealift facility would bring tremendous benefits to Iqalummiut," he stated in a release. "Nunavut greatly suffers from a significant infrastructure deficit as a result of a decade of neglect and underfunding from the Harper/Aglukkaq regime. This is the fourth time since 2006 that Harper/Aglukkaq re-announced a deep sea port for Iqaluit, this time on the eve of a federal election campaign."
He noted that during her 2011 reelection campaign, Aglukkaq promised the port, a hydroelectric dam for Iqaluit, and a power line and road connecting the Kivalliq region with Manitoba.
Aglukkaq's scripted comments made clear that the announcement was tied to her work as an MP and to Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
"Since being elected as Member of Parliament in 2008 and reelected in 2011, I have had the honour of bringing Nunavut's voices to Ottawa," she said at the start of the announcement. "Our government, under Prime Minister Harper has made the North a priority. And I have ensured that the concerns of Nunavummiut have been heard loud and clear in Ottawa. As the first Inuk cabinet minister, I have had the privilege of working with my colleagues in Ottawa to ensure that the needs of Nunavut is always a priority for the federal government."
Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated president Cathy Towtongie was thankful for the commitment, but said a port alone fell short of meeting Nunavut's infrastructure needs.
"While NTI values the much-needed federal investment into Nunavut's economic development, Nunavut will still require a long-term strategic infrastructure investment plan that would tangibly address our territorial infrastructure deficit in the other two regions," Towtongie said.
She called for an investment in a Manitoba-to-Kivalliq road, and more marine infrastructure on Baffin Island.
But she and Pat Angnakak praised the progress made to get to the point where this promise was being made.
"We've never come this far," said Angnakak. "I'm really hoping that whoever is in power after the next election, I can only keep my fingers crossed that they will honour this commitment."
