Greenland’s premier promises air link to Canada

Kuupik Kleist, Greenland’s premier, says an air connection between Canada and Greenland is in the works. (PHOTO BY JANE GEORGE)

A permanent air connection to Iqaluit is now a step closer, Kuupik Kleist, the premier of Greenland, announced at the Sept. 17 opening of Greenland’s parliament in Nuuk.

During his review of the work done by Greenland’s transportation commission, Kleist mentioned the possibility of restarting flights between Canada and Greenland.

These ceased in 2001 when Air Greenland and First Air stopped their weekly jet service between Iqaluit and Kangerlussuaq. A later attempt to establish jet service between Greenland and the United States also failed.

“We have for many years now been without a flight to the North American continent, so that today we would like to express our delight that we are now approaching the time where we have come closer to a reopening of a westward flight to Canada,” Kleist said in his opening speech.

Air Greenland was scheduled to begin a route between Nuuk and Iqaluit in 2010, but this plan ended up being dropped.

Kleist also touched on international issues, saying the Arctic Council needs to be adapted to better deal with new realities.

“We intend to present a Danish-Greenlandic Arctic strategy next year, when ministers from the Arctic countries in May will meet here in Greenland,” he said.

But Kleist focussed mainly on social and economic conditions in his opening speech.

Kleist promised to work on eradicating social disparities in Greenland, mainly through improving educational standards and training.

The number of students at Greenland’s Ilisimatusarfik university has never been greater, he said.

The number of young people who complete their education has increased dramatically, and the graduation rate is highest in the business-related courses, he noted, which reveals a growing understanding among the youth of the importance of having an education which “gives hope for the future.”

“Great tasks lie ahead, and it is therefore necessary and long overdue that we in the political team carefully consider our educational system in light of future needs,” Kleist said.

New deals will require the use of more local labour in gas and oil exploration are also in the works, he said.

Kleist also mentioned the downward trend in consumption of tobacco and alcohol in Greenland, which should encourage more people in Greenland “to demand more of ourselves.” The number of senior citizens who use tobacco and alcohol is also declining, he said.