Nunavut MLA renews pitch for High Arctic airport hub

Joe Enook, MLA for Pond Inlet, is pushing for a High Arctic airport hub in his home community. (POND INLET)

Dreams of a modern, High Arctic hub airport in Pond Inlet landed on the floor of Nunavut’s legislature June 1.

That’s when Tununiq MLA Joe Enook questioned Economic Development and Transportation minister Monica Ell-Kanayuk on the possibility of a jet-capable airstrip in his home community.

Enook cited the 2014 Government of Nunavut report “Nunavut Airports 20-year Infrastructure Needs Assessment” that recommended a feasibility study on turning the North Baffin hamlet’s airport into a fully functioning jet aircraft facility servicing the High Arctic.

That report, tabled in Nunavut’s legislature last year, cites several reasons to do that including growing economic needs, tourism, curbing the cost of living in the region and the federal government’s commitment to High Arctic sovereignty.

The 2014 report said the GN should conduct a feasibility study “to determine the cost and benefits of constructing a new High Arctic hub airport at Pond Inlet,” adding that the facility could be used for both military and civilian purposes.

But Ell-Kanayuk backed away from Enook during question period saying the GN report “explored the idea and is not an actual plan whereby the government would commit funds towards that, and I wanted to clearly state is it not in the budget plans.”

Ell-Kanayuk added that the request to upgrade Pond Inlet’s airport came from the hamlet’s council, as well as a 2002 study by the hamlet on the concept.

A new airport would have to be relocated to accommodate the larger runway and would cost millions of dollars, Ell-Kanayuk said, citing the 2002 hamlet study.

“At the time it was stated that it would cost $24 million. I think the highest amount was $74 million. I think it needs to be relocated if they were to extend the runway,” she said.

Nunavut’s airport development has historically been financed by private and non-GN public money, notably the federally sponsored Airport Capital Assistance Program.

Iqaluit’s new $300 million airport terminal is being funded through a public-private partnership, or P3, between the GN and private companies — the largest ever capital project of its kind in the territory.

The 2014 report noted that since 2010, the GN has allocated roughly $30 million of its own money to airport capital expenditure projects, excluding money spent on the new Iqaluit airport.

“This represents an average budget of $6 million per year allocated over 24 airports, or approximately $250,000 per airport annually,” the report said.

Enook requested Ell-Kanayuk urge the federal government to share the costs of financing a new airport in Pond Inlet.

“The entrance of the Northwest Passage in Pond Inlet is very important so they would need a military airport in Pond Inlet,” Enook said.

Ell-Kanayuk acknowledged the MLA’s request and said she would notify her EDT officials to add it to their review of the file.

The Nunavut legislature’s brief spring sitting wrapped up June 8.