Nunavut’s part of national task force to end diesel dependency, official says

These wind turbines operated in Kugluktuk from 1997 to 2000. A new pan-Canadian task force, whose membership includes Nunavut, is expected to offer some resources to help the territory move forward on reducing its reliance on diesel fuel. (FILE PHOTO)

Nunavut’s department of Economic Development and Transport says it is a participating member in a new pan-Canadian task force with a mandate to reduce the use of diesel fuel to generate electricity in northern communities.

The GN clarified its position this week, after an October exchange in the legislative assembly left many Nunavummiut wondering why the territory hadn’t yet joined the new group.

Monica Ell-Kanayuk, the economic development minister, attended the annual energy and mines minister conference in Halifax last July, where Manitoba, Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories and Yukon together founded the task force.

But when asked about Nunavut’s involvement last month, Ell-Kanayuk’s response was unclear.

The department’s assistant deputy minister confirmed Nov. 13 that Nunavut is in fact a member of the task force, and always has been.

“This particular topic related to the use of diesel fuel is a very viable topic in the North, and other parts of Canada as well,” said Bernie MacIsaac. “We were there right from the very, very beginning.”

An administrative glitch prevented Nunavut from being mentioned in the group’s first news release last summer, MacIsaac said — the territory was left out of the release because the GN couldn’t get a logo ready in time.

“This all came together really quickly,” MacIsaac said. “They just went ahead and did it without us.”

In fact, Nunavut was among the first to sign on, he said.

“It’s a very important topic to us, alternative energy is a very active file in our department here,” MacIsaac said.

“You can see how [this task force] might benefit Nunavut with our dependence on diesel fuel here.”

The task force is still new. Its members have met only via teleconference as they map out strategy, and Nunavut’s role is mostly just as an observer for the time being.

But MacIsaac said it’s an important partnership that includes high-profile energy ministers from the provinces.

The hope is that Nunavut will find more resources for its projects and move forward on new ones, he said.

The ED&T department is focused on efforts to reduce Nunavut’s reliance on diesel, MacIsaac said, including energy audits at private homes in Iqaluit and Rankin Inlet.

“Energy efficiency is one of the best ways to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels,” he said.

MacIsaac said the department is also reviewing a new scoping study that looks at expanding Manitoba’s hydro power network north from Churchill to five communities in the Kivalliq region.

The task force’s short-term goal is to prepare a joint report that looks at the needs of the country’s nearly 300 off-grid communities and outlines any initiatives towards alternative energy or grid connection in those regions.