Cambridge Bay’s runway to be paved

Cambridge Bay’s gravel airport runway is one step closer to being paved, says Nunavut’s transportation minister.

Almost $3.5 million towards planning and design of the project will come from the Department of National Defence’s capital assistance program, George Hickes told Nunatsiaq News Friday in an interview.

The update comes after Cambridge Bay MLA Fred Pedersen pressed Hickes in the legislative assembly Monday during question period about the state of his community’s runway.

“It’s obvious the efficiencies that would be achieved through paving,” Hickes said to Pedersen in response.  “It’s a no-brainer.”

Pedersen had asked if the minister agreed with comments made by Buffalo Airways general manager Mikey McBryan, who called on the federal government in September to pave the runway. McBryan made the comments at a House of Commons Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee meeting in Ottawa on Sept. 24.

The design is expected to be complete by fall 2027, Hickes said in an interview Friday.

As for the paving itself — “the sooner the better after that,” he said.

Cambridge Bay’s airport is located three kilometres southwest of the hamlet. Its gravel runway is a little more than 5,000 feet long and 150 feet wide.

The gravel limits the size of aircraft that can land in the community.

The airport can accomodate Buffalo Air’s Lockheed Electra and 737-200 aircraft, which burn about 20 per cent more fuel and haul about 10,000 pounds less that the airline’s Boeing 737-300 twin engine jetliner.

But a 737-300 needs to land on a paved runway, McBryan, with Buffalo Air, told federal leaders in September.

“Paving the runway in Cambridge Bay would instantaneously bring the cost of living down the next day,” McBryan said to Nunavut MP Lori Idlout, who had asked if paving the territory’s runways could help keep dollars inside the territory.

“I don’t care if it’s military funding, if it’s private funding or if it’s government funding: Pave it. It’ll make everything better,” McBryan said during the committee meeting.

The federal government announced in March a $2.7-billion plan to expand the military’s presence in the Arctic, with upgrades to support military in five Arctic communities, including Cambridge Bay.

The paving project is part of the preparation for Cambridge Bay’s bigger role in the country’s defence network, Hickes said.

Pedersen said he’s “excited” to hear about the funding.

“All airlines will save money and I’m hoping that even passenger airfares will go down,” he said in an interview.

“Having a paved runway and hopefully better airfield lighting and instrument landing systems will help in inclement weather getting things to land.”

Nunatsiaq News asked the Department of National Defence for a comment on the runway paving but did not receive a response Friday morning.