Carney points to Grays Bay as key nation-building project
Proposed all-season road and deepsea port highlighted after prime minister’s meeting with premiers to discuss infrastructure
Prime Minister Mark Carney, right, speaks alongside Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe in Saskatoon Monday. (Photo courtesy of Premier P.J. Akeeagok/X)
After meeting with Canada’s premiers in Saskatoon Monday afternoon, Prime Minister Mark Carney name-dropped Nunavut’s Grays Bay road and port as a major project of national significance he wants to see get approved quickly.
The comment came in response to a reporter asking why a joint news release from the prime minister and premiers did not list any specific projects.
“I can give you, if I may, lots of examples of those projects, which range from Grays Bay port and road,” Carney said, before naming several other projects across Canada.
“There is a long list of projects that bring the country together, diversify our markets, make us more resilient, create good jobs and growth, have very good prospects of Indigenous partnerships, and beyond.”
Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok welcomed seeing Grays Bay on the list, as the project is one of four he and Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. president Jeremy Tunraluk are advocating for.
The other projects are the Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link, Qikiqtarjuaq deepsea port, and a hydroelectric project in Iqaluit.
“I was reflecting back to all the leaders that had and continue to push this major project forward,” Akeeagok told reporters Monday, making reference to Tunraluk and Kitikmeot Inuit Association acting president James Eetoolook.
“It was a great day for Nunavut to be recognized as an opportunity for these big nation-building [projects] to happen in the Arctic.”
Brendan Bell, CEO of project proponent West Kitikmeot Resources Corp., also welcomed Carney’s comments though, he said, he’s not surprised.
“It’s certainly a validation for all of the work that’s gone on here,” Bell said in an interview.
“There’s just no daylight between the leaders in Nunavut on this project, and that makes it a fairly safe and easy project for the prime minister to advocate for and to promote.”
Grays Bay road and port would consist of a 230-kilometre all-season road and deepsea port that would link the mineral-rich lands of western Nunavut to the rest of Canada.
The estimated cost sits at nearly $1 billion. Bell said in October that he’s aiming for the federal government to cover 75 per cent of the cost, with the Government of Nunavut funding the rest.
Carney and the premiers released a statement after Monday’s meeting, agreeing to collaborate on speeding up the approvals of projects of “national interest.”
Among the criteria for the projects is that they must strengthen Canada’s resilience and security, support economic growth, have a high likelihood to be achieved, be a high priority for Indigenous communities, and offer potential for clean growth.
Another key requirement is consultation with Indigenous Peoples. In Nunavut, projects must go through the Nunavut Impact Review Board before they are approved.
Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok, right, speaks in Saskatoon Monday. Also pictured are Yukon Premier Ranj Pillai, left, and Newfoundland Premier John Hogan. (Photo courtesy of Premier P.J. Akeeagok/X)
Akeeagok said his priority projects include “certainty” they will be approved.
“All the projects that we put in [were] really from the lens of making sure that these are being led by Inuit, for Inuit, that really will have a huge benefit not only for the territory, but for the country,” he said.
There was a tone of unity from the premiers Monday.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said it was the “best meeting” he had in 10 years, and colourfully described Carney as “Santa Claus.”
“He’s coming and his sled was full of all sorts of stuff. Now, he’s taking off back to the North Pole, he’s going to sort it out and then he’s going to call us,” Ford said.
Akeeagok said he “couldn’t agree more” with what Ford said.
“[Monday] was about having really good discussions around identifying some of these key projects,” he said.
We are going to use our limited ability to get federal investment on a road which will not go to any community. The project boast about reducing costs of shipping to the surrounding communities. The stuff will have to be driven to the port of nowhere and then shipped by barge from there, which will add more cost and won’t save the communities much. Disgusting how this is being touted as a nation building project.
It’s very telling isn’t it?
The investor class and KitIA are the ones demanding Grey’s Bay. The people aren’t clamouring for it.
I get the sense Jeremy couldn’t tell you the benefits of this project without a lawyer, 2 policy staff and his assistant there. And PJ I think is just looking for a retirement plan.
Sad sad sad.
Why does it matter that this road connects to a community in Nunavut? That’s not what it’s for. Are people really going to drive 4 hours to go to work at a mine site when the company will just fly you there? This is a dumb and tired argument. It’s also dishonest because people know why some people want this road to connect to a community and it’s not to lower the cost of goods coming into a community…
What a waste of good funds for Qik to get a deep sea port ,
You look at Pang fish plant they can’t keep up with Employment with there fish plant with 1800 people,
Why is this as Qikitarjuaq only has how many 800/1000 people,
You would need $200/350 , millions to build the fish plant and runaway and sad part no employees to run a waste of $$$$$$$$$ DREAM FALLS
Cant wait to see all our sea-ice broken early by ice-breakers for ships so we cant travel by snowmobile anymore.
Travel to where?
What do you mean? The Northwest passage is heavily used by snowmobilers all winter long from freeze till thaw to get to the mainland and down into Bathurst as well as traveling back and forth between communities.
If you don’t know that you are clearly not from the region.
If the sell is for a military port presumably that would include icebreakers to break the sea-ice to conduct military exercises destroying that travel and where we hunt and fish all winter long.
The world is changing the Russians are a real threat people will adapt to the new reality inuit have been adapting for a long time now
Its not about a Russia threat, clearly these are businessmen selling this as a military project to get government attention so they can build a mining road.
Anyone who things this is not about money and mining is lost. You think West Kitikmeot Resources, a company that is all about mining is pushing this because they care about security? No, that’s just a selling point to the government to try to get money from the government which will essentially subsidize mining companies.
That is all this is.
It’s incredible how Nunavut’s agenda under the current Premier has shifted—from prioritizing housing and elder care to pushing mega-projects that serve southern interests. Both the Government of Nunavut and NTI appear to have been lobbied, golfed, and dined—now championing outside industrial projects over core community needs. PJ was the kid from the community that got lost at the Rideau Club in Ottawa.
Where are people supposed to live without housing? Building work camps and powering mines doesn’t put roofs over heads or food on tables. Nunavut needs homes, not headlines.
Nunavut has to bring something to the national table if it wants to be taken more seriously. The ability of Nunavut to contribute to national security through projects such as Grays Bay should not be dismissed so readily. Same goes for Nunavut’s ability to provide access to critical minerals to our domestic industries, and to those of our allies. Some would have Nunavut remain a permanent welfare case backwater that thwarts development and agitates against national security initiatives. I would advise against this small minded mentality.
Can you expand on how Grays Bay would be contributing to national security?
Who will it service?
Suicide was made a big issue by an inquiry in the past year. He made a big splash during the leadership election. Whatever happened to the important matter PJ? We definitely need a substantive change Nunavut . Only 4 months away, so make sure you find a candidate who will make the change happen.
Projects will only benefit the South, Ottawa doesn’t care out the West the East is always forgotten. When are we going to realize that every project whether small community based or one which includes several provinces or territories benefits all of us. They provide immediate jobs, benefits locale, helps local ecomies and is another step to expand the countries overall economy. When everyone moves inward everything shrinks. Unless a community or country can produce and consume every product required to sustain the population they will suffer. Supporting and relying on other communities or countries benefits all. Many don’t understand this including those with supposedly great power. Far too often we feel we are being taken advantage of rather than seeing the opportunities which are available or will improve our lot as a whole nation.
Cheaper goods driven year round to the port for distribution in the summer by the sea and maybe, maybe, maybe winter ice roads?
Either we break free of the death-grip the war-hawks have on our governments or we enter the black hole of a tripartite military/corporate/state. No one says democracy is easy, to maintain we need allow, nay fight for the room for free debate/ideas. If not we permit never-ending wars and genocide – as is currently happening! Carney is a solid tripartite camper, beware.
Grays Bay Road project, wont benefit ALL of the Qitiqmiut Hamlets, only the West side of the Region.
Build Housing instead..