CGT capital budget the largest since 1999

DENISE RIDEOUT

The community government division of the department of community government and transportation has released its largest capital budget since the creation of Nunavut in 1999.

The division will spend $22 million in Nunavut communities next year to replace aging water-supply lines, repair sewage lagoons and build new dump sites.

“While this is definitely good news, we are still unable to fund all the capital projects for your communities — some of which need to be addressed urgently,” admitted CGT Minister Manitok Thompson in introducing the budget.

And there are many projects that need to be addressed.

Throughout the year, mayors have lobbied the minister to put more money into basic infrastructure. Communities need everything from new water tanks to better sewage systems to larger dumps.

But the Nunavut Association of Municipalities (NAM), an organization that represents the territory’s hamlets, says the $22 million won’t come close to meeting communities’ needs.

“Let’s put it this way: we’ve identified in our consultations with the community and working with community government that we probably need $350 million to replace aging infrastructure and build new infrastructure for municipalities right now,” Keith Peterson, NAM’s president, said in an interview.

Peterson said that money will just bring the communities’ infrastructure up to a level that other Canadian municipalities take for granted.

But at least some of the hamlets’ wishes will be granted in 2003-04.

After signing the Canada-Nunavut Infrastructure Program Agreement with the federal government this year, there’s money in the pot to contribute to major improvements to water-supply systems in Cambridge Bay, Gjoa Haven and Kugluktuk.

“We are aware of the needs in the communities but our priority is to make sure the people have fresh water, and their health and safety considerations are a priority,” Thompson said in the legislative assembly on Nov. 28.

Nearly all of the territory’s 25 hamlets will see some repairs to water, sewage and garbage systems.

In the Kitikmeot region, for instance, the department will conduct a $25,000 study of Cambridge Bay’s sewage treatment. It will also spend $1.3 million to replace the town’s water-supply line.

“The water-supply line in Cambridge Bay is 25 years old and it breaks down very easily,” Thompson told MLAs. “At this time, the population is growing in the community and their water-supply line breaks down too often so this was done on an emergency basis.”

Gjoa Haven, which has been plagued with blood worms in its water supply, will eventually get a new water-treatment system. The department has budgeted $2.6 million to pay for the design of the new system next year.

Kugluktuk will see its water-supply line and water tanks replaced.

Kivalliq communities will also get major water, sewer and garbage projects funded.

Arviat’s sewage lagoon will get a $195,000 expansion. The department will put $260,000 into improving Coral Harbour’s sewage and garbage systems.

The hamlet of Rankin Inlet will finally have its dump site relocated. Residents have lobbied for years to have it moved farther away from town. The department will spend $480,000 on the project next year.

Similar projects will be funded throughout the Baffin region.

About $410,000 will go toward a sewage disposal facility for Pangnirtung, and Clyde River, Grise Fiord and Hall Beach will see improvements to their sewage systems.

Major repairs to Cape Dorset’s sewage lagoon will take place next year, costing about $3.3 million.

The high dollar amount raised concerns for David Iqaqrialu, MLA for Clyde River. “The $3 million is quite a huge sum of money for one community to make repairs. Perhaps they’ll be making a lake or lagoon?” he asked Thompson.

“In 1999, the sewage lagoon and water pipes broke down in Cape Dorset due to them being too old, so we had to repair them quite urgently,” she responded.

In addition to water, garbage and sewage projects, community government is putting money into equipment for the hamlets.

Kimmirut will get a new loader, Hall Beach and Qikiqtarjuaq will get fire trucks and graders will go to Arctic Bay, Grise Fiord and Pond Inlet.

Pond Inlet’s new grader pleases its MLA, Jobie Nutarak. “I appreciate that it’s being funded. We’ve been waiting for 20 years. It’s going to be replaced after 20 years,” he said.