Work is expected to start this summer on a new small craft harbour in Clyde River. (Photo courtesy of ClydeRiver.ca)
Clyde River to get small craft harbour by 2026
Pilitak Enterprises Ltd. in Iqaluit awarded nearly $38-million contract for habour construction
Clyde River will be getting its own small craft harbour by 2026, including a fixed wharf, floating wharf, a sea-lift ramp and a community launch ramp.
The awarding of the contract was announced this week, and work is expected to start this summer.
“Small craft harbours are key to thriving coastal communities,” said federal Fisheries Minister Joyce Murray, in announcing the contract Tuesday.
“The new harbour will create opportunities for sustainable commercial fishing operations and marine mammal harvesting. This will help provide Clyde River residents with economic opportunities and social benefits for the future.”
The $37.7-million contract to construct the harbour was awarded to Pilitak Enterprises Ltd., in Iqaluit.
Federal Northern Affairs Minister Daniel Vandal said Pilitak Enterprises was selected through a process that required bidders to include an Inuit benefits plan that would support local training and employment.
“Small craft harbours support more than 45,000 jobs within the commercial fishing industry, and as well many additional jobs,” Vandal said in an interview.
“It’s something that’s going to be incredibly positive for Clyde River and Nunavut.”
More than 45,000 commercial fish harvesters work Canada’s waters from coast to coast, according to the Canadian Council of Professional Fish Harvesters.
Most harvesters operate on the Atlantic coast, fishing from Nunavut to the American border including offshore banks, the council’s website states.
Decisions for the construction of Clyde River’s small craft harbour were also made keeping in mind the Inuit Nunangat Policy announced in April this year.
Spearheaded by Inuit Tapariit Kanatami, the policy outlines how federal programs and services that affect the Inuit homeland or benefit Inuit should be designed, and directs the federal government to consider the rights, interests and circumstances of the Inuit in the way it funds Inuit land claims organizations.
“This is all part and parcel of [adopting the] Inuit Nunangat policy where there need to be benefits to the North for work that’s undertaken in the North,” Vandal said, about applying the policy in decision-making about the small craft harbour.
Construction is scheduled to begin this summer and continue over the next three years. The harbour is anticipated to be operational by 2026.
Congratulations to everyone who worked on this project to date, and will be working on it until it is fully operational. There are many who have followed their beliefs and put their heart and soul into this project – from the Engineering Staff of Small Craft Harbours to Local Boards to the Federal Government who has committed these funds on behalf of us, the average Canadian.