Community members ‘excited’ about Kivalliq road: Minister

All-weather route would connect region’s communities to each other

Economic Development and Transportation Minister David Akeeagok, seen entering the legislative assembly Thursday, updated Nunavut MLAs Feb. 23 on feedback from Kivalliq communities about a potential all-season road through the region. (File photo)

By Nunatsiaq News

People in the Kivalliq region want to see a road through their region, says David Akeeagok, Nunavut’s minister of economic development and transportation.

“Kivallirmiut are excited about the possibility of being connected to each other and reducing the cost of essential goods and services,” he said Feb. 23 in the legislative assembly.

He rose to announce the completion of consultations about the possibility of a 725-kilometre all-season road that would connect Chesterfield Inlet, Rankin Inlet, Whale Cove and Arviat, with a 320-kilometre extension to Baker Lake.

Territorial government representatives were in the region earlier this year to answer questions and provide information about the idea.

The government has been stewing on concepts for a road in the region for years.

People did share reservations as well, Akeeagok said.

“The overarching concerns include the migration of [caribou] and the socio-economic impacts the road might bring,” he said.

He said the department is still collecting feedback virtually and people can complete an online survey on the GN website.

“This is an important opportunity for your voices to get heard and be included in the report, which should be available later in the year,” Akeeagok said.

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(24) Comments:

  1. Posted by Name Withheld on

    If GN can spend so much on a feasibility study for a fiber optic project but not follow through with it, why not invest in a road instead? I fully support infrastructure improvements in Nunavut. The prospect of a highway connecting Manitoba and Nunavut has been discussed for many years, making me wonder if it will ever become a reality during my lifetime.”

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  2. Posted by Qavvigarjuk on

    Where is the money going to come from? The Federal Minister of transportation announced last week that the liberals are not going to pay for any new roads/highways…. Also, hello increased alcohol problems in the small communities. People will be driving into Rankin to top up on beer and wine from the Rankin store.

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    • Posted by Name Withheld on

      People will find ways to obtain alcohol regardless of the presence of roads. Rankin Inlet is, unfortunately, the central hub of Kivalliq, resulting in constant traffic.

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    • Posted by Sam on

      Qavv, grow up it’s nice to know you are an expert on booze and drugs look around you, there are none of that here in the kivalliq now, same old argument from anti everything,

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    • Posted by Devil’s Avocado on

      I think you’ll find that the comments (not an announcement) were made by the federal minister of Environment, and not the minister of Transport, and they have been largely retracted or corrected.

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  3. Posted by I live in the Arctic on

    This is from a 2017 CBC news story on the highway to Tuktoyaktuk

    “New Arctic coast highway opens up remote Tuktoyaktuk

    The highway cost $2.2 million per kilometre to build, and will cost another $12,000 to $15,000 per kilometre every year to maintain. That means at least $1.5 million in annual maintenance costs, or about $1 million more every year than it cost to build the annual winter ice road between the two communities.”

    With those 2017 numbers it would cost $2,299,000,000 to build plus $15,675,000 annually to maintain, those are 2017 numbers, would be higher I’m sure with current numbers.

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  4. Posted by northerner on

    More consultations are needed with HTO’s and also consider the impacts it will have on families due to more more money being spent on travelling to B&W with easier access by road, leading to more alcoholism and most likely searches and even fatalities, the GN should concentrate on local roads and Dumps first and also more training at all levels of work force, and counselling at all levels to deal with alcoholism and drug use.

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  5. Posted by Broken Promises on

    Election is nearing so time to start acting and look busy. I think it’s called the survivor mode, if no big talk then the seat is down the drain and gotta find a real job. Notice politicians that are in it for that? Sad truth. I’m glad our MP isn’t like that, she has a real heart out to all of Canadians. I miss the true MLAs that are there to help. Come back Emiliano. True politicians don’t just stand there in front of the camera all the time. 2nyeats less 9 months left.
    🥱

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  6. Posted by Kivallingmiut on

    Whose responsibility will it be to maintain the roads, like clearing the snow and fixing washouts? They barely do enough of that inside the hamlets, or even “up the road” in Rankin.

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    • Posted by Northerner on

      New people. The thousand people who depend on welfare and EI. New jobs. More jobs. Less dependent on welfare.

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  7. Posted by Hunter on

    How does the Nunavut Government plan to fund this new road considering the Federal Environment Minister stated they wont be funding any more road projects?

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  8. Posted by Grounders on

    The Tuk highway was at least connected to southern Canada by road.

    The ‘Kivalliq’ highway won’t even connect to port. Any materials or supplied brought in will still be by sealift or air and then be trucked to another town. For which you need suitable vehicles and fuel.

    There really is no case for its construction at all. It is simply a distraction.

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    • Posted by Roadrunner on

      Vehicles and fuel exist in the region already. A port in one of the Kivalliq communities is not science fiction. Let’s wait until it’s done before we conclude there’s no case.

      And a distraction from what?

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      • Posted by Grounders on

        Kivalliq has about 12,000 people. Based on the number above from ‘I live..”
        $2.3B+ Construction = $190,000 per person
        $15M/a operations = $1,250 per person/a
        These are very low estimates.

        You would also need highway support facilities, heavy equipment and operators to maintain the road network.

        There are few vehicles meant for highway transport in the Kivalliq. Why would there be? Maybe a few to shuttle materials around town or to the mines. Also – these trucks would likely be used mainly when material was offloaded at the yet to be built port. A few months a year.

        It is a distraction from real issues of community sustainability. Municipal facilities, reliable power, water, sewage, health, education…. really everything else….

  9. Posted by Confused on

    Only the humans on earth are the only ones having to pay to live on earth 🙁

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  10. Posted by Think About It on

    It is a good place when all you have is hope and not expectations. The GN is in a good place.

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  11. Posted by Roadrunner on

    I would look at differently.

    Humans are the only beings that CAN exchange time, effort, work, property and goods with each other through contracts and the use of money as a medium of exchange.

    As a result we can organize and do things collectively through governments, businesses or other entities.

    If there was no need to pay through taxes or to purchase goods and services then too many people would demand too many things all the time and none of our systems would work because they would be trying to produce massive quantities of things with minimal input (i.e. payment) from the people.

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  12. Posted by Colin on

    Just clear a path and then use hovercraft for all seasons for access.

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  13. Posted by Connect the mines on

    Connect the economic corridors first. BL to RI.

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  14. Posted by Ben Decko on

    This road idea through Kivalliq is too funny.🤣😂

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  15. Posted by Concerned hunter on

    The GN priority was power generation to replace diesel powered generation with a study in hydro studies for Iqaluit and then Rankin and Cambridge Bay but the GN could only spend up to 250 million but could not do it on their own without Federal govt help and they did not help so how is this going to be done without Federal govt help?
    So who’s pipe dream is this?

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  16. Posted by Old timer on

    Just get on with the road will deal with the problem later.

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  17. Posted by art thompson on

    ya its got to be very really exciting to speak to the LEG carrying your little folio of papers on a project that has not even made it off the planning stage let alone has no GN or FED funding.

  18. Posted by Mass Formation on

    The Environment Minister, no new road funding falls in line with the Liberal/NDP fast-track phase out of gas powered cars/trucks by 2035.

    Within 6 years, a 60% gas car reduction. 2035 it’s 100%. Following agenda 2030 to the T. Dramatic reduction in all travel.

    Next year the new eco-jet fuel starts to be phased in. Which will steadily increase air ticket prices.

    Will Nunavut Government build new eco-jet-fuel tank farms or allow air travel to crumble?

    Does the Nunavut Government have plans for new gas tank farm expansions for Baker, Rankin, Whale Cove, Arviat? To cover an increase in new road travel? Or expect the yearly GST on gas to make car travel too expensive by 2030 before any road built?

    If no gas cars, there will be electric.

    Will Nunavut Government scramble to build power plant fuel tank expansion across Nunavut to have enough fuel to handle the electric car charging increase?

    Interesting Health Canada is working towards banning electric house heaters.

    The next few years will be hard push back against the 2030 agenda… own nothing, no travel and eat bugs.

    But out of the new hope ashes Ultra-High Frequencies–vibration engines, anti gravity vehicles with come to market.

    Car manufacturers are expected to be producing prototypes within the next 5-10 years.

    Will these new vehicles change road building… not requiring a massive amount of $$$, rock, gravel and maintenance because of less weight and stress on roads?

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