GN issues state of emergency for Bathurst Inlet wildfire
Fires broke out in Western Nunavut area on Wednesday
A state of emergency was declared for Bathurst Inlet, seen in a file photo, following a wildfire that started Aug. 9. On Monday, the fire was said to be under control. (File Photo)
A state of emergency has been declared by the Government of Nunavut for a wildfire in the area of Bathurst Inlet.
Minister of Community and Government Services David Joanise made the declaration on Aug. 10, a GN media release said Friday.
“Like most Canadian jurisdictions, Nunavut is experiencing first-hand the impacts of climate change,” Joanasie said in the release.
While wildfires are not common to Nunavut, they pose a risk when approaching people, communities or industry.
Bathurst Inlet, located in the Kitikmeot region, is 300 kilometres east of Kugluktuk. There is no settlement in Bathurst Inlet.
But Sabina Gold and Silver Corp., now known as B2Gold Corp., built a port and tank farm in the area in 2018 for its Back River gold mine project.
The wildfire in Bathurst Inlet started on Aug. 9.
Joanasie is issuing a do not enter order and an evacuation order for anyone in the area.
By ordering a state of emergency, the GN has access to additional resources to address the wildfire.
The state of emergency will be in effect for 14 days, from Aug. 10 to 23.
Is this the first wild land grass fire in the Bathurst region?
Is David Joanise a highly skilled and knowledgeable Earth scientist?
Is the term State-of-Emergency a political term or a technical one?
Is the following statement rhetorical? Is it valid. Is there an intended causation?
“While wildfires are not common to Nunavut, they pose a risk when approaching people, communities or industry.”
Some people live in Bathurst Inlet during the summer, but hey, It’s nice to know one of premiers’ “David” actually doing something other than jumping at a photo opportunity! Majority of Nunavummiut are getting tired of seeing nothing but show offs POs! no action but looking like they are moving Nunavut as they are too busy posing behind media cameras! not to mention travel everywhere to look busy! Easy to tell Nunatsiaq News will make PJ look good too. Until show is over, no change will happen, sorry Jammies but not sorry!
It’s a very sad truth that the minister of housing and PJ will only say and agree what ever nunavummiut want to hear. It’s evident, true facts; all talk, then it is forgotten. Until the next Government, no change is happening .
Ahhh… “There is no settlement in Bathurst Inlet.”.. can somone explain why a state of emergy is delcared for an area on the tundra that is not inhabinted ?? seems excessive to me…
There’s no permanent settlement there any more. For the last few decades most of the people who lived there only go back for the summer. The fire isn’t actually anywhere near the port.
Hey John, I think we have to accept that “State-of-Emergency” is a political term, not a technical one? In Joanasie’s (or as NN spells his name : David Joanise) words, “By ordering a state of emergency, the GN has access to additional resources to address the wildfire.”
Some people don’t know and like to think they do. People from Bathurst Inlet continue to travel by boat and snowmobile during the spring, summer and winter months to harvest meat and fish. Yes, there are personal houses and belongings, doesn’t mean that it’s okay for you to say “why a state of emergency is declared for an area on the tundra that is not inhabinted”. Goes to show how much you know.