GN, NTI call for federal support on 4 priority projects
Premier P.J. Akeeagok, president Jeremy Tunraluk join forces calling for federal spending on Arctic security
Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. president Jeremy Tunraluk, left, and Premier P.J. Akeeagok are joining forces to call for federal spending on what they describe as “nation-building” projects. (Photos by Cedric Gallant/Arty Sarkisian)
Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. and the Nunavut government are joining forces in calling for the federal government to commit to supporting priority “nation-building” projects in the territory.
Premier P.J. Akeeagok and NTI president Jeremy Tunraluk announced Tuesday they are forming a “working group to develop a made-in-Nunavut Arctic sovereignty and security strategy.”
“We know what’s at stake for the Canadian Arctic and Inuit Nunangat, and we know that Nunavut needs to be united and strategic to respond to the challenges before us,” Akeeagok said in a news release issued jointly by NTI and the government.
The two leaders pointed to four major proposed “nation-building” projects they want the federal government to contribute to:
- The Qikiqtarjuaq port: a deepsea facility in the eastern part of the Northwest Passage;
- West Kitikmeot Resources Corp.’s Arctic Security Corridor/Grays Bay Road and port project: a deepsea port and 230-kilometre all-season road that would link western Nunavut to the rest of Canada;
- Nukik Corp.’s Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link: a 1,200-kilometre line that would bring hydroelectricity and high-speed internet from northern Manitoba to five Nunavut communities; and,
- Nunavut Nukkiksautiit Corp.’s Iqaluit hydroelectric project: a dam and generator that would bring hydroelectricity from the Kuugaluk River to Nunavut’s capital city.
“Together, we are calling on the Government of Canada to back Inuit-led nation-building initiatives that can be expedited as they have the backing of regional Inuit associations and local communities,” Akeeagok said.
Brendan Bell, CEO of West Kitikmeot Resources Corp., said all four projects would have a significant role in strengthening Arctic sovereignty and are worthy of investment.
“The significance of having both the GN, premier and the newly minted president of NTI come out collaboratively and identify these priorities, I think, is huge,” Bell said in an interview, calling it the “definition of northern leadership.”
He estimated the Grays Bay Road and port project would come with a billion-dollar price tag.
Anne-Raphaëlle Audouin, CEO of Nukik Corp., offered a similar sentiment. Nunavut’s lack of connectivity, particularly with the internet and energy, presents a “weakness,” she said.
“We live in very precarious times,” Audouin said in an interview, pointing to the shifting Canada-U.S. relationship, as well as rising concerns over Canada’s Arctic security.
“It has changed the dynamic and definitely turned the tables on how we do business, how we look at our North and our borders, and so it’s a very timely discussion,” she said.
The Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link could cost up to $3 billion, Audouin said.
Tuesday’s release by the GN and NTI came on the same day U.S. President Donald Trump’s 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian imports took effect. In retaliation, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced retaliatory tariffs on $30 billion worth of U.S. imports into Canada immediately with another $125 billion worth of goods to be subject to tariffs three weeks from now.
Akeeagok, who also announced the GN’s retaliation plan and met with his fellow premiers Tuesday, said the day’s news put a focus on the needs to build in the Arctic.
“There’s strong alignment between Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. as well as the Government of Nunavut to really put forward a case — for not only Canada but the world — that we’re ready to see these projects advance,” he told reporters.
Yeah none of these are “nation-building” projects and do absolutely nothing to enhance Arctic security.
Grays Bay is, you’re wrong on that. At present Canada only has one overly long road to our massive Arctic Ocean coastline (setting aside the various James Bay and Hudson Bay connections). This would make two.
But I agree on the other three.
Grays Bay is road to resources project that will bring stranded mineral resources to market. The only people that benefit from Grays Bay will be the mining companies that will exploit the infrastructure without having to actually pay for its development.
sorry have to disagree. former GN staffer. all 4 of these projects could be considered nation.building in the following aspects:
1. national security: there was nothing explicit in the article about military bases, but both ports are in strategic military locations along the northwest passage. in the military context, having another winter road up to the arctic coast would help with logistics, and having a fibre internet connection would provide redundancy should satellite communications somehow become impaired (*cough* not like that ever happens, right ?).
2. energy security: how many gallons of foreign oil are shipped up to iqaluit and the kitikmeot every year to keep homes warm in the winter ? if there is any kind of major international conflict, how many of those barrels will still be directed northwards ? the sooner the north can wean themselves off of oil as much as possible, the better. iqaluit would be the likely co.ordination centre in any time of military conflict, so having a local source of power not reliant on external resupply would be very helpful in keeping the lights on, while more supply shipments would be dedicated to airplane fuel for use at the airport.
3. mineral security: i read a headline about how the ontario ring of fire roads to access mineral resources might take until 2040 to get built out .. that schedule would likely hasten in a time of military conflict. but if we want a national strategy on developing more militarily.significant mineral resources domestically in light of china cutting off supplies, nunavut could play an immense role .. but that requires a level of access that doesn’t currently exist.
now, i agree that inuit would not necessarily be direct beneficiaries of any of these projects, and i would also agree that the costs involved are staggering in a time of already large federal fiscal deficits. but given all the push to increase military spending, the fact that all 4 of these projects could be included under this umbrella while also providing for some of the infrastructure needs of nunavummiut seems like a no.brainer to pursue. i commend the GN and NTI for getting together on this.
I’m curious, how did the GN and NTI decide on these priorities, did they conduct community consultations or was it a handful of staff deciding?
Where is all the funding coming from?
Go the international bond market and raise the funds. For projects like this. That’s part of being a sovereign entity. Stop asking the feds for help with everything.
Good luck building a road on the tundra. They’re just building it for another notch on their political belts. It will not help inuit in any way. How many inuit in kugluktuk and cambridge can afford access this road? Do these idiots realize a lot of our population live in poverty? What are they going to do? Build an ice road and maintain it every day of every winter? Put in a ferry for less than 5000 people? Ridiculous. They should be wasting money on more viable projects. Who knows what that is anymore. Every northern politician screams “we’re helping our people” while doing the exact opposite. I get it though, you can’t be a politician forever and you need a job when the people are sick of you. Selling out to these big companies is the way to go it seems. Look at west kitis “team”.
If you build it they will come.
Build a community at Grays Bay!
I’d move there in a heartbeat to help build it up!
So move there.
Let’s get this confirmed and shovel ready. Once that is done, I will sign up to be one of the first inhabitants of this New Community.
I’ve spent time in the area, it is the perfect place for a the Newest Community in Canada!
Military base should be on that list too, especially if they want to sell it as a nation building project
I’m not sure that’s the ‘nation’ they have in mind
Make gasoline in canada for canada our gas is unbearably old and expensive.
Why not a road to Nunavut instead of a hydro line that will let Manitoba decide our electricity rates? The road maybe even a cheaper option than a power grid. A mine road is now nation building? It won’t go to any Nunavut community. Nunavut, let’s change this up in October with a better vision for our future.