MLAs ask for status of airport terminal projects
Representatives of Naujaat, Kugluktuk say community airports need upgrades
Aivilik MLA Solomon Malliki was looking for updates on the status of the tender for building a new airport terminal in Naujaat, as well as what additional funding will be received for the project. In 2018, the federal government committed $22.5 million to replacing five airport terminal buildings in Nunavut, including Naujaat’s. (Photo by Emma Tranter)
Two of Nunavut’s members of the legislative assembly are questioning the government’s progress on the new airport terminals that have yet to be built in their communities.
“The community of Naujaat is urgently [in need] of a new airport terminal building,” Aivilik MLA Solomon Malliki said in the legislative assembly on Wednesday.
In 2018, the federal government announced $22.5 million in funding to replace old and outdated airport terminal buildings in five communities: Naujaat, Chesterfield Inlet, Whale Cove, Kugluktuk and Kimmirut.
In 2020, the Government of Nunavut stated its goal was to finish these terminals by 2023.
However, Malliki said the tender for Naujaat’s airport terminal was not picked up, as bids were over budget.
On Wednesday, he asked Minister of Economic Development and Transportation David Akeeagok when another tender would be released.
While Akeeagok did not give a specific date, he said he would share the details surrounding the project during the committee of the whole’s review of its capital estimates, which is ongoing during the fall sitting.
“I agree with you that we need to build these buildings and we will,” Akeeagok said.
Malliki also pointed out that the federal government was inviting funding partners on transportation projects to apply for more funding to cover the cost of rising inflation, with that funding coming from the National Trade Corridors Fund.
He also asked whether Akeeagok has applied for this additional funding for the airport terminal project.
Akeeagok confirmed that his department has been in talks with Transport Canada in trying to get more funding, but that he and the federal minister of transportation have not been able to meet yet.
“Both Transport Canada and myself are quite aware we’re going to need supplementary funding to advance these projects,” Akeeagok said.
Kugluktuk MLA Bobby Anavilok added that the Kugluktuk airport terminal is also in need of improvement and a new tender.
Anavilok asked Akeeagok how many employees would be Inuit once the bids for the airport were accepted and construction began.
Akeeagok said the percentage of Inuit workers is determined once a bid has been accepted.
“Anavilok asked Akeeagok how many employees would be Inuit once the bids for the airport were accepted and construction began.”
Sorry, Mr. MLA, you should already know the answer to this if you were at all familiar with the GN’s tendering process. Learning the ropes, I see.
Actually the response was just as bad
You don’t determine the Inuit percentage of employment after the bid has been accepted
The percentage should be part of the initial call for tenders and therefore already determined.
The percentage should be part of the initial call for tenders but realistically it cannot be. Go to any job site in Nunavut and the reality is that there are little to no inuit working. These jobs require often thousands of hours of work experience, a willingness to work 60+ hours a week, some postsecondary education or apprenticeships, and these companies that are bidding on these projects are not in the business of training locals. That, is why there’s a trade school in rankin, so that inuit can learn the trades and become the next generation of airport builders.
Agree totally.
I see this dude has seem to taken over Mr. Main’s spot in asking questions. Really!! What is the GN doing ? What’s with the delays?
I think majority of the elected ministers get elected by the premier to shut them up… Go figure ?
Shhhhhhhhhh, quit asking. We gotta pay for Rankins new water and sewer upgrades.
Kugluktuk was slated for a brand new airport years ago, and it was scrapped. The GN repeatedly proves that they don’t even remotely care about anything west of Hall Beach.