New premier wants to keep rolling with elder van project

Nunavut’s premier-elect hopes to keep rolling with the elder mobility van pilot project that was often a point of criticism for his predecessor.

John Main included having elders’ vans working in all 25 communities as one of several ideas for projects and programs his government should pursue, while addressing MLAs at Tuesday’s leadership forum.

“I believe, in our mandate, we should set out to finish the elder van initiative, make sure there’s an elder van, a mobility van, [operating] in every community,” Main said.

The elder mobility van initiative was announced by outgoing premier P.J. Akeeagok in October 2024 as a follow-up to his government’s elder care strategy.

At a cost of $1 million, the Government of Nunavut bought five vans and sent them to Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet, Cambridge Bay, Coral Harbour and Pangnirtung.

A partnership between Arctic Training Ltd., Northern Future Skills Development and Caribou Cabs was announced as the proponents who would operate the vehicles.

However, a lack of operating funds kept the vans parked — a situation that Akeeagok was repeatedly questioned about in the legislature.

In September, he conceded the project hadn’t “panned out” as planned.

“I think that’s really exciting news that the new premier values this initiative,” said Paul Dainton, president of Arctic Training Ltd., in an interview Wednesday.

“Having someone at the top able to speak to that and show the interest to that level is promising for moving a project forward.”

The goal is to have vans operating in all communities, Dainton said. But before that happens, the first five that were acquired should be working successfully.

Dainton couldn’t say when that could happen, and he’s not sure when the funding might be secured.

“There are likely a number of items that [Main] has under his purview that he’s going to have to look at, so I can’t speak to a timeline,” Dainton said.

“But it is promising that with his shown interest in this, there will likely be streamlined communication about this project which would be beneficial.”

Last month, Arctic Training Ltd. held a self-funded, short-term soft launch of the service in Iqaluit. Running until the end of October, it operated on Fridays and Mondays to coincide with programming at the Elders’ Qammaq and for regular pick-up and drop-off service on Saturdays and Sundays.

Dainton said his drivers were responding to around 200 service calls each weekend.

“That weekend shows the needs for the van in Iqaluit, and especially in the other communities that don’t have access to additional services like 24/7 taxis and other buses,” he said.

Dainton disagreed with criticism from former Arviat South MLA Joe Savikataaq, who called the initiative a “$1-million photo-op.”

“This was a well-intended program that was tried to [be] put out and then just stages of funding weren’t realized,” Dainton said.

“Everything is still moving forward with it.”