Puvirnituq still pressing province for airport funds

ODILE NELSON

Puvirnituq’s mayor called on Quebec’s new Liberal government this week to pave and extend the village’s airport runway, saying the improvements would help development across Nunavik’s Hudson Coast.

Paulusi Novalinga made the statement after the federal government’s May 6 announcement promising $721,200 for the re-gravelling of Puvirnituq’s runway.

Novalinga said he appreciated the federal government’s money but the provincial government must also do its part to ensure Puvirnituq can develop its transportation infrastructure.

“That [federal money] is good news but we’re still pushing for a paved runway,” Novalinga said. “Because it’s a provincially owned airport, it’s the responsibility of Quebec to upgrade it. The federal government has shown it understands our needs and I hope the new provincial government will be more understanding than the last.”

The Kuujjuaq airport has received numerous upgrades over the years and is now the hub of airport travel in Nunavik. The Kativik Regional Government and Transport Canada are also currently negotiating a deal that will invest millions in a new terminal building and apron improvements for the airport.

The runway at Puvirnituq’s airport, however, has seen few changes in the past decade, Novalinga said. It is now 5,000 feet long and unpaved.

For jets to land, the runway must be 6,000 feet long and paved.

Puvirnituq is therefore limited to Twin-Otter and Dash-8 planes.

Puvirnituq has been pressing successive provincial governments to bring its airport up to par with the Kuujjuaq Airport for close to 20 years, Novalinga said.

The federal government owns Kuujjuaq’s airport, he said, and as a result the Ungava Coast benefits from the direct relationship. Other airports in the region are owned by Quebec.

But if the new Liberal government provided the funds to pave and extend the runway, it would allow jets to fly directly from Montreal or Iqaluit to Puvirnituq, Novalinga said, just as they do in Kuujjuaq.

This could have enormous repercussions for both Puvirnituq and the Hudson Coast.

“It would greatly improve our economy. Tourism would appear. They would be more attracted to our coast – not just Puvirnituq,” he said. “Jet planes could have more payload and this would reduce our overall cost of living. Groceries would cost less, for example, in Puvirnituq and in neighboring communities.”

Jet service would also mean patients at the Purvirnituq hospital, which services the entire Hudson Coast, could fly faster to Montreal, he said.

On May 6, Transport Canada announced it would give more than $1.7 million to the Kangirsuk and Puvirnituq airports to re-gravel their runways. The government has earmarked $721,200 for Puvirnituq and $1 million for Kangirsuk.