Rankin hopes miners will foot bill for civic improvements

GREG YOUNGER-LEWIS

Rankin Inlet politicians are plotting to convince mining companies to build much-needed infrastructure to replace the hamlet’s crumbling arena and overburdened swimming pool.

Mayor Lorne Kusugak said the improvements have been overdue since the hamlet built the main municipal buildings, such as the community hall, about two decades ago.

“The community hall is in really rough shape,” Kusugak said. “The place is falling apart.”

Kusugak saw how much the community has out-grown its buildings late last month. During the popular Avataq hockey tournament, Kusugak estimated about 800 people showed up for an arena meant to hold 200.

He suggested the pressure caused by population growth isn’t just a discomfort — it’s a safety hazard.

“There’s a floor… to the arena, someone’s going to fall through,” Kusugak said. “It’s deteriorating that much. The community hall is pretty much the heartbeat of the community. If it gets shut down, we have nothing.”

To fix the situation, Kusugak and other council members struck a committee last month to work towards bringing several municipal offices and recreation facilities under one roof, in a modern multi-story building complex.

That would mean workers wouldn’t have to use valuable play space in the youth centre for their offices, as they currently do.

It would also mean the mayor would have an office.

Plus, the hockey-crazed community would have an arena big enough to hold all its fans and players. Councillors are also aiming to bring in a year-round pool and a bowling alley.

John Hudson, the hamlet’s SAO, said the entire project will cost up to $14 million.

Hudson said the community can’t depend on the government of Nunavut for such high amounts of funding.

Originally, the hamlet hoped the GN would hand over the old health centre, which will be replaced next month. But the GN will use that building for other purposes.

Hudson said councillors have little choice, besides turning to the private sector.

“I believe in Nunavut it’s the only way you’re going to complete something successfully,” Hudson said.

The committee’s pursuit of private money to improve infrastructure is sometimes called the “P3” approach, referring to a public-private partnership.

Other provinces, such as Ontario, have joined forces with the private sector in building prisons or highways, in order to save money. The deal usually involves a private company offering the initial capital funding required to complete the project. Then, the public government sometimes matches the funds, and sets up a loan scheme with the company to be paid back over time.

Robert Janes, a councillor on the committee, admits the approach might not be popular with everyone, such as unions.

But he said such deals are the best option for municipalities taking on large projects in Nunavut.

Janes adds that it’s an opportune time, because mining companies are showing increased interest in doing business in the Kivalliq.

“There’s a lot of opportunity to do this kind of thing,” Janes said. “I think we’ve got to think before we condemn or criticize the impact of what a mine could be.”

Janes points to the experience in Manitoba, where small mining towns, like Lynn Lake, pushed the companies to build community halls and recreational facilities that would last long beyond the life of the mine.

“Of course, a lot of the mines pulled out,” Janes said. “However, the legacy is the infrastructure they left.”

Hamlet administration says the committee’s first step will be to decide whether to put out a request for expressions of interest from companies, or to conduct a feasibility study.

The committee is aiming to begin constructing the new hamlet complex by the summer of 2006.