Nunavut MLAs push for updates on water infrastructure projects

TJ Dhir · CBC News

· Posted: Mar 05, 2025 5:52 PM EST | Last Updated: March 5

The Nunavut authorities is inactive successful the aboriginal readying signifier for caller h2o attraction plants successful Igloolik and Clyde River, MLAs heard Monday.

Igloolik, Clyde River and Coral Harbour were each the taxable of a $2-million national concern past May, backing earmarked to make proposals to amended their h2o attraction facilities.

In the Legislative Assembly connected Monday, Community and Government Services Minister David Joanasie said erstwhile the readying signifier is complete, the authorities volition beryllium looking to determination the projects into plan and yet construction.

Both Coral Harbour and Igloolik person experienced boil-water advisories successful caller months owed to issues with their h2o attraction plants. Coral Harbour has seen 2 since mid-October owed to inconsistent chlorine levels, portion Igloolik was nether a boil-water advisory for astir 5 months owed to cloudy water.

On Monday, Aggu MLA Joanna Quassa asked for a database of actions that would beryllium needed to marque definite Igloolik's works is added to the government's superior plan.

Joanasie noted his section has galore superior projects to see and is trying to enactment backing toward the astir urgent ones.

"We're trying to code the highest needs astatine this time," helium said.

When it came to the works successful Clyde River, Uqqummiut MLA Mary Killiktee reminded Joanasie successful Inuktitut that the declaration for the task was awarded successful September.

When asked for an update connected the project, Joanasie responded by saying arsenic soon arsenic helium gets 1 from the contractor, helium would supply it successful the house.

Killiktee besides wanted to cognize much astir however the infrastructure successful Qikiqtarjuaq would clasp up if the proposed heavy oversea port gets built.

"This task volition person important impacts connected the assemblage successful respect to accrued economical enactment and acquisition [of] much visitors," the MLA said.

When asked however CGS is moving to guarantee the h2o attraction infrastructure successful Qikiqtarjuaq tin grip the expected colonisation maturation that volition travel with the port, Joanasie said it's the hamlet's responsibility.

"[In] the budgets that are fixed to the hamlets, they look astatine the colonisation maturation and the assemblage growth, and besides effort to acceptable things up and travel each the standards to get the champion prime product," the curate said.