February 24, 2010

Canada’s Economic Action Plan improves roads and bridges, creates jobs

Qikiqtarjuaq (Nunavut) – The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister Responsible for the North and Minister of Health, on behalf of the Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor) announced today that Nunavut’s Community Access Road Program will be expanded this year. This investment by the Government of Canada was made possible  with funding from the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency through Canada’s Economic Action Plan. 

CanNor is investing more than $1.3 million through the Community Adjustment Fund (CAF) to the Government of Nunavut to help build community access roads and to upgrade or replace community bridges.

“This is creating valuable local employment opportunity for Nunavut residents, as over 100 short-term jobs will be created during the construction period,” said Minister Aglukkaq, “Nunavut will benefit from increased access to potential mineral deposits and community gravel sites, supporting long-term economic development.”

“Expanded roads and bridges will provide communities with greater access to nearby land and water resources, and support the development of commercial fishing, hunting and tourism,” said Minister Strahl. “Those industries play an important role in the territory’s economy, and through our Economic Action Plan, these investments will help ensure their continued growth.”

“Enhancement of the Community Access Road Program is a principal objective of the Nunavut Transportation Strategy,” said Peter Taptuna, Nunavut's Deputy Premier and Minister of Economic Development & Transportation. “These roads link our communities to adjacent resources on the land, and are vital to the continuation of traditional activities such as hunting and berry-picking, as well to the growth of the local tourism industry. Current demand for funding for these roads far exceeds the available financial resources, and so we welcome CanNor’s support for this important program.”

The two-part initiative will support the following work:

A total of $819,000 will be used to upgrade, repair or replace community bridges in Cambridge Bay, Gjoa Haven, Arviat, Coral Harbour and Resolute Bay. A surplus bridge in Pangnirtung will be dismantled and shipped to Cambridge Bay. An estimated 46 part-time, short-term jobs will be created through this project.

CanNor will provide a further $500,000 over two years to help build 15 community access roads in 13 Nunavut communities. The majority of these funds will go directly toward labour costs, creating over 400 person-weeks of employment. During the same period the Government of Nunavut will contribute $1 million to road construction through its Community Access Roads Program.

As part of Canada's Economic Action Plan, the CAFCAF is a $1- billion national program that provides economic stimulus in communities impacted by the global recession. The fund will provide $32.8 million to the three territories between from 2009 andthrough 2011.
The CAF is one of a suite of economic development programs that fall under the mandate of CanNor in Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, and Yukon. CanNor is responsible for coordinating and delivering federal economic development activities in the territories, and for policy, research and advocacy. Promoting social and economic development in the North is one of the four pillars of the Government of Canada's integrated Northern Strategy.




Backgrounder 

INVESTMENT IN NUNAVUT COMMUNITY BRIDGES AND ROADS

The Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor), on behalf of the Government of Canada, will provide the Government of Nunavut with more than $1.3 million to build and expand community access roads and upgrade or replace community bridges.

These two projects will create over 100 short-term jobs for Nunavut residents. By increasing access to surrounding land and water resources, it will support the development of local industries like tourism and commercial hunting and fishing. It will also increase access to potential mineral deposits and community gravel sites.

The Government of Nunavut’s Department of Economic Development and Transportation will coordinate the work and funding through its existing Community Access Road Program.

Construction is expected to get underway in the summer of 2010.

1.  Community bridges project

CanNor funding: $819, 000
Total project cost: $819, 000

These funds will be used to upgrade, repair or replace community bridges in the following communities:

Kitikmeot Region

• Cambridge Bay: Replacement of the Military Bailey Bridge to Ovayok Territorial Park with a 45.2-metre surplus bridge from Pangnirtung. The surplus bridge will be dismantled and shipped to Cambridge Bay on the 2010 sealift.
• Gjoa Haven:  Installation of a new 26-metre Swan Lake bridge.

Kivalliq Region

• Arviat:  Replacement and upgrade of an 18.27-metre hamlet bridge.
• Coral Harbour:  Upgrade of two hamlet bridges. Deck and railing will be replaced on both.

Baffin Region

• Resolute Bay:  Upgrade to the 10.8-metre dump bridge. The old running board will be removed and new deck timbers installed.

This project will create an estimated 46 part-time, short-term jobs for Nunavut residents.

The new and upgraded bridges will meet higher engineering and environmental standards, enhancing community safety.


2.  Community access roads

CanNor funding: $500,000
Government of Nunavut funding: $1,000,000
Total project cost: $1.5 million

The Government of Nunavut provides $500,000 annually to its Nunavut Access Road Program, which supports road development in the territory. CanNor will provide an additional $500,000 over two years, to support the development of 15 roads in 13 communities.


The following communities will benefit from this funding:

Kitikmeot Region
Cambridge Bay:  Access to Greiner Lake
Gjoa Haven:  Swan Lake River Bridge
Kugluktuk:  Bloody Falls Trail
Taloyoak:  Red Fish Lake and Middle Lake

Kivalliq Region
Baker Lake:  Mouth of Prince River
Chesterfield Inlet:  Josephine Lake Road
Coral Harbour:  Duke of York Bay
Rankin Inlet:  Diane River and Meliadine River
Repulse Bay:  North Pole River Road
Whale Cove:  White Rock Lake

Baffin Region
Hall Beach:  Fisherman’s Lake Road
Qikiqtarjuaq:  Qikiqtarjuaruluk Road
Resolute Bay:  Prospect Point Road

Local hamlet offices will manage the hiring of work crews for this project, which is expected to create about 60 short-term jobs for an estimated 400 person-weeks of employment.

As well as increasing access to the surrounding land, these roads will provide gateways for water-based transportation like float planes.

On April 1, 2010, the Nunavut Department of Economic Development & Transportation will accept applications for additional access road development in 2010-2011.

Community Adjustment Fund
The Community Adjustment Fund (CAF) is a two-year national program established under Budget 2009, Canada’s Economic Action Plan. CAF provides economic stimulus to create or maintain jobs in and around communities affected by the global recession, and promotes economic diversification of those communities. Longer term economic and ecological benefits are also considered.

CAF is delivered by CanNor in the three territories. CanNor has received $32.8 million over two years for the North.