Minister Aglukkaq Announces Federal Funding for Iqaluit Marine Port and Sea Lift Facility

IQALUIT, NUNAVUT--(Marketwired - July 30, 2015) -

The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of the Environment, Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, Minister for the Arctic Council, and Member of Parliament (MP) for Nunavut was joined today by Monica Ell, Deputy Premier, Minister of Energy, Minister responsible for Mines, and Minister of Economic Development and Transportation, as well as Simon Nattaq, Alternate Deputy Mayor of Iqaluit, to announce federal funding of up to $63.7 million for the Iqaluit Marine Infrastructure Project under the New Building Canada Plan. The project will improve the quality of life and security of goods and fuel for Nunavummiut, build a small craft harbour, provide a potential base of operations for military and search and rescue operations, and continue to improve economic development across the North.

When completed, the new marine port and sea lift facility will significantly reduce the time it takes to offload cargo while enhancing worker safety. Specifically it will:

• Reduce the offloading time of dry cargo from 60 working days to 20;
• Reduce fuel offloading times from 15 working days to 5 while reducing environmental risks;
• Increase safety, water access during low tide, and reduce the risk of boat damage for small crafts - improving access to both fishing and hunting opportunities;
• Provide a safe harbour for ships in distress and a potential base of operations for military or search and rescue operations;
• Enhance the feasibility of resource and economic development in the North;
• Build on Canada Arctic Sovereignty.

This infrastructure investment will generate further economic development and growth in Iqaluit, Nunavut's capital, while opening new and improved opportunities for Nunavummiut to benefit from the regions recreational, natural resource and tourism potential.

The New Building Canada Plan is the largest and longest federal infrastructure plan in Canada's history.
This unprecedented commitment is providing $53 billion to support provincial, territorial and municipal infrastructure, between 2014 and 2024.

Quick Facts

• The Government of Canada has selected this project for funding consideration of up to 75 percent of eligible costs, to a maximum of $63.7 million under the New Building Canada Fund's Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component-National and Regional Projects. This funding is conditional on the project meeting applicable federal eligibility requirements with respect to the New Building Canada Fund and the signing of a contribution agreement.
• The Government of Nunavut will be responsible for all remaining costs of the project, which are estimated to be $21.2 million as the total project is expected to cost $84.9 million.
• The $53 billion New Building Canada Plan provides stable funding for a 10-year period, and includes:
  • The Community Improvement Fund, consisting of the Gas Tax Fund and the incremental Goods and Services Tax Rebate for Municipalities, which will provide over $32 billion to municipalities for projects such as roads, public transit and recreational facilities, and other community infrastructure.
  • The $14-billion New Building Canada Fund, which consists of:
    • The $4-billion National Infrastructure Component that will support projects of national significance; and
    • The $10-billion Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component for projects of national, regional and local significance. Of this amount, $1 billion for projects in communities with fewer than 100,000 residents through the Small Communities Fund.
  • An additional $1.25 billion in funding for the Public-Private Partnerships (P3) Canada Fund administered by PPP Canada.

Quotes

"Our Government has been providing record support for public infrastructure in Nunavut. Marine infrastructure is very important to our communities and as MP for Nunavut I am proud to have championed this project as it will directly benefit Nunavummiut. Our Government will continue to work with the Government of Nunavut to ensure infrastructure funding continues to flow in our territory as we focus on creating jobs, promoting growth, and building strong, prosperous communities across Canada's North."

The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq

Member of Parliament for Nunavut, Minister of the Environment, Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, Minister for the Arctic Council

"This project has been under development for many years. It will provide, for the first time in Nunavut, a deepwater port for commercial, sealift and cruise ship traffic, as well as a safe harbour for local hunters, fishermen and boaters. The project is welcomed by the Government of Nunavut and would not have been possible without the support and hard work of our M.P. and the foresight of the federal government."

The Honourable Peter Taptuna

Premier of Nunavut

"As Minister of Economic Development and Transportation and MLA for Iqaluit-Manirajak, this is truly great news. This will fundamentally change resupply here and into the communities. New marine infrastructure is crucial to improving the lives of all Nunavummiut and is a vital part of the Nunavut Transportation Strategy, Ingirrasiliqta. We look forward to continuing to work with the Government of Canada to build marine facilities in other Nunavut communities."

Monica Ell

Deputy Premier, Minister of Energy, Minister responsible for Mines, Minister of Economic Development and Transportation

"I'm very pleased and would like to thank the Federal Government and Government of Nunavut for this announcement. After several years of discussions about the urgent need for this marine port and small craft harbour improvement funding, it's great to see it come to fruition. I also believe that it will help create local employment and improve the lives of Northerners. It will also help in local search and rescue efforts by reducing the risks involved in those search and rescue operations."

Simon Nattaq

Alternate Deputy Mayor of Iqaluit

Associated Links

To learn more about the New Building Canada Fund - Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component - National and Regional Projects, please visit http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/nrp-pnr-prog-eng.html.

For additional information on the New Building Canada Plan, visit http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/nbcp-npcc-eng.html.

For more information on how Nunavut municipalities can develop marine facilities and community access roads, read about the Community Transportation Initiatives Program: http://gov.nu.ca/edt/programs-services/community-transportation-initiatives-program.

To learn more about the Government of Canada's focus on jobs and the economy consult Canada's Economic Action Plan at http://www.budget.gc.ca/2015/home-accueil-eng.html.

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