Questions about airport infrastructure fly in Nunavut legislature

Airport infrastructure in two Nunavut communities was discussed at the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday. 

Aggu MLA Joanna Quassa expressed concern about the state of the airport in Igloolik.

"Igloolik's population has grown in recent years, but the size of the community's airport terminal building has remained the same," Quassa said. "Concerns have been raised with me that the aging building is no longer adequate for the needs of the flying public."

According to a government report about the state of the territory's airports, the condition of the apron, taxi, runway and terminal building in Igloolik is considered "poor." It also says the apron, taxiway and runway haven't been worked on since 1997.

Quassa asked the minister of economic development and transportation when the infrastructure would be upgraded. David Akeeagok responded that he wasn't sure if the National Trade Corridor Fund (NTCF) included Igloolik's airport.

According to the NTCF website, a combined $80.2 million has been allocated to upgrade six terminal buildings in Nunavut, with $45.5 million of that going to expand the terminal in Rankin Inlet.

Quassa pointed out that, according to the fund's website, the call for proposals for northern-based projects ended on March 15, 2021. She then asked how extra funding could be acquired to upgrade Igloolik's airport.

Akeeagok mentioned only one other funding avenue.

"The other process that we can use is to do it within our Legislative Assembly," the minister said.

While Igloolik's terminal building needs upgrades, a new one in Chesterfield Inlet is being readied for operations. Akeeagok said the government had been given permission to start moving in on Wednesday. 

But Rankin Inlet North-Chesterfield Inlet MLA Alexander Sammurtok said the airport in Chesterfield Inlet needs an upgrade too. At just shy of 1,100 metres, the MLA said the runway is the second shortest in the Kivalliq region.

"The short length of the runway reduces the availability of payload that the air carriers can transport to the communities as well as reducing opportunities to use larger aircraft which can carry more passengers," Sammurtok said.

When Sammurtok asked what is being done to secure extra funding to lengthen the runway, Akeeagok said there's no money currently allocated for it.

"I know our department has done studies in various communities and when those studies are done, it then gets added into as part of our capital [projects] and our opportunity to look for federal funding related to airports," the minister said, before saying the Department of Economic Development and Transportation will continue to do that.

"Just say you'll look at it tomorrow," Sammurtok joked, which drew a few laughs from the assembly.

In light of Canadian North's recent sale, Sammurtok and Quassa also asked Akeeagok to speak with the airline and others that serve Nunavut communities about operations and safety, as well as improving airport infrastructure. The minister said that he would.