Feds invest $15 million into Nunavut small craft harbours

IQALUIT, NUNAVUT — The Government of Canada is investing approximately $15 million over the next two years through Fisheries and Oceans Canada on detailed design, consultants and site supervision, before beginning construction on two new small craft harbours at Arctic Bay and Clyde River, Nunavut.

Design work on the two harbours is nearing completion and each harbour will include a fixed wharf for larger vessels, a dredged entrance channel and basin, a breakwater, marshalling area, a sea-lift ramp and floating wharves for small vessels.

“The new harbours at Clyde River and Arctic Bay are key to strong communities. They will not only make communities safer, they will provide job and economic opportunities for Nunavummiut especially during the traditional fishing and boating season. The federal government is committed to working with communities in Nunavut to deliver infrastructure that improves lives and builds stronger, cleaner communities,” federal Minister of Infrastructure and Communities Catherine McKenna said in a statement.

The civil engineering design contract for the Arctic Bay Small Craft Harbour was awarded to Worley Canada Services Limited and Ikpiayuk Services Limited in joint venture, and the design contract for the Clyde River Small Craft Harbour was awarded to CBCL Limited and Canadrill Limited in joint venture.

“Small craft harbours are the heart of Canada’s coastal communities, and the backbone of our Blue Economy. The two new harbours at Clyde River and Arctic Bay will support fisheries, transportation and so much more. Working with our partners, DFO will ensure that the designs meet the needs of these Northern communities, and the people and industries that they will serve,” added federal Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard Bernadette Jordan.

The harbours are part of the recently established Tallurutiup Imanga National Marine Conservation Area and the associated Inuit Impact and Benefit Agreement. They support the Tuvaijuittuq Marine Protected Area through a whole-of-government approach, which was negotiated with the Qikiqtani Inuit Association.