Nunavut, Kitikmeot Inuit team up to build longest road in Nunavut

A project proposal to build the longest road in Nunavut a 227-kilometre all-season road from theshores of the Northwest Passage is moving closer to fruition.

On Friday, the Government of Nunavut signed a memorandum of understanding withthe Kitikmeot Inuit Association to partner on the project.

The road would connect a proposed deep water port at Grays Bay on the Northwest Passage between BathurstInlet and Kugluktukto the winter road that services the N.W.T.'s diamond mines. It's one of Nunavut's and theN.W.T's richest area in minerals.

"The challenge has always been lack of road infrastructure to get the product out,"said TomHoefer, theexecutive director of the N.W.T. andNunavutChamber of Mines."So this isnothing new in the sense of people wanting to get road access in that region.

"What's new is theGraysBay proposal came along about three years ago and has been working itsway forward as more and more people are supportive of seeing deposits developed in theKitikmeotregion."

The first phase of the project has a $487-million price tag, though the Nunavut government and theKitikmeotInuit have applied for federal funding for three-quarters of the cost.

Eventually, the road could be a vital link that connects western Nunavut to Yellowknife, and the rest of Canada.

• MMG requests halt to review for proposed Nunavut mine
• Nunavut Izok project to undergo environmental review
• Kitikmeot hunters react to proposed mines, road

Road project been tried before

MMG, a mining company based in Australia, has proposed azinc mine in the region atIzok Lake, but the cost to reach the metals is prohibitive.

Back in 2012, the company made its own pitch for a 350-kilometre road in the area, linking itsmine to Grays Bay. But the project stalled at the review stage.

The Nunavut Impact Review Board recommended the project undergo further reviewbecause ofpotential "significant adverse affects on the ecosystem, wildlife habitat or Inuit harvestingactivities, [and] adverse socioeconomic effects on northerners."

The company subsequently told the boardto hold off on the review for economic reasons.

The latest Grays Lake proposal has afew differencesnamely it won't link directly toMMG's minebut the company is happy to see others take the lead on theproject.

"MMG strongly believes that there are significant long term benefits that these types ofcollaborations and innovative partnerships can bring to Nunavut and the local communities," saidSahba Safavi, the president ofMMG Canada.

"If the proposed road and port goes ahead, we will need to go back and check [the viability of ourmine]. It will significantly help the economic viability of the project."

But Safavi said having a road, or even an approval for one, won't kickstart the mine just yet. It's along process to first get the approval, possibly even longer to build it, and by then global marketscan change drastically.

Nunavutgovernmentchanging its tune

At the time of MMG's original proposal, the Nunavut government submitted comments to the Nunavut Impact Review Board, saying theproject "could have significant effects on the wildlife, wildlife habitat, socioeconomics ofNunavut, and heritage resources," and calling for a more extensive review.

Four years later, the GN has changed its tune with its own proposal.

"There's a whole new mandate relative to resource envelopment," said Jim Stevens, Nunavut'sassistant deputy minister of transportation.

"I think the biggest thing though, is our partnership with KIA. That allows us to go forward withcommunity engagement consultations and wildlife management, with an Inuit organization besideus in our planning and proposing of any management plans."