Inuit-owned land along Iqaluit's Federal Road opens to development

A large area of land in Nunavut's capitalcould soon have residential housingunits, office buildingsand even a conference centre.

Iqaluit's outgoing city council amended its General Plan bylaw last week, allowing for thedevelopment of Inuit-owned land along Federal Road.

"It's conceivable that that parcel of land would allow for continued construction possibilities for the next 10 to 12 years," says Sheldon Nimchuk, project manager of Qikiqtaaluk Corporation, an Inuit-owned development corporation.

He says now that the city has given the green light, construction plans can get underway.

"We are working on our own hotel and conference centre and we are working ourselves into a position to be on schedule to commence construction next sealift season."

Nimchuk says he's aware,however, that approval from city council is just a first step.

Mlodie Simard, Iqaluit's director of planning and development, says the land use plan for Federal Road includesan area where the Qikiqtani Inuit Associationwould like to develop a conference centre.

That's just the beginning of the plans.

A 35-page development outlineincludes more than 150 residential units, mixed commercial buildings and new emergency services centre.