Iqaluit halts plans for road to new dump site

Some Iqaluit residents are happy after hearing the city has halted its plans to build a road to the proposed site of the city's new dump.

The $4.2 million project to build a road to the new dump was put on holdlast July when the city's new administration re-worked the budget in a effort to get out of deficit, but not before $696,585.68 was spent.

"I think it's good news for everybody," said Iqaluit resident Jim Little.

"I think common sense has prevailed at the city and they have just realized that it's just a huge expense... the new dump at the end of that road should never go forward,"

City officials say both the road and the dump will stay in limbo until its finances are in better shape.

But Iqaluitdeputy mayor Romeyn Stevenson told CBC News recently thatdealing with thecity's waste isa pressing concern.

"We are nowhere near where we need to be with waste management," said Stevenson.

"We should be composting in this city. We need a new landfill site. The current site is expired and it needs to be closed."