Marc Garneau hears airport and marine infrastructure top priorities for Nunavut - Action News
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Marc Garneau hears airport and marine infrastructure top priorities for Nunavut

Canada's federal transport minister, Marc Garneau, met with representatives of Inuit communities, airlines and resource developments in Iqaluit this week.

Federal transport minister visits Iqaluit, says it's too early to commit to projects

Federal Transport Minister Marc Garneau chats with Iqaluit-Sinaa MLA Paul Okalik, while a young girl waits to have her photo taken with the former astronaut. (Elyse Skura/CBC)

Canada's federal transport minister met with representatives of Inuitcommunities, airlines and resource developments in Iqaluit this week, andsays he's heard the needs of Nunavummiut"loud and clear."

Marc Garneau saidhe noted two main priorities: therenewal of airport infrastructure and the need for marine infrastructure to speed up and reduce costs for the yearly resupply.

"If you can get the ships in quicker and unload quicker and get the ships back out quicker, all of that will drive down prices. But that requires infrastructure," he said.

But Garneau said it's too early to make any commitments.

"At some point in the not too distant future, after we've done our consultations, we'll have to make some decisions and when that time comes, it will be a question of deciding how much funding do we have and what are the most important priorities."

Garneau said it will be impossible to please everyone in the Northwhen doling out funding, but saidthere is a definite need for improvements in all sectors.

With files from Elyse Skura