Transport Canada spending $35M on Nunavut airports
May 21, 2018
By
CCE
Projects involve the design and construction of high efficiency building systems at northern airports to reduce the carbon footprint of the operations.
The federal ministry of transport has announced an investment of more than $35 million for two projects to improve the flow of supplies to northern communities, support economic opportunities, and enhance travel in remote communities by upgrading airport infrastructure.
The first project involves building an expanded cargo warehouse operated by First Air at the Iqaluit airport. Additional capacity will strengthen this north/south transportation corridor to maintain an effective and stable supply chain to Canada’s North.
The expanded warehouse will increase capacity by approximately 75% for climate-controlled dry goods and refrigerated products to reduce spoiled and damaged goods due to weather delays. The new warehouse will incorporate state-of-the-art technology such as radio frequency identification and aircraft freight container.
High efficiency building systems will reduce the carbon footprint of the operation. This project is expected to have significant economic and employment benefits for northerners.
The second project involves replacing outdated and undersized airport terminal buildings in the five communities of Kugluktuk, Naujaat, Kimmirut, Whale Cove and Chesterfield Inlet.
This project involves engineering design, construction of new energy efficient buildings to reduce the carbon footprint and demolition of the old buildings.
These projects will help the transportation system withstand the effects of climate change and make sure it is able to support new technologies and innovation, and they will increase the fluidity of Canadian trade.
“Transportation and distribution of goods are a vital part of our local, regional and national economies. The investment announced here today makes our transportation system stronger by addressing urgent capacity constraints at First Air operations and at five airports in Nunavut and fosters long-term prosperity for our community,” said Yvonne Jones
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and
Northern Affairs and Member of Parliament for Labrador, in a media release about the announcement.
