Life in Tuktoyaktuk used to revolve around the ice road, which saw its last season this past spring.

SA国际影视传媒淵ou were always waiting for it to open so you could get your vital supplies into the community,SA国际影视传媒� remembers Inuvik mayor Jim McDonald, who lived eight years in Tuk during the 1980s.

SA国际影视传媒淧eople were always waiting for construction materials back in the SA国际影视传媒�80s when Tuk was a very busy place with all of the exploration that was happening in the region.SA国际影视传媒�

There was always the opposite urgency at the end of the season for companies and people to get their goods up before the road became unsafe to drive. Once it closed, the only way to get supplies to Tuk was by air or barge, the latter of which usually opened in late June.

The ice road used to serve the oil industry, which was busy exploring and drilling in the delta.

Though the road is remembered fondly, it always had rough sections, particularly closer to Tuk where the ocean currents could impact the ice.

SA国际影视传媒淚f you had a strong wind blowing from the west, it would force the water up and push the ice into the bay, creating the pressure ridges,SA国际影视传媒� said McDonald. SA国际影视传媒淭hat always created problems and at times opened up cracks in the road.SA国际影视传媒�

Duane Smith, president of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, remembers the ice road as the link between relatives and friends in the community who would visit each other for spring jamborees and other events.

He remembers one such trip to Tuk as a child that came with some added drama.

SA国际影视传媒淲e spun out and had a one-vehicle accident,SA国际影视传媒� said Smith. SA国际影视传媒淭he Ski-Doo went flying out of the back and by the time we were able to get back out, everybody was okay and we threw the Ski-Doo back in the truck and kept going because (my uncle) wanted to get in the 50-and-over Ski-Doo races.SA国际影视传媒�

A near disaster one Christmas in the SA国际影视传媒�80s stands out for McDonald.

He came to Inuvik a day before Christmas to pick up the last bit of groceries and a few presents, but a storm was coming up.

SA国际影视传媒淚 thought I could beat the storm back but got caught in the storm about halfway to Tuk,SA国际影视传媒� said McDonald.

SA国际影视传媒淲e spent about six to seven hours shoveling, trying to get through to Tuk and eventually I decided that we werenSA国际影视传媒檛 going to make it. We completely lost our direction in the storm with the wind and the blowing snow. I had thought we were turned around and headed back to Inuvik. As the storm started to lift and the conditions cleared, I realized we were still travelling in the direction of Tuk, so I was quite happy that night. I got home for Christmas.SA国际影视传媒�

No longer The Road to Resources

Tuktoyaktuk mayor Darrel Nasogaluak says the community has been looking forward to the new highway for a long time.

SA国际影视传媒淲hen we got the approval for funding, it seemed like such a far-off time to wait for four years, but weSA国际影视传媒檝e come a long way,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淓very day, a lot of people are actually counting (the opening) down.SA国际影视传媒�

It will make a big difference in tourism, he said.

SA国际影视传媒淭housands of tourists (have reached) Inuvik over the years, but only so many of them fly up to Tuk,SA国际影视传媒� said Nasogaluak. SA国际影视传媒淣ow with the opening of the highway, there are a lot of people going to drive down the Dempster just to get to the Arctic Ocean.SA国际影视传媒�

To that end, Tuktoyaktuk will have weekly activities for tourists this summer. But tourism wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 the main draw when the Harper government pursued the new road.

SA国际影视传媒淚t will bring some opportunities but I think the whole purpose of the highway is being lost when the Liberal government put a ban on offshore oil development or exploration,SA国际影视传媒� said Nasogaluak. SA国际影视传媒淭he highway was called The Road to Resources, but theySA国际影视传媒檝e taken that away from us.SA国际影视传媒�

He said he supports Premier Bob McLeod taking the issue to Ottawa.

ItSA国际影视传媒檚 frustrating for McDonald too.

SA国际影视传媒淚 certainly disagreed with the prime ministerSA国际影视传媒檚 decision and even more so how he made that decision unilaterally without any consultation with anyone in the North,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭hatSA国际影视传媒檚 very concerning.SA国际影视传媒�

He said the government wants to study the industry and its impacts in the North, but companies have already been doing that for 40 or 50 years.

SA国际影视传媒�(They) developed a huge amount of technology and experience at drilling in the Beaufort,SA国际影视传媒� said McDonald. SA国际影视传媒淭o say that they need to study it all again when I think weSA国际影视传媒檝e actually been through all of that already is very frustrating.SA国际影视传媒�

The issue speaks to misconceptions or ignorance about the North.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think at times people in southern Canada donSA国际影视传媒檛 realize there are people up here, people with aspirations and wanting to see the North thrive and be developed,SA国际影视传媒� said McDonald. SA国际影视传媒淚 donSA国际影视传媒檛 think they always realize that. I think they feel the North is just a land of snow and ice and thereSA国际影视传媒檚 no one really up here. But it couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 be further from the case. We are relatively small population-wise, but there are people here and people that will always be here and we need the right to set our own destiny.SA国际影视传媒�

He says the NorthSA国际影视传媒檚 resources can be developed in a sustainable and environmentally-responsible manner, and people in the North are capable of doing that themselves.

SA国际影视传媒淲e need a thriving economy to build our territory,SA国际影视传媒� said McDonald. SA国际影视传媒淚 think everyone realizes that. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 just how we go about that and what the development should be. It just seems that everyone else wants to be our protector.SA国际影视传媒�

However, Smith isnSA国际影视传媒檛 as concerned about the moratorium.

SA国际影视传媒淭he industry that have exploration permits at this time are still allowed to conduct their exploration SA国际影视传媒� theySA国际影视传媒檙e just not doing it,SA国际影视传媒� said Smith.

The highway is still providing opportunity to access resources on the land, of which the IRC is determining the economic feasibility.

He said the moratorium is regrettable but the price of oil and gas around the world doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 make it economical for companies to explore in the region right now anyway.

For Smith, the highway is a statement of nation-building.

SA国际影视传媒淭hese are the types of investments that are needed throughout the remote parts of Canada, where itSA国际影视传媒檚 supported, to stimulate the economy, create jobs, employment, develop wealth for the nation as well as the people that reside around those resources,SA国际影视传媒� said Smith.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 like when Canada was building the railway to British Columbia. This road is just another example of opening up a region for better access to potential opportunities.SA国际影视传媒�

He hopes the GNWT takes this as a sign to look to the region for more employment, especially as work on the mega-project finishes.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e very under-utilized when it comes to employment and trading opportunities on resources within the territory,SA国际影视传媒� said Smith.