ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 no funding earmarked to address IqaluitSA国际影视传媒檚 water crisis in the Department of Community and Government ServiceSA国际影视传媒檚 capital budget, which will be presented Tuesday, Minister David Joanasie said Monday.
Iqaluit-Sinaa MLA Janet Brewster pointed out that a long-term solution to the citySA国际影视传媒檚 water and sewage infrastructure needs is estimated at more than $100 million.
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 widely understood that our ability to grow as a capital and address such issues as the housing shortage is under threat by the constraints imposed by this infrastructure crisis,SA国际影视传媒� said Brewster.
She asked Joanasie when his department will submit a request for federal financial assistance to bring an end to IqaluitSA国际影视传媒檚 water woes once and for all.
The minister replied that the territorySA国际影视传媒檚 infrastructure deficit is widespread and other Nunavut communities also face boil water advisories periodically.
SA国际影视传媒淲e are working with the city (of Iqaluit) as well as other partners federally to try to address the citySA国际影视传媒檚 challenges around the aging infrastructure and we also have Rankin Inlet, for example, my colleague brought up and there are many others,SA国际影视传媒� he said, adding that the City of Iqaluit receives $4 million in block funding as a tax-based municipality as well as a share of the federal gas tax fund.
Brewster asked when the GN will be releasing its proposed Drinking Water Strategic Framework, which was supposed to be ready in 2020-2021.
Joanasie noted that the study involves multiple departments and he wouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 commit to having it ready before the end of this sitting, SA国际影视传媒渂ut at the earliest opportunity.SA国际影视传媒�
Sanikiluaq, Rankin Inlet requests
That same day, Hudson Bay MLA Daniel Qavvik reminded his colleagues that Sanikiluaq SA国际影视传媒渉as experienced serious issues with its drinking water supply for a number of years now.SA国际影视传媒�
Joanasie explained that a new water treatment plant is required in Sanikiluaq and the project is in the planning stage.
SA国际影视传媒淭he communitySA国际影视传媒檚 water infrastructure is not capable of treating the unique water quality situation and their water source. The treatment technology thatSA国际影视传媒檚 being proposed there is for the new treatment plant to have reverse osmosis and this is due to the high salinity,SA国际影视传媒� said Joanasie.
Qavvik noted that a 2019 GN report estimated the cost of a new water treatment plant at close to $8.8 million while it would cost a projected $32.5 million to instead obtain water from a new source that is eight kilometres from the community.
Joanasie said the government hasnSA国际影视传媒檛 yet decided which route it will go.
Also on March 7, Rankin Inlet North-Chesterfield Inlet MLA Alexander Sammurtok inquired about the status of a new water treatment plant for Rankin Inlet.
The minister responded that a business case for upgrades to Rankin InletSA国际影视传媒檚 aging water infrastructure should be complete by the end of this month.
SA国际影视传媒淭he capital funding which we will be requesting as CGS for Rankin Inlet may not be in the 2022-23 budget, but as the planning is near completion, requests for capital funding will be made for the water treatment facility in Rankin Inlet,SA国际影视传媒� said Joanasie, who added that planning for a new wastewater treatment solution for the community is almost complete as well.
Once the business cases are done, then SA国际影视传媒渨e will try to proceed with the funding applications and secure funding where we can,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
