Schools, airports, health centres in line for Nunavut infrastructure cash

Nunavut MLAs began discussing the 2017-2018budget for the territory's major infrastructure spending Wednesdaywith another discussion of the new Iqaluitairport.

"This project is the largest and most complex project that the Government of Nunavut has everundertaken," Transport Minister Monica Ell-Kanayuk said in Inuktitut.

The capital estimatesoutline how government departments will spend their share of $200,644,000 during the next fiscal year.

Once again, the newIqaluitInternational Airport Improvement Project is getting the biggest single pot of money, with $48 million.

But Ell-Kanayuk told MLAs this will be the last year of major capital spending for the project which is "on time and on budget."

Other transportation spending

While construction of thatmulti-million dollar P3 project in Iqaluit starts winding down, the government says work is beginning on two significant marine infrastructure projects.

Over the next several years, Nunavut will pay out $21.2 million for its share of the cost forIqaluit'snew deep seaport and small craft harbour.

In 2017-2018, the departmenthas budgeted $1 million, which Ell-Kanayuk says will go toward assessments.

The territory is planning to spend twice that on the Pond Inlet small craft harbour next year, which will eventually cost Nunavuta total of $11.2 million.

In total,EconomicDevelopment and Transportation will dole out more than $61 million in the next fiscal year.

That includesa more modest $4-million budget for a new air terminal in Taloyoak Ell-Kanayuk says the current one has "reached the end of its useful life"and $2-million for a new KivalliqRegional Visitors Centre in Rankin Inlet.

New high schools forBaffin region

Over the course of the fall sitting, Nunavut MLAs will discuss the capital estimates for the government's other departments.

Three communities are set to receive funding for new high schools, including Cape Dorset, which lost Peter Pitseolak High School to a fire last year.

Cape Dorsetis pegged to get $14.5 millionnext fiscalyear toward the new school's total $34-million pricetag. Igloolik and Naujaat are also set to receive funding for their respective schools.

The health department is set to spend significantly less on capital projectsin 2017-2018, but one new project is a new health centre inSanikiluaq.

The budget sets out funding forthe Arctic Bay health centre that is scheduledto open in 2017.

The fall sitting is set to wrap up Nov. 7.