No. PNR005/03 For release November 19, 2003 MANITOBA-NUNAVUT ROAD LINK STUDY ANNOUNCED(RANKIN INLET, Nunavut) - Joint support of the Manitoba-Nunavut Route Selection Study was announced today by Nancy Karetak-Lindell, Member of Parliament, on behalf of Transport Minister David Collenette, together with the Honourable Peter Kilabuk, Nunavut Minister of Community Government & Transportation, the Honourable Ron Lemieux, Manitoba Minister of Transportation and Government Services, and Tongola Sandy, President of the Kivalliq Inuit Association. "This study is an important first step in the possible development of road infrastructure in Nunavut," said Ms. Karetak-Lindell. "The results of this study could potentially provide great benefits to communities, visitors, and trade in the territory by linking Nunavut by road with the rest of Canada." The Manitoba-Nunavut Route Selection Study will develop criteria to evaluate potential Nunavut-Manitoba road corridors and will result in the selection of the best route for possible development. The study will include a series of public consultations along with socio-economic and preliminary environmental reviews. It will look at a winter road for the initial link, a much less costly initiative than an all-weather road. The study's estimated cost is $1.1 million and will be cost shared among Transport Canada ($125,000), Indian and Northern Affairs Canada ($500,000 previously announced), the Province of Manitoba ($250,000), the Government of Nunavut ($125,000), and the Kivalliq Inuit Association ($100,000). "Manitoba and Nunavut have a close working relationship, which will only be enhanced by this road development between the two jurisdictions," Lemieux said. "As the first step to road development, this study will provide the information we need to make an informed decision on the future location of a route." "The Government of Nunavut welcomes this decision by Transport Canada," said Minister Kilabuk. "We view the proposed road to southern Canada as a means to develop our economic and social systems and make the lives of Nunavummiut better and provide a better future for their children." "It has taken two years to get to this point," said Tongola Sandy, President of the Kivalliq Inuit Association, "and we're both relieved and excited that we can now move forward with plans to provide our membership with road access to Manitoba." "I am pleased that funds from the Government of Canada's Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program are being used for the Manitoba-Nunavut Route Selection Study," said Mr. Collenette. "Nunavut faces distinct challenges in providing safe and efficient transportation and this study may be a step in broadening Nunavut's transportation infrastructure base." Under the SHIP agreement, the Government of Canada and the Government of Nunavut are providing joint funding of $6.7 million until March 2007 for capital investments in air, surface, and marine infrastructure in the territory. The Canada/Nunavut SHIP agreement, signed October 22, 2002 is part of the national $600 million SHIP program announced by Mr. Collenette in April 2001. A component of the program allows for feasibility studies, such as the one announced today. Federal funding for this project is built into the existing financial framework. A backgrounder with further information on SHIP is attached. - 30 - Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to news releases and speeches at apps.tc.gc.ca/listserv/ and keep up-to-date on the latest from Transport Canada. This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons with visual disabilities. BACKGROUNDER STRATEGIC HIGHWAYINFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM ¿ NUNAVUT In the February 2000 budget, the Government of Canada committed to improve the economy and the quality of life for Canadians by investing up to $600 million over five years on highway infrastructure across Canada. In April 2001, Transport Minister David Collenette announced the Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program (SHIP). The program has two components: a $500 million highway construction component and a $100 million national system integration component. Under SHIP, $500 million, including $15 million in administrative costs, is available to address the needs of Canada's highways until March 2007. The program formally began in fiscal year 2002/03. The Government of Canada is working with the provinces and territories to identify parts of the national highway system that, because of growing traffic, safety concerns, and increasing trade, need immediate attention. This will result in a safer and more efficient highway system for all Canadians. An allocation formula has been developed to distribute the $485 million available to the provinces and territories for road construction under SHIP. The formula consists of a minimum of $4 million per jurisdiction, plus a share based on population and a 50/50 cost-sharing ratio. The cost-sharing ratio for the Nunavut component of SHIP has been adjusted to 67 per cent federal/33 per cent territorial for transportation infrastructure projects, in recognition of Nunavut's fiscal capacity. Feasibility studies under the Nunavut component of SHIP will be funded on a 50/50 basis. The $4.3 million in federal funds provided under SHIP will be used to improve access to land, sea, and air transportation, to provide reasonable access to other communities and southern Canada, and to foster a safe and secure transportation system that minimizes the environmental impact. Environmental assessments that meet the requirements of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act will be undertaken before projects begin. Funding for projects is conditional on the results of these assessments. SHIP will also provide $100 million nationally to fund initiatives that better integrate the transportation system. These include the deployment of Intelligent Transportation Systems across Canada, improvements to border crossings, and better transportation planning. Intelligent Transportation Systems include applications such as advanced systems for traveller information, traffic management, public transport, commercial vehicle operations, emergency response management, and vehicle safety. SHIP continues the Government of Canada's long tradition of highway funding that started more than 80 years ago. In fact, Transport Canada will have invested more than $1.8 billion between 1993 and 2003 to improve highways across Canada. The federal government also invests in transportation-related infrastructure through other programs, such as the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund and the Border Infrastructure Fund. For more information on the Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program, please visit www.tc.gc.ca/SHIP/menu.htm. For more information on the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund and the Border Infrastructure Fund, please visit www.infrastructurecanada.gc.ca.
