BAKER LAKE, Nunavut (September 26, 2007)- Canada's New Government is making progress with the with the clean up of the former United States Coast Guard navigation site at Cape Christian in Nunavut.
The Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians, with the Honourable Michael M Fortier, Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada, today announced that Qikiqtaaluk Logistics is the successful bidder for the $11.1 million clean up project at Cape Christian.
“The awarding of this three-year contract reinforces Canada’s New Government’s commitment to cleaning up contaminated sites in the North,” said Minister Strahl. “Along with restoring the site to its natural, healthy state, this project will bring economic benefits to Nunavummiut and Inuit owned businesses – an essential investment.”
The Cape Christian site is located 16 kilometres from the community of Clyde River, on Baffin Island. Established in 1954 by the United States Coast Guard as a long-range navigation site, it was abandoned in 1974. Responsibility for Cape Christian transferred back to the Government of Canada at that time. Because the site is now on Commissioner’s land, the Government of Nunavut has been involved with developing the remediation plan and will be providing financial support for the clean up work.
“We’re very happy to be working with the Government of Canada on the clean up of Cape Christian,” said the Honourable Levinia Brown, Minister, Community and Government Services, Government of Nunavut. “This project will benefit Nunavummiut through employment and training opportunities and community development.”
Qikiqtaaluk Logistics Inc. is an Inuit-owned firm based in Iqaluit. Throughout the project, the contractor has committed to creating or maintaining the equivalent of about 41 full time positions in Nunavut, including about 35 positions for Inuit. Qikiqtaaluk Logistics Inc. has also committed to providing Inuit firms over 75 per cent of the project’s available sub-contracts and intends to hire a number of employees from Clyde River to work over the three-year contract period.
Public Works and Government Services Canada posted the Cape Christian request for proposal on MERX.ca, the Government of Canada’s contracting website. Bids were evaluated based on three categories: the contractor’s technical approach, qualifications of the managerial team and proposed benefits to Inuit. Funding for this project is being provided through the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan.
Clean up of the Cape Christian site will begin in summer 2008. The work is expected to take two years to complete and the camp and equipment are scheduled for removal by the end of 2009. Following the clean up, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada will implement a 25-year monitoring plan for the site.
Backgrounder - Cape Christian
For further information please contact:
Minister's Office
Philippe Mailhot
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Chuck Strahl
819-997-0002
Media Relations
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
819-953-1160
Maria O'Hearn
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada – Nunavut
867-975-4725
ohearnm@inac.gc.ca
Media Relations
Public Works and Government Services Canada
819-956-2315
Shawn Maley
Community & Government Service
Government of Nunavut
867-645-8101
smaley@gov.nu.ca
