Iqaluit city council supports the Government of Nunavut’s recommendation to push ahead with three big infrastructure projects in the territory’s capital this summer.

But Nunavut’s chief medical officer of health, Dr. Michael Patterson, will have the final say in weighing the benefits of advancing these projects this summer against the risks they pose in potentially spreading the COVID-19 pandemic.

The three projects are the city’s deepsea port, correctional healing centre and two Nunavut Housing Corp. developments. The Government of Nunavut says that delays to these projects would create significant financial and public safety risks. Iqaluit city council unanimously agreed with the GN’s assessment during a meeting on Friday, May 1.

“I support everything,” said Coun. Joanasie Akumalik. “We need the harbour and we need the treatment centre and we need housing.”

On March 24, as part of its ongoing measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the Government of Nunavut implemented travel restrictions, only allowing residents and critical workers to enter the territory after a two-week isolation period in the south.

Among those potentially affected by these precautions are the specialized workers involved in construction projects throughout the territory during the summer.

Not having these workers may have implications for each of the given projects.

While acknowledging that the pandemic has created ongoing uncertainties, the GN has been evaluating which projects could reasonably proceed this coming summer.

In total, the GN has identified 55 critical projects spread across over 20 communities with a total project value of just over $594 million that it recommends proceed, if pandemic conditions allow.

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