The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Manitoba may one day serve as a gateway to the south for the remote territory of Nunavut Ñ and the economic spin-offs could be huge for both sides. A study is underway to investigate a possible all-weather road link between the province and the southern part of Nunavut, called the Kavalek Region. "The thought is that Manitoba could become a service centre for that part of the Nunavut territory," Doug McMahan, a regional transportation director for Manitoba, told the Flin Flon and District Chamber of Commerce yesterday. With 20 people on hand for the chamber meeting at the Friendship Centre, McMahan detailed the road study, saying the idea would be to start with a winter road before possibly upgrading it to a permanent route. The study includes three potential starting points for the road Ñ the Lynn Lake, Thompson, and Gillam areas. The route would start from one of these locations and head north to Nunavut, also providing a link to Churchill along the way. Such a road, McMahan said, would provide Manitoba businesses with a fresh batch of customers who currently have limited services and retail options. Opening up the remote region might also lead to health and social benefits, he said. A map McMahan shared with the crowd showed more than a dozen mineral exploration sites in the far northern part of Manitoba as well as Nunavut. He said a roadway would be a boon to prospectors looking at the mining potential in the area. McMahan was unsure how many people live in the Kavalek Region of Nunavut. The total population of Canada's newest territory is 30,000. They are spread over 25 communities ranging in population from a few dozen to the largest, Iqaluit, at 6,000. Remaining questions about the possible development will likely be answered when the study is completed, which will probably take at least another year. McMahan estimates an all-weather road connecting Manitoba with Nunavut would cost $1.6-$1.9 billion, with annual maintenance costs in the neighbourhood of $10 million. No financing for the potential road construction has been finalized.
