Iqaluit weighs $216M capital budget, mostly for water

Water and sewer work makes up more than half of the City of Iqaluit’s proposed $216-million capital budget for 2027, a plan a council committee voted on Tuesday, Oct. 20, to send to city council, Nunatsiaq News reported.

Wastewater system upgrades account for more than $80 million and water infrastructure for another $75 million, including $38 million for raw water intake, supply and storage. The city plans to spend $60 million on wastewater upgrades next year using money from the federal Building Canada Strong Fund.

The proposal is more than double last year’s $90-million capital plan. Chief financial officer Peter Tumilty told the governance and priorities committee the jump comes mainly from a change in how projects are shown: work that is fully or largely paid for by third parties, such as Ottawa, now appears at its full cost in the year it is approved rather than spread over several years.

Tumilty said the change will help the city plan multi-year projects and schedule sealift deliveries, which bring most heavy equipment and materials to Nunavut’s capital each summer.

The plan also includes $16 million for drainage and roads, $12 million for city facilities such as the fire hall, a shooting range relocation and more garage storage, and $4.5 million for vehicles and equipment, including a $750,000 grader. Three playground replacements and new outfield turf for the softball diamond would share $750,000. Arena upgrades and a long-requested community hall are not in the plan.

Deputy Mayor Kim Smith called it “very much a practical budget, fixing the foundations and the infrastructure deficit that we have.” She said better water and wastewater systems would also open the door to more housing, and that recreation projects could follow once critical work is done.

Iqaluit has spent years upgrading its water system, which serves about 7,400 residents. The city explains how its capital and operating budgets are approved on its website. The full council still has to vote on the plan.

Across the North this week, Yukon announced the sale of the Eagle gold mine and the N.W.T. named Denny Rodgers as health minister. More stories are on our North page.

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