Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. President Cathy Towtongie today said the announcement of $63.7 million for an Iqaluit marine port and sealift facility is welcome news for Inuit in Iqaluit and all residents of Nunavut. Federal Min. Leona Aglukkaq made the announcement from her office in Iqaluit today.

“NTI has actively advocated for increased investment into Nunavut’s infrastructure for the last several years. I am very pleased to hear that our infrastructure crisis is being addressed by the current government,” said Towtongie. “While NTI values the much-needed federal investment into Nunavut’s economic development, the territory still requires a long-term strategic infrastructure investment plan that would tangibly address our territorial infrastructure deficit.”

Towtongie said the plan must also include a multi-year funding stream that stems from national infrastructure programs like the Building Canada Plan.