Fisheries and Oceans Canada announced Oct. 2 that construction began in August on a new small craft harbour in Arctic Bay. Public Services and Procurement Canada awarded the construction contract to Pilitak Enterprises Ltd. on Feb. 17. CanadaBuys lists the total contract value at $77,035,350 and a contract end date of May 7, 2030. ᓇᑭᓐᖔᖅᓯᒪᓂᖏᑦ↗

The project is intended to improve safe access to the water for hunters, harvesters, fishers and other boat users. Ottawa says it will also support marine transportation, delivery of materials, commercial fishing, tourism and other economic and cultural activities. The contract includes an Inuit benefits plan for local training and employment. ᓇᑭᓐᖔᖅᓯᒪᓂᖏᑦ↗

Work is scheduled to continue through 2029. The federal government anticipates the harbour will be operational by the 2030 open-water season. This is a construction project already under contract, not the earlier Arctic Bay sealift-site field study, which was for design information and did not approve construction.

The planned harbour includes breakwaters, a launch ramp, a fixed wharf for larger vessels, floating wharves for small boats, and dredging of the harbour basin and entrance channel. CanadaBuys says it is designed initially for 64 small craft, with room for an estimated 80 more boats in the harbour area later. The federal release says the Qikiqtani Inuit Association and Arctic Bay community helped advance the project and will remain involved through Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Small Craft Harbours Program. ᓇᑭᓐᖔᖅᓯᒪᓂᖏᑦ↗