Nunavut News

Canadian North is currently facing fuel shortages for air operators at the Pond Inlet, Arctic Bay, Resolute and Grise Fiord airports, the company announced August 16. Flights to Resolute and Grise Fiord on August 15 were cancelled due to this reason, however additional fuel procured locally will allow them to operate on a regular schedule for the rest of the week.

The City of Iqaluit has declared a local state of emergency to help facilitate additional pumping into the Lake Geraldine reservoir, where the city’s water supply is facing unexpectedly low levels this summer.

The Arctic Fishery Alliance (AFA) has purchased a 52-meter longliner from Iceland, which will be joining the AFA’s fleet next year following some upgrades.

Nunavut’s Department of Health are advising residents of Kinngait of the temporary closure of its health centre from August 9 to September 30 due to staff shortages.

The Canadian Wildlife Service has discovered two suspected cases of avian flu near Sanikiluaq and near Cambridge Bay during surveillance testing. Multiple dead birds in one location is believed to be a sign the virus is present.

A special emphasis was placed on the survivors themselves for the first brief Papal visit to Nunavut. Before Pope Francis made his public appearance in Iqaluit on July 29, he first met with a private audience of Inuit residential school survivors inside Nakasuk School. “This is for the survivors and this is their day,” said Rachel Qitsualik-Tinsley, one of the volunteers for the Papal visit and a survivor of an Anglican residential school.

The morning of July 31, Iqaluit RCMP were notified of a break, enter and theft taking place at Arctic Ventures.

Baffinland Iron Mines has sent out termination notices for more than 1,100 staff, among these include over 200 Inuit employees on July 31. Two rounds of terminations are scheduled for September 25 and October 11.

“For many, an apology is enough,” it’s the one thing that can turn things around for many who have suffered for too long,” said residential school Survivor Maata Evaluardjuk-Palmer on Pope Francis’ apology to residential school survivors.

Government of Nunavut (GN) workers will be getting Friday afternoon off and are being encouraged to attend Pope Francis’ brief visit to Iqaluit which will be taking place from 3:50 to 6:45 p.m on July 29.