Arviq HTO, the hunters and trappers’ organization in Naujaat, is urging the federal government to pause the Steensby railway project to review recent environmental research findings. Baffinland Iron Mines announced in January that it had obtained all necessary approvals to develop the Steensby segment of its Mary River iron ore mine on Baffin Island in Nunavut. This initiative aims to enhance iron ore transportation from the existing Mary River mine by constructing a railway leading south to a proposed port at Steensby Inlet.
Despite being located 525 kilometers away from the planned port, the Arviq HTO in Naujaat is calling for a reevaluation of the project. Initially, the organization did not anticipate any impact on their community due to the project being distant on Baffin Island, where other communities like Igloolik and Sanirajak have already voiced opposition. However, new research surfacing since the project’s initial approval by the Nunavut Impact Review Board (NIRB) in 2012 has led Arviq HTO to believe that Naujaat residents could be affected. Consequently, on February 6, the organization requested the NIRB and the federal government to reconsider the project.
Expressing concerns, John Ell-Tinashlu, the chairperson of Arviq HTO, highlighted worries that the Steensby railway might intersect caribou migration routes on Baffin Island, potentially forcing hunters to move to the mainland and impacting the caribou population crucial for Naujaat residents. The organization is particularly alarmed about the increased shipping activity through the Foxe Basin, fearing its effects on narwhals passing through their waters.
Arviq HTO asserts that it was not consulted regarding the rail and road project, prompting them to seek support from Ecojustice, a Canadian environmental law non-profit. The organization emphasized the necessity of inclusive consultation with all affected parties. Responding to these concerns, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada acknowledged Arviq HTO’s apprehensions and assured a forthcoming response to the reconsideration request.
While Baffinland noted Arviq HTO’s absence from the NIRB public review process and subsequent project integration, it affirmed that the concerns raised are being addressed through the Canadian Transportation Agency consultation process. Arviq HTO criticized the Kivalliq Inuit Association (KIA) and Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) for insufficient engagement with the issues raised, emphasizing the importance of cultural inclusion and traditional knowledge in such projects.
Several permits are pending for the Steensby railway and port project, including approvals from Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Transport Canada for in-water works and infrastructure development. Baffinland has secured essential regulatory authorizations for commencing construction but anticipates ongoing permit requirements. Ecojustice’s Gunvaldsen Klaassen affirmed Arviq HTO’s commitment to engaging with authorities until their concerns are adequately addressed, hinting at potential legal action if necessary.