Released on November 19, 1997
A sod turning ceremony was held today to mark the start of
construction of a new road from Points North Landing to Black Lake.
Participating in the ceremony were officials from the Canadian Coast
Guard of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the Department of Indian Affairs
and Northern Development (DIAND), Saskatchewan Highways and
Transportation and the Prince Albert Grand Council (PAGC).
The road, which will cost approximately $8 million, will be operated
as a winter road similar to one currently operating on the west end of
Lake Athabasca in Alberta. It will replace the river barging that has
been the main supply route to the Lake Athabasca communities.
Provisions have been delivered to Uranium City, Camsell Portage, Fond
du Lac, Stony Rapids and Black Lake during the summer by supply barges
from Fort McMurray, Alberta.
"This strategic investment will replace the costly dredging and
navigational aids services that have supported river barging services
in the region," Fisheries and Oceans Minister David Anderson said.
"The road offers a more permanent, reliable and efficient supply route
to the communities in Northern Saskatchewan."
"This is a unique agreement which will create not only an
alternative access route, but new jobs as well," Indian Affairs
and Northern Development Minister Jane Stewart said. "I'm
pleased this road construction is going ahead, as it is essential
to the health of Saskatchewan's northern communities to have a
safe and reliable access route."
"This road represents not only a new link to the Athabasca area
but a new link to the rest of the world," Saskatchewan Highways
and Transportation Minister Judy Bradley said. "The communities
in this region now have direct access to the social and
commercial resources that many in the south take for granted."
"Construction of this road has been a long time in coming," PAGC
Vice Chief John Dantouze said. "We have been involved in this
project from the start and look forward to the day when First
Nations of the Athabasca region will have a new, more readily
accessible transportation route."
Since the 1940s, the federal government has provided services to
support river barging activities which supplied the communities
in the Athabasca region. In the 1980s, the amount of supplies
shipped to the communities fell from 60,000 tonnes to 10,000
tonnes largely due to the decline of mining activities in the
region. The cost of Coast Guard services varied from $1 million
to $1.5 million each year. As a result, more effective
alternatives were sought to supply the communities in the region.
In 1995, following extensive consultations with stakeholders, an
agreement was reached between the Canadian Coast Guard, DIAND,
Saskatchewan Highways and Transportation and the PAGC to develop
a seasonal road as an alternative to barging.
The Canadian Coast Guard is contributing towards the funding for
construction of the road with the estimated savings resulting
from the termination of its services in the Athabasca region.
The Canadian Coast Guard is contributing approximately $5 million
for construction of the 180 kilometre road, with DIAND
contributing $1.5 million and Saskatchewan Highways and
Transportation contributing an estimated $1.5 million. The
provincial government is also contributing management costs of
the project.
The first contract awarded is a joint venture between PCL Maxam
and the Denesuline Development Corporation.
Funding for this initiative has been built into the existing
fiscal framework.
Construction is expected to provide 150 seasonal jobs. Ongoing
operation and maintenance will provide for permanent jobs
following construction.
The PAGC represents 12 First Nations in Saskatchewan, including
most of the communities in the Athabasca region. The PAGC has
been and will continue to be fully involved in the project as
construction gets underway.
The road is expected to be useable in the winter of 1998 and
fully complete by the summer of 1999.
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For more information, contact:
Lois Herback Mike Woods
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada Highways and Transportation
Regina Regina
Phone: (306) 780-6442 Phone: (306) 787-4804
Ed Eryuzlu Debbie Brown
Canadian Coast Guard Prince Albert Grand Council
Ottawa Prince Albert
Phone: (613) 990-5716 Phone: (306) 953-7200
Internet http://www.inac.gc.ca
