Northern Residential•Industrial•Government Constructlon 2019

Northern Residential•Industrial•Government consTrucTlon 2019

Tlicho all-season road construction

$18.3 million budget for Housing Corp. Fish plant contract up Kugaaruk school takes shape 2 NEWS/NORTH, Monday, April 22, 2019 NORTHERN CONSTRUCTION 2019 $18.3 million capital budget for NWT Housing Corp in 2019-20 'I look forward to new contracts coming out. We need them,' says Inuvik contractor

by Derek Neary and gas boom. Northern News Services "We can't rely on just NWT homeowners fixing their The NWT Housing Cor- houses because Inuvik is kind poration will use a portion of in a recession," she said. of its $18.3-million capital "We definitely depend on that budget in 2019-20 to build a (Housing Corp) money. With- couple of new housing offices, out it, I would have left this several residences and to reno- place a long time ago. With- vate close to 75 units. out NWT Housing putting out The new housing offices contracts, we wouldn't try." will be constructed in Beh- There are quite a few choko and in Fort Liard, vacant and boarded up pri- where a maintenance shop vate homes in the community, will accompany the office but they're outnumbered by building. the numerous public housing Renovations will be most units.

photo courtesy of the NWT Housing Corporation extensive in Inuvik, where "Without government A duplex built for the NWT Housing Corporation in Fort Providence in 2018. $775,000 is allocated for funding, I think things would repairs and upgrades. Yellow- be pretty dire here," Beau- knife has the next highest lieu said, adding that she total ($525,000), followed by has also obtained periodic Behchoko ($480,000), Deline work through the Inuvialuit fact NWT HOUSING CORP. UNITS FOR CONSTRUCTION/ ($395,000) and Tuktoyaktuk Development Corporation. RENOVATION IN 2019-20 ($375,000). Even though the local FILE Between April 1 and Dec. economy is stagnant, Beaulieu 31, 2018, the housing corpora- still has plenty of competi- tion awarded 168 contracts to tion for Housing Corporation Aklavik – Major retrofit 11 units Hay River – Construct 2 market housing units; major private businesses, amounting work. Behchoko – Major retrofit 8 units; construct local housing retrofit 4 units to nearly $21 million worth "If I'm bidding a job, I've organization office Inuvik – Major retrofit 17 of work. However, last year's got probably four or five guys Colville Lake – Major retrofit 1 unit Lutsel K'e – Major retrofit 2 units capital budget was heftier, at bidding against me. I'd say Deline – Major retrofit 4 units N'dilo – Major retrofit 2 units $23.8 million. three of them are always in Dettah – Major retrofit 2 units Norman Wells – Major retrofit 2 units Tara Beaulieu, owner of there. We always are the ones Fort Good Hope – Major retrofit 1 unit Paulatuk – Major retrofit 1 unit Beaulieu Contracting Ltd. bidding against each other. Fort Liard – Major retrofit 1 unit; construct local housing Tsiigehtchic – Major retrofit 2 units in Inuvik, is upfront about There's the odd new person organization office/warehouse Tuktoyaktuk – Major retrofit 4 units how vital NWT Housing Cor- who starts up," she said. "I Fort McPherson – Major retrofit 1 unit Tulita – Major retrofit 4 units poration contracts are to her look forward to new contracts Fort Resolution – Major retrofit 4 units Ulukhaktok – Construct 4 units enterprise. Without them, "we coming out. We need them." Fort Simpson – Major retrofit 5 units Whati – Major retrofit 1 unit wouldn't exist," she said. The housing corporation's Fort Smith – Major retrofit 8 units Yellowknife – Major retrofit 7 units; construct seniors Beaulieu has been in busi- portfolio consists of approxi- Hay River Reserve – Major retrofit 4 units mixed rent complex ness for close to 15 years and mately 2,400 public housing she has watched the Inuvik units and 500 affordable hous- Source: NWT Housing Corporation economy dry up since the oil ing units across the NWT. NORTHERN CONSTRUCTION 2019 NEWS/NORTH, Monday, April 22, 2019 3

photo courtesy of Nunavut Housing Corporation Construction workers open crates of supplies to begin building new homes in Arviat in October. Twenty units are scheduled to go up during the 2019-2020 construction season. While costs vary by community, the NHC uses $500,000 as its typical budget per unit, which includes administration expenses and costs associated with acquiring and preparing the land. $55 million for earmarked Nunavut housing construction Major home energy efficiency upgrading program in planning stages

by Derek Neary not," he said. "We are hoping that we can get our share of the "The Low Carbon Energy Funding Project is in the plan- Northern News Services work available." ning stages. The LCEF project is a multi-year initiative and Nunavut On years when several contracts fall into place – like in will be rolling out in the coming years." stated Stephen Hooey, With a $55-million construction budget, the Nunavut Hous- 2018 when Sanaqatiit built units in Chesterfield Inlet, Cam- NHC's vice-president and chief operating officer. ing Corporation is planning to build 79 new residential units in bridge Bay, Taloyoak and Gjoa Haven – Poirier said the com- communities outside Iqaluit in 2019-20. pany, which has been operating in Nunavut since 2010, has NUNAVUT HOUSING That's down from 2018-19 when the housing corporation construction crews that it can call upon. fact had $65.7 million earmarked for construction of 153 residen- "They generally are ready to go," he said. "Some years you CORPORATION tial and staff units. need to build up crews and have a few new workers." FILE 2019-20 TENTATIVE The communities that will see the most spending on the The job isn't easy. Long, cold winters and blizzards create renovations of public housing units are Iqaluit ($790,000), challenging work environments and there's no readily access- CONSTRUCTION Arviat ($691,000), Baker Lake ($627,000), Kugluktuk ible lumber stores when supplies run short, Poirier noted. ($492,000) and Rankin Inlet ($482,000). The NHC budgets "Working in the Arctic is a real challenge but we enjoy Arviat – four five-plexes approximately $11 million per year for modernization and working with the local workers, suppliers and trades; also Cambridge Bay – two five-plexes improvement of its housing stock. developing relationships in the communities," he said. "We feel Gjoa Haven – three five-plexes Last year, the NHC spent $1.9 million among 10 private the relationships we build make us stronger." Hall Beach – one duplex contractors in the Kivalliq, close to $1.6 million on Kitikmeot private contractors while $540,000 went to Qikiqtaaluk region LOW-CARBON EFFICIENCY PROGRAM ON THE WAY Iglulik – four five-plexes contractors. In the next few years, there will be a major initiative to Iqaluit – NHC has two locations suitable for multiplexes. For Jonathan Poirier, general manager of Iqaluit-headquar- upgrade insulation, weather stripping, vapour barriers, ventila- Details unavailable as of press deadline. tered Sanaqatiit Construction Ltd., projects through the hous- tion, windows and doors in public housing units through the Kimmirut – one five-plex ing corporation account for 50 to 60 per cent of Sanaqatiit's federal government's Low Carbon Energy Fund. This will Kugaaruk – two five-plexes annual revenue. involve 500 NHC units. Pangnirtung – one five-plex "So it is an important part of our program," said Poirier. In addition, 500 hot-water tanks are expected to be replaced Rankin Inlet – two five-plexes But it's also riddled with uncertainty due to the competitive along with 120 furnaces and boilers, some of which are up bidding process. to 30 years old. More energy-efficient hot-water tanks and Resolute – one duplex "We never know until the tenders close and we see the heating units will be installed. The objective is to lower green- results. Some years we are successful and some years we are house gas emissions. Source: Nunavut Housing Corporation

Nunavut & NWT Construction 2019 www.nnsl.com STORIES BY QXQDYXWQHZV Derek Neary Iqaluit: 867-979-5990 Yellowknife: 867-873-4031 4 NEWS/NORTH, Monday, April 22, 2019 NORTHERN CONSTRUCTION 2019 'We need to be pushing for more' Nunavut MLA contends that government can hire more Inuit in construction

by Derek Neary budgets. It could be the way that the Housing Corporation is Northern News Services contracting out their builds," he said. "We need to be going in Nunavut the opposite direction. We need to be raising those Inuit labour fact The Government of Nuna- requirements ... We're trying to maximize the local benefit for vut can employ more Inuit these capital dollars." FILE on its capital projects, insists Although the Sanatuliqsarvik Trades Training School Arviat North-Whale Cove opened in Rankin Inlet in 2010, Main said it's been a "learn- MLA John Main. ing curve for the college." The trades school can accommodate "We're 20 years into Nuna- more than 80 students at a time but hasn't graduated near that INUIT LABOUR ON GN vut this year and it's a crying many on an annual basis. CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS shame that we have not built Main pointed out that the GN has set a goal of 85 per cent OVER $100,000 up our construction trades- overall Inuit staff and has achieved 50 per cent. Yet MLAs had people. We have not suffi- to fight to get the Inuit hiring target set at 20 per cent on the 2016-17: 37 per cent achieved ciently invested into requir- new correctional centre in Iqaluit instead of the 15 per cent that 31 per cent required ing more Inuit to be working the Department of Justice was prepared to accept. 2015-16: 37 per cent achieved at these projects," Main said. Complacency is a legitimate concern, he warned. 29 per cent required "We have the people. We do "If we just throw up our hands and we say, 'Oh well, I 2014-15: 28 per cent achieved not lack the labour force. We understand we can't get enough workers so I guess 15 per cent 23 per cent required haven't had the coordina- is enough – that, in my mind, is a real danger to us," said Main. tion and the investment into "We need to be pushing for more." BONUSES AND PENALTIES people's education that would The unemployment rate in Nunavut stood at 16.3 per cent allow them to take these con- as of the end of February. PERTAINING TO INUIT LABOUR Arviat North-Whale struction jobs." ON GN CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS COMPETING FOR WORKERS Cove MLA John Main: The GN's current practice 2016-17: $655,771 in bonuses "The local labour force is is to set Inuit labour targets The construction industry is at somewhat of a disadvantage on a community by commun- in trying to attract employees because the GN and mining $54,445 in penalties (deemed) inferior com- 2015-16: $1 million in bonuses pared to this transient ity basis, based on the local companies can afford to pay more, according to Victor Tootoo, labour market and past con- who has experience as a deputy minister dealing with procure- $21.595 in penalties workforce and I think it's tracts of a similar scope. ment for construction projects. 2014-15: $402,810 in bonuses an unfair comparison." The territorial government "You're not on a level playing field when it comes to attract- $26,968 in penalties reached 37 per cent Inuit ing Inuit employment ... so it's difficult to attract and retain employment on contracts val- good, qualified Inuit employees," said Tootoo, president of the Source: Government of Nunavut ued at more than $100,000 in 2015-16 and in 2016-17. Baffin Regional Chamber of Commerce, although he said he However, since the Nunavut Housing Trust overspending was speaking on his own behalf. executive director of the NWT and Nunavut Construction controversy of 2010 – when the budget was exceeded by $110 Another knock against many construction jobs is that they Association, said he heard that the education system, particu- million and Inuit hiring was blamed for a portion of that – only last as long as the project itself, as opposed to permanent larly under-performance in math, is a barrier. Lack of con- Main said he feels Inuit employment has never rebounded. employment in other sectors, Tootoo noted. tinuity in teachers is hindering learning, he said, and math is "What's driving that I'm not sure. It could be tighter During a March trip to Cambridge Bay, Matt Belliveau, Please see next page

Educating Northerners for Careers in Construction

Aurora College’s modern, ĂĐĐƌĞĚŝƚĞĚƚƌĂĚĞƐĨĂĐŝůŝƟĞƐĂŶĚ experienced instructors ensure ǇŽƵƌĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶŵĞĞƚƐƚŚĞůĂƚĞƐƚ industry standards

Trades Programs: Carpenter ůĞĐƚƌŝĐŝĂŶ;ŽŶƐƚƌƵĐƟŽŶͿ ,ĞĂǀǇƋƵŝƉŵĞŶƚdĞĐŚŶŝĐŝĂŶ Housing Maintainer WůƵŵďĞƌͬ'ĂƐĮƩĞƌ Kŝů,ĞĂƚ^ǇƐƚĞŵƐdĞĐŚŶŝĐŝĂŶ ƵŝůĚŝŶŐdƌĂĚĞƐ,ĞůƉĞƌ Heavy Equipment Operator Camp Cook Fundamentals of Carpentry Phone: (Toll free) 1-866-266-4966 • 1-867-872-7555 Fundamentals of Electrical Email: [email protected] • www.auroracollege.nt.ca NORTHERN CONSTRUCTION 2019 NEWS/NORTH, Monday, April 22, 2019 5

NNSL file photo Construction companies can struggle to attract Inuit workers because employment is often seasonal, compared to jobs available through the Government of Nunavut and mines, which are year-round. Debate over Inuit availability

Continued from previous page ees through his decades-old venture, Merkosak provided a These are questions that need to be answered in each case, startling response by email. said the MLA. critical to passing the trades exam. "I'm no longer in building construction. Only one fac- Another factor that has arisen is that it's sometimes difficult "It is a systemic issue, absolutely," said Belliveau, adding tor that brought this about of hardly Inuit being employed, for local Inuit with families and other community commit- that educators need to be informed of pathways to trades. "It's Gov't of Nunavut. Case closed," Merkosak wrote. ments perhaps to meet the same output as transient southern a matter of creating those linkages between employers and He didn't answer any other questions. hires who arrive with the expectation of working 12-hour days apprentices and ensuring that youth had the education they Main has heard the arguments against higher Inuit labour for weeks on end, said Main. need to take on the skilled work in this industry. If govern- requirements. For one, there's often the threat that it will inflate "The local labour force is (deemed) inferior compared to ments can support that, I do believe that they will see great costs. Even if that's true, it's likely worth it, he maintained. this transient workforce and I think it's an unfair comparison," improvements in the opportunities available to youth." "If we take a holistic look at our needs as a government, we he said. Until more Nunavummiut workers become more readily have to pay people who are unemployed, we have to support available, Belliveau said it's essential that construction com- them. We have to provide them with housing; we have to pay panies aren't hit with penalties due to a lack of local hiring them social assistance; unemployed people have higher health unless it's been made clear what more they can do. care needs," he said. "In terms of dollars and sense there's a very good argument for taking a look at Inuit employment and FROM FULL INUIT EMPLOYMENT raising the bar." TO OUT OF BUSINESS More analysis is needed if contractors are insisting that In Pond Inlet, Simon Merkosak, owner of Merkosak Inuit workers aren't available, Main said. Are wages and Construction, told Northern Construction last year that he benefits attractive enough and on par with imported south- has completed several major projects with crews consisting ern workers' compensation? Is recruitment happening from exclusively of Inuit workers. When contacted in March for the surrounding region rather than just a single community? additional insights into his success in recruiting Inuit employ- Are education standards an impediment, as Belliveau stated? 6 NEWS/NORTH, Monday, April 22, 2019 NORTHERN CONSTRUCTION 2019 Tlicho all-season road construction set for fall

The Tlicho Government and Tlicho Investment Corporation have been holding training programs for years to prepare the local workforce for various projects, including Tlicho all- season road construction, which will begin this fall. Pictured here is a Tlicho McCaw North blast hole drilling training program. From left are Jason Villeneuve, Jessie Williah, Mike Paul, Pamela Adzin, Chris Mann and instructor William Smith. Tessa Macintosh photo

‘Targetted training’ offered to local workforce in advance of all-season route

by Derek Neary gravel route that will connect Whati to Highway 3. The other million annually from the GNWT for 25 years of upkeep Northern News Services partners in North Star are project designers Hatch Corpora- along the all-season route. Tlicho tion and Thurber Engineering Ltd., along with Kiewit Can- The agreement includes terms to ensure the Tlicho benefit After years of planning, construction of the $214-mil- ada Development Corporation and Peter Kiewit and Sons, from road construction. North Star "is contractually obligated lion, 97-km Tlicho all-season road is expected to begin in who are acting as equity provider, design-builder and service to ensure Northern and Tlicho businesses deliver a mean- September. provider, according to the Government of the Northwest Ter- ingful proportion of the project, and achievement of these The Tlicho Government is a 20 per cent equity owner ritories. obligations will be carefully monitored through the project," in North Star Infrastructure, the consortium that has been The road is scheduled to be in use by industry and the according to Todd Sasaki, senior communications officer awarded the contract to build and maintain the two-lane public by December 2022. North Star will then collect $10.4 with the Department of Finance. The specifics of "meaningful proportion" were still being defined in mid-March but Jasper Lamouelle, president and CEO of Tlicho Investment Corporation, spoke of the negotia- tions in an optimistic tone. "I give credit to all of the stakeholders ... there are min- imums that we have to meet that sets precedent that’s never been seen before in a P3 (public private partnership) process in terms of local inclusion, or Indigenous inclusion," he said, adding it is a "game changer." Lamouelle noted that with $8 million in skills development funding, the Tlicho Government provided rounds of heavy equipment operator and commercial vehicle driver training to local people last year. Further training, of a similar nature, was being organized in partnership with Aurora College. "We have targetted training so that our people can par- take in the (road building) project," said Lamouelle. "We’re quite excited, not only for the fact that it’s going to benefit the Tlicho but all Northerners. We’re certainly happy for the community of Whati because they’re going to be connected with the rest of the world, which is awesome." Employment for Tlicho citizens will continue as the road transitions into its operations and maintenance phase, the GNWT stated. Design and permitting work along the route were still underway in March. Geotechnical aspects of the project are planned for summer. Getting the road in place sooner than 2022 is prevented by the need to place bridges and culverts, address various environmental challenges and identify and obtain quality materials to construct the road, stated Binay Yadav, director of transportation with the Department of Infrastructure. The territorial government has put up 75 per cent of the funding to make the road a reality while the federal government is responsible for the remaining 25 per cent. The year-round transportation corridor has also hailed by Fortune Minerals, which has regulatory approvals to build a spur road to its Nico cobalt-gold-bismuth-copper deposit, 50 km north of Whati. NORTHERN CONSTRUCTION 2019 NEWS/NORTH, Monday, April 22, 2019 7 GN, industry at odds over some contract costs; stalled projects Construction ‘high-risk industry,' says business advocate; construction association calls for large projects to be split into smaller parts

by Derek Neary The GN doesn't track the Northern News Services overall number of situations Nunavut where tenders are cancelled Some Government of or adjusted due to high bids, Nunavut architectural and so it's not apparent whether construction projects are it's a growing trend, according fetching proposals that are to Mark McCulloch, senior rejected for being too cost- manager of procurement for ly, forcing adjustments in the Department of Commun- approaches and timelines. ity and Government Services. Education Minister David In explaining possible rea- Joanasie recapped a couple of sons for little interest in some stalled projects in the legis- GN contracts, McCulloch lative assembly in Novem- said, "Often it depends on ber. Two architectural firms what other work is going on. jointly drafted a plan for the There are a relatively small Kitikmeot campus building number of companies that bid in Cambridge Bay, which on Nunavut construction. If would serve as an academic there is an excess number of and administrative centre projects, they may not bid for Nunavut Arctic College. on some work if they cannot However, the design came to meet the capacity." $4.3 million more than the He added that the terri- GN was prepared to spend. torial government advertises When the architects couldn't contract opportunities in meet the government's budget, Nunavut newspapers, on the the contract was scrapped Nunavut tenders website and and a design-build approach through MERX, an electronic Michele LeTourneau/NNSL photo was endorsed instead. That tendering service. GN offi- A proposal to re-level one of the student residences at Nunavut Arctic College's Nunatta campus in Iqaluit method elicited five bids from cials also attend trade shows only attracted a single bid in 2018 that the GN declined due to it being too costly. The government doesn't contractors. to promote projects, he said. "We are acutely aware that Preventing bids from com- track the overall number of contracts that go unfulfilled or are adjusted due to bids that are excessive, each and every infrastructure ing in too high is "difficult to according to a GN official. dollar is of vital importance control," McCulloch said. to our territory and we can- "The GN uses professional not be expending them with- companies to provide esti- maybe industry made that are order to make sure you make out careful consideration," mates for our projects. These incorrect," he reasoned. that sealift, you may incur fact INUIT CONTRACTOR Joanasie told his legislative companies specialize in con- Construction companies extra costs." BIDS RELATIVELY colleagues. struction cost estimating," he have to add considerable risk Matt Belliveau, execu- FILE Another capital project stated. "Sometimes the prices in many communities due to a tive director of the NWT and STEADY that didn't proceed as planned are impacted by other factors lack of infrastructure and the Nunavut Construction Asso- was the re-levelling of one of such as the project timeline ability to find local workers. ciation, agreed with Tootoo Timelines are also a critical about the level of risk, par- In 2005-06, 35 per cent of bids received (excluding goods) the student residences at the and the volume of other work on GN contracts were from Inuit-owned firms. In 2016-17, Nunatta campus in Iqaluit. in the marketplace." consideration, said Tootoo, a ticularly relating to sealift. former deputy minister. "Businesses know if those Inuit-owned firms accounted for 30 per cent of bids. As the The single bid for that work overall volume of contracts has increased by 150 per cent, was "well above the allocated DIALOGUE NEEDED "Construction in Nunavut deliveries are not made, they is a high-risk industry, espe- are the ones who are on the the relative share of Inuit bids remains between 30-35 per funds," said Joanasie. The Industry and government cent. college consequently chose to ought to have a dialogue when cially with supply," he said. hook to find alternatives," examine a larger-scope pro- tenders only attract bids that "If you're in a rush to bid on a Belliveau said. Source: GN 2016-17 Contract Activity Report ject to repair all three of the are far too high, said Vic- job and you're not sure if you He added that it's import- student residences. tor Tootoo, president of the can get all your supply to the ant for government, whenever going to have huge companies ing. You're shifting all your Also in Iqaluit, the Depart- Baffin Regional Chamber of dock on time in wherever – possible, to break up large bidding on it," he said. "The risk onto us and you're putting ment of Justice's Qikiqtani Commerce, speaking on his Montreal usually – and you're projects into smaller pieces government is wondering out work packages that are Correctional Healing Centre own behalf. having to pay a premium as a to make them manageable for why small businesses are not well beyond the capacity we attracted only a single bid that "What are the assump- result of that, that all adds to smaller, local companies. thriving in the North. They're have to bid on. That's really the GN said was too high. A tions that government made the cost," he said. "You can't "If you're putting out a not taking the steps that they undermining the growth of negotiated contract with the that were incorrect? What afford to miss a sealift on a huge project all as one con- need and they're not listening the private sector in the North, lone bidder ensued. are the assumptions that construction project and in tract then, yeah, you're only to what contractors are say- especially in construction." 8 NEWS/NORTH, Monday, April 22, 2019 NORTHERN CONSTRUCTION 2019 Contract opportunities in the reclamation industry Det'on Cho among Northern companies positioning themselves to clean up Giant Mine, other sites

by Derek Neary Northern News Services Somba K'e/Yellowknife fact Cleaning up Giant Mine carries a $600 million price FILE tag, which is subject to rise as stipulations from environmental regulators are met, STAGGERING according to the Giant Mine SUMS OF SOIL Remediation Project Team. An estimated 1,154,300 Most of that money will photo courtesy of the Giant Mine Remediation Project Team cubic metres of soil will go to contractors, who will Paste backfill, a cement-like mixture of material and water, is used to fill stopes, areas where ore was require clean up at the carry out portions of the pro- Giant Mine site. Another extracted at Giant Mine. The project requires approximately 231,200 cubic metres of backfill material for ject over the 10-year cleanup the underground holes. 145,200 cubic metres will be phase, although the peak per- addressed at the town site. iod is forecast to be between Some of that soil will capped 2021-2024. by layers of clean soil and Det'on Cho Corporation, rock. Other sections will be the economic development dug up and either placed in arm of the Yellowknives Dene containment areas or frozen, First Nation, will vie for a depending on the level of - share of the upcoming con contamination. tract opportunities, said Paul Gruner, Det'on Cho's CEO. CONTRACT "Obviously for groups like ourselves and other groups, BENEFITS Giant Mine reclamation/ Between 2006 and 2017, remediation is a strong eco- Giant Mine contracts totalled nomic opportunity," Gruner $356 million, of which $169 said. "We're objectively look- million went to Indigenous ing at Giant Mine and say- businesses, according to ing, where do we want to be the Giant Mine Remediation involved and at what level?" Project. The project's work- While Gruner credited the force, from 2009-2017, com- parties behind the project – prised 56 per cent Northern Crown-Indigenous Relations employees and 15 per cent and Northern Affairs Canada, Indigenous employees. Public Services and Procure- Source: Giant Mine Remediation Project Team ment Canada, main construction manager Parsons Inc. and the GNWT – for strong efforts to solicit at a local level, he also look at length of con- recommended that contract- tract," he said. "Let's look at ors be put in place for longer opportunities that we're not terms, rather than the com- piecemealing up into two- or mon 18 to 24-month windows. three-year type contracts. Are "If we're truly intentioned there opportunities where we around building capacity and can have contracts run the securing local, what's going to be important is that we Please see next page NORTHERN CONSTRUCTION 2019 NEWS/NORTH, Monday, April 22, 2019 9

photos courtesy of the Giant Mine Remediation Project Team Plenty of heavy equipment will be needed to move enormous volumes of earth at the Giant Mine remediation site, five kilometres north of Yellowknife. Longer contracts Continued from previous page and groundwater monitoring, ambient air quality monitor- length of the cleanup itself? ing and a security fencing That's going to allow groups project at the mine site. like Det'on Cho and other Det'on Cho and various local companies to build that partners won four out of five capacity over time because Giant Mine care and main- you've got a lot more runway tenance contracts in 2018, to deal with." although Det'on Cho had Gruner cited Det'on Cho's already held those care and Bouwa Whee Catering as an maintenance contracts for example of a joint venture more than a decade with its being transformed into a 100 partner Nuna Group. Respon- per cent Yellowknives-owned sibilities included maintaining company. It evolved through facilities and equipment, pro- long-term contracts with Dia- viding security, demolition vik and De Beers and has put of buildings and bulk fuel emphasis on hiring locally. storage, upgrading pipe works "Nobody can look at that and operating the effluent and say that isn't a strong treatment plant. Northern company," he said of Det'on Cho also posts all Bouwa Whee. of its employment openings online and the company has COMPLEX WORK its own capacity building pro- Thermosyphons, used in the process of keeping the underground arsenic frozen year-round, stretch into Because work at the Giant gram, Gruner said. the sky at Giant Mine. Mine site is very complex, a "We're going to secure range of contracts is required as many (employees) as we to carry out the duties safe- can locally, whether that be ly and efficiently, said Rob YKDFN (Yellowknives Dene Turek, Public Services and First Nation), but also for Procurement Canada's pro- Northern residents," he said. curement manager with the Gruner is also looking at environmental services acqui- mine reclamation as a bur- sitions team. geoning Northern industry "Some contracts were and is eyeing the future when designed for the interim Diavik, De Beers, Ekati and until there is approval to other sites shut down. He said fully implement the remedi- it represents an estimated $3 ation plan, at which point the billion worth of work, plus, main construction manager he added, there's more in the will continue to tender its neighbouring territories. work packages, aligning with "Let's reserve as much Northern and Indigenous cap- of that as we can within the acity," Turek stated. NWT and across the North Natalie Plato, deputy in general," he said. "Mines director of the Giant Mine are great and there's also the Remediation Project, noted closure piece that I think often that Parsons, a U.S.-headquar- isn't captured in terms of the tered global firm, maintains value creation." a website detailing upcom- Giant Mine operated ing contract opportunities between 1948 and 2004, pro- and announcements of recent ducing seven million ounces contract awards. Parsons also of gold, but leaving behind posts all contracts through 237,000 tonnes of arsenic tri- Merx, an online tendering oxide – a byproduct of mining service. – in underground chambers. In addition, Parsons has an Once the cleanup is done office in Yellowknife, where and the underground freez- information on tenders and ing system is fully in place sub-contractor opportunities at the mine, long-term mon- is available. Recent contracts itoring and maintenance is posted through the Giant planned for the next century, Mine Remediation Project according to the Giant Mine have included surface water Remediation Team. 10 NEWS/NORTH, Monday, April 22, 2019 NORTHERN CONSTRUCTION 2019 All systems go for Brandon Oolooyuk Red-seal electrician works underground at gold mine and runs his own business

by Derek Neary Northern News Services Rankin Inlet, Nunavut As a red-seal journeyman electrician, Bran- don Oolooyuk is now working for the biggest power consumer in the Kivalliq region and, at other times, for himself. He puts in his shifts underground at Agnico Eagle's Meliadine gold mine, looking after newly-installed electrical infrastructure: maintaining electrical systems on the mining equipment, underground wi-fi, radio communications and the electrical distribution system. "There's so much," he said of the site, which was constructed over the past couple of years. Although Meliadine is a massive operation and much more complex than the electrical installation involved on a housing site, Oolooyuk said the same theoretical principles are still germane. "There's certain codes that we have to apply to every job that we do," he said. "It's a require- ment because of safety also." Matt Belliveau, executive director of the NWT and Nunavut Construction Association, said there is tremendous demand for local tradespeople in the North, particularly electricians. "There's a huge opportunity out there for the youth who can complete the trades entrance photo courtesy of Agnico Eagle exam and complete their apprenticeships," Bel- Rankin Inlet's Brandon Oolooyuk is a red-seal journeyman electrician at Agnico Eagle's Meliadine gold mine. He is also liveau said, adding that he's heard stories about the proprietor of Oolooyuk Electric. companies engaged in "bidding wars" for the services of Inuit electricians. Oolooyuk got into the profession when he His first two years of post-secondary school- About a year and a half later, Agnico Eagle becomes normal." noticed a posting for an apprentice electrician ing were done at the Sanatuliqsarvik Trades came courting and Oolooyuk accepted a position He also started his own business, Oolooyuk with the Rankin Inlet Housing Association while Training Centre in Rankin Inlet. He went to underground. Electric, which keeps him occupied during his he was in his final year of high school. Alberta to complete the final two years of the "It interested me to try something new," he time off from the mine site. "There was just a job opening and I thought trades program. said. "It's a little bit weird at first when you first "I've always wanted to be a company owner. it would be interesting to try and that's how I When he graduated in 2016, Sakku Invest- start and you first go underground and you're I just do little jobs here and there," he said, add- got in," he said. "I'm the first tradesman in my ments Corporation hired him to maintain power down there for 10 hours a day. Then you sort ing that the summer construction season brings family." and electrical systems in their buildings. of get used to it after a few runs and it sort of plenty of work. NORTHERN CONSTRUCTION 2019 NEWS/NORTH, Monday, April 22, 2019 11

inset photo courtesy of Ryfan/main photo NNSL file photo (Inset photo) Ryfan installed the mechanical controls, fans and pumps for the indoor air quality system at the new Stanton Territorial Hospital and also set up the cable network for the digital internal communications system. A new hospital delivered Stanton's most-engaged Yellowknife-based contractor recounts what it took to get the job done by Derek Neary "Work areas needed to fully complete by all trades so they Tucker said. Northern News Services could be sanitized. One does not want to have to go back to One of the challenges involved with building Stanton, with Yellowknife, NWT fix something or add something that’s been missed," Tucker its overall $300 million budget, was the "layers" of contractors Of the numerous Yellowknife-based sub-contractors explained. and sub-contractors executing their various duties, Tucker involved in building the new Stanton hospital, Ryfan stood During peak construction in summer 2018, Ryfan had close noted. Such circumstances necessitate extra vigilance. atop the rest in terms of value of contracts. to 35 tradespeople assigned to Stanton construction. To give a "In some cases there were five layers of contracts between The mechanical, electrical and plumbing company was sense of scale, the company had fewer than 20 tradespeople ourselves and the people requesting the work. That creates a awarded approximately $3.6 million worth of work among working on other sites in and around Yellowknife at the time lot of opportunity for misunderstanding and miscommuni- the $71 million spent on Northern goods, services and labour, and about 90 others on jobs elsewhere in the North and West- cation, especially as the design of the project and systems according to Jhillian Adams, spokesperson for the Stanton ern Canada, according to Tucker. evolved," said Tucker. "We have done projects in the North that Renewal Project. Ryfan, which was founded in Yellowknife in 1979, will were both larger and more complex but in those cases we were Ryfan was responsible for installing the pumps, fans and celebrate its 40th anniversary this year. The company has much closer to the client and very much in tune with what was mechanical devices related to the hospital's indoor air quality grown substantially across Western Canada and in Ontario required to support project success. and putting the cable network in place for the digital internal over that time, broadening its staff, said Tucker. “In the Stanton hospital case, it was often more dif- communications system, according to Ryfan managing direc- While the business is "very proud of our local roots and ficult to stay connected with project requirements as they tor David Tucker. local workforce," it is able to call upon a "substantial itinerant changed, especially since we had no part of the design- The work involved significant “planning intensity" workforce that travels to worksites were there isn't sufficient build activities that drove the project specifications." because of hygienic requirements at the site, he noted. local labour to complete the work in the required time frame," Stanton is scheduled to receive its first patients in late May. 12 NEWS/NORTH, Monday, April 22, 2019 NORTHERN CONSTRUCTION 2019 Bridge outside Hay River gets $13-million, steel girder overhaul Work follows $9.5M fix-up of Buffalo River bridge on highway between Hay River and Fort Smith; MLA raises concerns over level of Northern participation in project

by Derek Neary bringing an end to the use of a single-lane Northern News Services bridge as an interim measure, Kulmatycki South Slave stated. A 1960s-era Highway 5 bridge is being The work comes on the heels of $9.5-million replaced for close to $13 million as the govern- in rehabilitation work on the 129-metre Buffalo ment ensures South Slave spans are able to River truss bridge, also built in the 1960s. That accommodate heavier loads. 2016-2017 project, situated at km 56 of Highway The 166-metre long Pine Point bridge span- 5, included strengthening of the span by adding ning the Hay River, at km 2 along Highway 5, steel plates, removal and replacement of top half is being transformed into a steel girder bridge of the concrete deck, other concrete repairs, with a concrete deck. The bridge’s three trusses replacement of the expansion joints and bridge have been removed, meaning it no longer has a bearings as well as sandblasting and painting, ceiling of woven metal beams, and its piers and Kulmatycki explained. foundations are being reused in the new design, Eiffage Innovative Canada Inc., a French according to Ann Kulmatycki, head of the multi-national firm with a Western Canadian structures/bridges section with the Department office outside of Edmonton, was awarded the of Infrastructure. contracts for both bridges. The new structure has a 75-year lifespan. "Contractors are encouraged to utilize as The replacement Pine Point bridge is expected to reopen to the public by Oct. 30, Please see next page

Eiffage Innovative Canada Inc., the same contractor that made improvements to the Buffalo River bridge, seen here, has been retained to replace the Pine Point bridge at Hay River. Both spans are located along Highway 5. photo courtesy of the GNWT NORTHERN CONSTRUCTION 2019 NEWS/NORTH, Monday, April 22, 2019 13

photos courtesy of the GNWT It cost $9.5 million to bring the Buffalo River bridge up to modern standards in 2016-17 Replacement work is now being done on the Pint Point bridge for $13 million. The project is expected to wrap up by the end of October. Minister provides jobs summary Continued from previous page much local and Northern labour, materials, supplies and services as is possible," Kulmatycki stated. "For the Hay River to Pine Point bridge project, the general contractor has procured local contracting services for removal of the old steel bridge trusses, heavy civil equipment, trades workers, concrete, accommoda- tions, fuel and other services." However, Hay River North MLA R.J. Simpson expressed concerns in late March based on complaints from constituents that there are not enough Northern contractors and labour involved. "I think the GNWT definitely needs to do more when it comes to ensuring that Northerners are benefitting from these large infrastructure projects," Simpson said. Infrastructure Minister Wally Schumann provided a summary of local/Northern workers and sub-contractors who have been involved in the project as of March 20: • Three local labourers and two carpenters working directly for the general contractor, Eiffage Innovation Canada Inc. • Two welders from Aurora Manufacturing. • Equipment operators from Rowe's Construction and Carter Industries. • Steel salvage work being completed in a joint venture of the Hay River Metis Government Council and ABC Recycling, a southern company. • Eiffage Innovation Canada Inc. has received three resumes from local journeyperson carpenters and is in the process of reviewing/hiring. Simpson said he has previously raised the issue of local employment on infrastructure projects involving public money in the NWT. The federal government is paying 75 per cent of the cost to replace the Pine Point bridge, while the GNWT is picking up the remaining 25 per cent. Work is performed on the deck of the Buffalo River bridge. Elsewhere along Highway 5, the Pine Point -with files from Paul Bickford bridge is being overhauled. The federal and territorial governments both contributed to cover the costs. 14 NEWS/NORTH, Monday, April 22, 2019 NORTHERN CONSTRUCTION 2019 Maintaining homes for 47 years

photo courtesy of the Nunavut Housing Corporation Members of Nunavut's legislative assembly recognized Kugluktuk's Peter Peter Taktogon has been a housing maintainer in Kugluktuk since 1972. "I Taktogon in March for his long-term service. He's been a housing maintainer still enjoy the work. It keeps me busy. I learn lots of new stuff from new tech- for 47 years and has no plans to retire as of yet. nology," he says. Kugluktuk's Peter Taktogon has seen numerous improvements in technology by Derek Neary niques, materials and tools That's when I first started." "It used to burn out a lot of remains fond of it after all service. Northern News Services over decades. He's also grateful for cord- controls," he said of electrical almost half a century. He said he recommends Kugluktuk "They used to have only less drills rather than having shortages. "Now they've got "I still enjoy the work. trades to Nunavummiut who Peter Taktogon has been a oil-burning space heaters in to torque screws by hand all the power plant running good It keeps me busy. I learn are seeking careers. housing maintainer in Kugluk- the units," he said. "Then they the time. and everything. It's OK now." lots of new stuff from new "I encourage lots of young tuk for a remarkable 47 years renovated quite a few houses A typical day for him Taktogon grew up on the technology," he said. "The people to get into apprentice and he's not done yet. and started putting in furnaces involves maintaining and land near Contwoyto Lake – new technology has real- programs and heavy equip- Taktogon started the job in and plumbing systems. In the repairing furnaces and plumb- an area also known as Lupin – ly changed everything." ment operators (training)," he 1972, having taken his training past they used to use honey ing, he said. He doesn't work as when he was young. He moved Taktogon, who has achieved said, adding that he knows of in Fort Smith and Iqaluit. buckets and the water tanks much overtime as in years past to Kugluktuk with his family journeyman status, was recog- some youth who have been He's witnessed many used to be in the units, they when there were more frequent and that's when he learned of nized in the legislative assem- hired at the mines in Nunavut advances in construction tech- had no plumbing in those days. power outages in Kugluktuk. this occupation. He said he bly in March for his long-term as a result of trades training. NORTHERN CONSTRUCTION 2019 NEWS/NORTH, Monday, April 22, 2019 15 h/>/E'^/'E

image courtesy of the Government of Nunavut These renderings show what the grounds of the $73.5-million Qikiqtani Correctional Healing Centre will look like. It is designed to accommodate up to 112 medium and maximum-security prisoners. Site work began on March 18. Work starts on correctional centre $73.5-million negotiated contract goes to Hall Beach company

by Derek Neary ernment's budget, changes were made to exter- for performance, labour and materials in the Phase one is scheduled to be finished as of Northern News Services ior wall panels, window trims, and insulated total amount of the $73.5-million contract, June 2021, allowing some inmates to take resi- Iqaluit soffit panels. which she said is "a very strong indication of dence. Phase two is targetted for completion After a year's delay, work is underway on "No structural changes or product of a their ability to meet their performance require- by June 2022. the Qikiqtani Correctional Healing Centre, lesser quality were selected," MacKay said. ments under the contract." The correctional centre is designed to be in now that a $73.5-million negotiated contract Pilitak Enterprises is partnering with Kudlik service for 20 years. is in place. Construction, one of Nunavut's largest and MINIMUM INUIT LABOUR FORCE The federal government is contributing Pilitak Enterprises Ltd. Construction of longest-standing construction firms, to build Pilitak Enterprises will be required to $56.6 million toward the facility through the Hall Beach was the successful proponent, after the new 61,350-square-foot correctional cen- maintain a minimum Inuit labour force of at Small Communities Fund. initially tendering a failed bid – the only bid tre, which can house up to 112 male medium least 20 per cent. In addition, inmate labour The Qikiqtani Correctional Healing Centre submitted – during a public tendering process. and maximum-security offenders. will be used during construction, subject to will replace the oft criticized Baffin Correc- "We cannot say for sure why this competi- The GN has confirmed Pilitak Enterprises individual skill level, MacKay added. tional Centre, which was built in 1986. The tive bid attracted one response. However, there is listed on Nunavut Tunngavik's Inuit Firm Besides living quarters for offenders, the structural integrity of the aging building and are a limited number of companies operating Registry and the Nunavummi Nangmini- correctional facility will feature programming the overcrowded conditions drew condem- in Nunavut that are capable of completing a qaqtunik Ikajuuti (NNI) policy – adopted space, a gymnasium, a designated area for nation from the Office of the Correctional project of this magnitude and the few that are to enhance economic development oppor- visitation, space for health services, kitchen Investigator and the fire marshal over the past may have already committed themselves to tunities for Nunavummiut – is applicable to and staff offices. decade. other major projects within Nunavut prior to the negotiated agreement, according to Eiryn "The new facility will improve the access The GN previously aimed for a completion this RFP (request for proposals) being issued," Devereaux, assistant deputy minister of infra- to program and services for offenders housed date of 2020 for the new correctional centre said William MacKay, deputy minister of structure with the Department of Community in Nunavut," said Justice Minister Jeannie but the inability to line up a construction Justice. and Government Services. Ehaloak. contractor at an acceptable price led to the In order to get the project within the gov- Devereaux added that Pilitak has an insurer The project is broken into two phases. project's postponement. 16 NEWS/NORTH, Monday, April 22, 2019 NORTHERN CONSTRUCTION 2019 Fish plant contract up for grabs this summer

NNSL file photo The existing fish plant in Hay River was built in the early 1970s. The new $9-million plant will be approximately 17,000 square feet.

by Derek Neary $982,000 in architectural work for the design because the facility must have an Northern News Services plant in 2018. operational cost that the Tu Cho Fishers Head of Tu Cho Hay River Bert Buckley Sr., president of the can manage. Although a design contract for Hay Tu Cho Fishers Cooperative, a small "We want something that we can Fishers Cooperative River's new $9-million fish plant was Indigenous consortium based in Hay afford, which matches our poundage on awarded last June, a construction tender River, said his organization stands to Great Slave Lake," Buckley said. "When wants a building that likely won't be issued until summer, take over the new fish plant in about five we take it over in so many years, we according to the GNWT. years. For that reason, he's hoping to see want to make sure it's viable. We don't will remain affordable Stantec Consulting landed the a modest building with a straightforward Please see next page NORTHERN CONSTRUCTION 2019 NEWS/NORTH, Monday, April 22, 2019 17

NNSL file photo New fish plant is expected to be approximately 17,000 square feet. Plant to provide seasonal employment

NNSL file photo Continued from previous page well short of quota for white- The GNWT is planning food and fertilizer, according NWT MP Michael McLeod, left, and Wally Schu- fish, Northern pike, pickerel to continue training oppor- to the GNWT. want to take over something and trout. tunities to develop more fish- "If the fish plant goes mann, territorial minister of Industry, Tourism and that doesn't work ... what's Buckley acknowledged ers and will work with the through it would be really Investment, shake hands at the site of what is to it going to cost in the long that the Tu Cho Fishers com- Tu Cho Fishers on marketing good for the fishers that want become the new fish plant in Hay River. The Gov- run?" prises only 15 or so fishing strategies to expand demand to fish here," said Buckley, ernment of Canada is investing $6.6 million in the The Department of Indus- captains from Hay River. He for Great Lake fish, domes- who's close to retirement project. The territorial government is contributing try, Tourism and Investment said he expects Fort Resolu- tically and internationally. after close to 50 years of $2.3 million. is proposing a 17,000-square- tion and possibly Yellowknife Buckley said he wants the experience on Great Slave foot facility that will be con- to have representation on the Freshwater Fish Marketing Lake. "It's a real good fish- structed on a lot next to the cooperative in the future. He Corporation to remain part ery. We've got a lot of fish... Freshwater Fish Marketing also said it's extremely dif- of the equation because of its I'd like to see some of our Corporation in Hay River. ficult to find fishing crews in longstanding name recogni- aboriginal people get into The plant could employ a the North. tion. this, even the youth. It's good few dozen people seasonally, "It's a seasonal thing up In addition to filleted fish, for them." according to the GNWT. here, it's summer and winter. the new fish plant is expected The Government of Can- The territorial government I'd like to see it come back to to produce "value added" ada has allocated $6.6 mil- is attempting to revitalize the life," he said. "It's a real good products such as smoked fish, lion for the new plant. The Great Slave Lake fishery as life for people who want to roe, candied fish and oils. territorial government is con- annual catches regularly fall make a living." Fish waste can be sold as pet tributing $2.3 million. 18 NEWS/NORTH, Monday, April 22, 2019 NORTHERN CONSTRUCTION 2019

photos courtesy of the Government of Nunavut Portions of the building will have a wood-slat ceiling. The school, being built The atrium of the building, which started going up in 2017, following a fire that by Kudlik Construction, carries an estimated $40-million price tag. destroyed Kugaardjuk School.

The new school in Kugaaruk is scheduled to open in September. Since fire razed the community's former school, students have been forced to learn their lessons in modular classrooms and makeshift quarters at the old hamlet building. NORTHERN CONSTRUCTION 2019 NEWS/NORTH, Monday, April 22, 2019 19 Kugaaruk school takes shape by Derek Neary ed the contract in 2017, only months after fire Northern News Services destroyed Kugaardjuk Ilihakvik on the night Kugaaruk of Feb. 28, 2017. A teenager was charged with Close to 300 students are expected to occupy arson shortly after that costly incident. Kugaaruk's new school as of September. The new building, with a budget of approxi- With the future in mind, the school was mately $40 million, will be 49,470 square feet, designed to accommodate up to 450 pupils. considerably larger than the former Kugaard- photo courtesy of the Government of Nunavut Kudlik Construction, which has built many juk Ilihakvik, which measured 36,425 square This aerial photo taken from a drone gives a sense of the size of the school of Nunavut's educational facilities, was award- feet. in comparison to the other buildings in the community of close to 950 people.

The vast expanse of the gymnasium, among the largest rooms in the 49,470-square-foot school. 20 NEWS/NORTH, Monday, April 22, 2019 NORTHERN CONSTRUCTION 2019