Arviq HTO, the hunters and trappers organization of Naujaat, is urging the federal government to pause the Steensby railway project to assess newer research findings on environmental impacts. Baffinland Iron Mines announced in January that it had obtained all necessary authorizations to develop the Steensby section 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 Naujaat-based HTO is calling for a review of the project. Initially, Arviq HTO did not anticipate any implications on Naujaat from a project situated far off on Baffin Island, where other communities like Igloolik and Sanirajak have already voiced opposition to the project. However, new data since the project’s approval by the Nunavut Impact Review Board (NIRB) in 2012 has surfaced, leading the HTO to believe that Naujaat residents could be affected. Consequently, on February 6, the HTO made a request to NIRB and the federal government for a reevaluation.
Expressing concerns, John Ell-Tinashlu, the chairperson of Arviq HTO, highlighted that the Steensby railway might intersect caribou migration routes on Baffin Island, potentially displacing hunters to the mainland and impacting the caribou vital to Naujaat residents. Additionally, the escalating shipping activities through the Foxe Basin are a major worry for the HTO.
Notably, Arviq HTO emphasized that it was not consulted about the rail and road project, prompting them to seek assistance from Ecojustice, a Canadian environmental law nonprofit organization. In response, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada acknowledged the concerns raised by Arviq HTO and assured that a response to the reconsideration request would be forthcoming. Meanwhile, Baffinland highlighted that Arviq HTO did not engage in the NIRB public review, although the company stated that the concerns are being addressed through the Canadian Transportation Agency consultation process.
Looking ahead, Arviq HTO plans to continue discussions with the authorities until their concerns receive due consideration. In the event that their apprehensions remain unaddressed, legal action is not ruled out.