By Jeff Pelletier, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Nunatsiaq News
June 4, 2025
After meeting with Canada’s premiers in Saskatoon Monday afternoon, Prime Minister Mark Carney name-dropped Nunavut’s Grays Bay road and port as a major project of national significance he wants to see get approved quickly.
The comment came in response to a reporter asking why a joint news release from the prime minister and premiers did not list any specific projects.
“I can give you, if I may, lots of examples of those projects, which range from Grays Bay port and road,” Carney said, before naming several other projects across Canada.
“There is a long list of projects that bring the country together, diversify our markets, make us more resilient, create good jobs and growth, have very good prospects of Indigenous partnerships, and beyond.”
Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok welcomed seeing Grays Bay on the list, as the project is one of four he and Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. president Jeremy Tunraluk are advocating for.
The other projects are the Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link, Qikiqtarjuaq deepsea port, and a hydroelectric project in Iqaluit.
“I was reflecting back to all the leaders that had and continue to push this major project forward,” Akeeagok told reporters Monday, making reference to Tunraluk and Kitikmeot Inuit Association acting president James Eetoolook.
“It was a great day for Nunavut to be recognized as an opportunity for these big nation-building [projects] to happen in the Arctic.”
Brendan Bell, CEO of project proponent West Kitikmeot Resources Corp., also welcomed Carney’s comments though, he said, he’s not surprised.
“It’s certainly a validation for all of the work that’s gone on here,” Bell said in an interview.
“There’s just no daylight between the leaders in Nunavut on this project, and that makes it a fairly safe and easy project for the prime minister to advocate for and to promote.”
Grays Bay road and port would consist of a 230-kilometre all-season road and deepsea port that would link the mineral-rich lands of western Nunavut to the rest of Canada.
The estimated cost sits at nearly $1 billion. Bell said in October that he’s aiming for the federal government to cover 75 per cent of the cost, with the Government of Nunavut funding the rest.
Carney and the premiers released a statement after Monday’s meeting, agreeing to collaborate on speeding up the approvals of projects of “national interest.”
Among the criteria for the projects is that they must strengthen Canada’s resilience and security, support economic growth, have a high likelihood to be achieved, be a high priority for Indigenous communities, and offer potential for clean growth.
Another key requirement is consultation with Indigenous Peoples. In Nunavut, projects must go through the Nunavut Impact Review Board before they are approved.
Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok, right, speaks in Saskatoon Monday. Also pictured are Yukon Premier Ranj Pillai, left, and Newfoundland Premier John Hogan. (Photo courtesy of Premier P.J. Akeeagok/X)
Akeeagok said his priority projects include “certainty” they will be approved.
“All the projects that we put in [were] really from the lens of making sure that these are being led by Inuit, for Inuit, that really will have a huge benefit not only for the territory, but for the country,” he said.
There was a tone of unity from the premiers Monday.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said it was the “best meeting” he had in 10 years, and colourfully described Carney as “Santa Claus.”
“He’s coming and his sled was full of all sorts of stuff. Now, he’s taking off back to the North Pole, he’s going to sort it out and then he’s going to call us,” Ford said.
Akeeagok said he “couldn’t agree more” with what Ford said.
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“[Monday] was about having really good discussions around identifying some of these key projects,” he said.