Rankin Inlet is being forced to grow, said Mayor Harry Towtongie, and that growth is causing more than a few challenges, especially in the area of housing.
Towtongie said there are positives happening in the community, like the more than 40 jobs expected to be created by the new Kivalliq Long Term Care Centre.
And, he added, residents are also looking forward to the new airport terminal on the way.
“That’s going to be a plus for the community of close to 3,000 inhabitants and a much more comfortable place for people who are passing through,” said the mayor.
“Hopefully, we’ll also get a building for people who are going through Rankin to other communities or who are going to Winnipeg on medical or whatever.
“We need to have a better place for them because some are waiting four or five hours, or even longer, for their next flight.”
Towtongie has been mayor for about four years and has another three-and-a-half years remaining on his current term.
He said the community is also looking forward to a new pump house and water supply system, which should be in place by fall.
After that, he wants to get more of Rankin’s water system upgraded from what was the norm about 40 years ago.
“I’d like to see that get done sooner rather than later.
“One thing I campaigned on was that disaster of a landfill site we have in Rankin. I’m hoping somehow, by next summer, we’ll have a shredder to shred all those old vehicles that are filling up our landfill.
“We want to get that area more environmentally-friendly. With the help of Agnico Eagle Mines, we’d like to take all the contaminants out of there like the old batteries, used oil and antifreeze and have them all shipped down south to be disposed of.
“I’d like to be rid of all that by sometime this summer.”
Towtongie said another area where Rankin is lacking is with daycares.
Overall, there isn’t enough support to effectively handle local growth, he added.
“We are struggling, at times, trying to keep up with the growth of this community.
“The one good thing we have going, a little bit, is that we have private companies now building apartments. That’s helping us a lot, but we still need plenty more, especially affordable housing for a lot of people.
“We have a lot of needs with the speed that we’re growing and housing is at the top of the list.
“It’s a real challenge to keep up with everything, but the community is doing its best to meet the demand. But we need housing and more housing. We also need better healthcare, especially in the area of mental health.”