NorthThe Fédération des coopératives du Nouveau-Québec (FCNQ) wants to double the number of hotel rooms across Nunavik to meet the demand of local institutions that rely on fly-in staff. Education, health among services affected by hotel shortageThe Fédération des coopératives du Nouveau-Québec owns the vast majority of hotels in Nunavik, which are often the only places for visitors to stay in the region’s communities. (FCNQ)The Fédération des coopératives du Nouveau-Québec (FCNQ) wants to double the number of hotel rooms across Nunavik. The organization says the increase is needed to meet the demand of local institutions that rely on fly-in staff. The FCNQ owns the vast majority of hotels in the region — 265 rooms spread across 13 of Nunavik’s 14 communities — but the organization says it’s not nearly enough. The FCNQ is a network of co-operatives in the communities that provides support across a wide range of services, from banks and grocery stores, to art marketing and fuel supply. Kativik Ilisarniliriniq, the region’s school board, is one of the organizations that’s felt the impact of the lack of hotel capacity. According to Jeannie Dupuis, one of the board’s assistant directors, it has struggled to fly in support staff to communities because it can’t find anywhere for them to stay. Jeannie Dupuis, who’s with the region’s school board, hopes more hotel rooms are built across Nunavik to make it easier to bring in external support staff. (Eilís Quinn/Regard sur l’Arctique)This year, the board’s commissioners have also had to hold meetings in Montreal due to the dearth of hotel room availability. “Even if we try booking ahead of time, there are no rooms,” said Dupuis. “It costs a lot more to fly to Montreal than to stay in Nunavik.” The region’s board of health and social services has similar concerns. It says the hotel shortage has hindered its ability to respond quickly to public health issues. “Several tuberculosis screening efforts have not taken place in recent years due to, among other reasons, the lack of hotel space for nurses,” said the organization. Expensive to buildBuilding the number of required rooms to meet demand is a massive undertaking, according to Sokchiveneath Taing Chhoan, FCNQ’s socioeconomic development director. “Whenever we meet local organizations, they keep telling us that we need to build more,” he said. But he adds that the organization has limited financial resources.Sokchiveneath Taing Chhoan is the Fédération des coopératives du Nouveau-Québec’s director of socioeconomic development. (FCNQ)Chhoan estimates that it’s at least three times more expensive to build in Nunavik compared to southern Québec. “We’re talking about $5.5 million for a 17-room project,” he said. Without additional funding, the FCNQ says the community co-ops that run the hotels would need to hike their prices. “They can’t realistically charge $700 or $800 per night,” said Mark Blair, FCNQ’s general manager. The hotel in Puvirnituq, on the shores of Hudson Bay, is owned by the local co-op. (FCNQ)He adds that the organization is currently putting together a business plan to present to the Quebec government, and that it’s already held discussions with the province’s Société du Plan Nord and the Secrétariat aux relations avec les Premières Nations et les Inuit. “There are several projects in the works. We will assess [FCNQ’s plan] in the broader context of Nunavik’s needs,” said a spokesperson for Ian Lafrenière, Québec’s minister responsible for relations with the First Nations and the Inuit.ABOUT THE AUTHORFélix Lebel is a reporter with Radio-Canada in Kuujjuaq, in the Nunavik region of northern Quebec.
Lack of hotel rooms affects essential services in Nunavik
