Latest news with #HildaSnowball
Hamilton Spectator
2 days ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Province commits $1.8M to study Nunavik's landslides
The Quebec government is spending $1.85 million to research landslides in Nunavik. The Ministry of Public Security committed $1.15 million to Laval University to launch a research project studying the phenomenon in the region's clay soils, the ministry announced May 30. Work will involve the mapping and characterization of deposits untouched by water but which still present risk of landslide, and compiling an inventory of large landslides that have occurred in Nunavik. 'The results of this project will deepen our understanding of the geological and climatic conditions that control landslide initiation in cold regions such as Nunavik,' Laval University professor Patrick Lajeunesse said in the French-language release. The study 'will play an essential role in strengthening the resilience of northern communities to these processes of land surface change,' he added. Two landslides were confirmed in October 2022 near a river on the Hudson Coast about 60 kilometres south of Umiujaq. And in April 2021, a mudslide dumped 45 million cubic metres of debris into the Great Whale River, about eight kilometres from Kuujjuaraapik and Whapmagoostui, in what would later be described as the second-largest landslide recorded in Quebec history. The provincial government also gave $700,000 to Kativik Regional Government to improve its landslide risk management and increase community resilience. The work involves calculating the risk of landslides across Nunavik, using Inuit knowledge to make a risk management plan, and devising an education plan keeping Inuit culture in mind. Kativik Regional Government chairperson Hilda Snowball said in the release she's pleased the Quebec government 'recognizes the urgent need to further assist our regional government in strengthening its risk management capacity.' She said the funding will help all 14 communities 'deal with the potentially serious residential and environmental emergencies that come with living in Nunavik.' The funding commitment is part of Quebec's Nordic Action Plan 2023-28, which aims to improve knowledge and implement risk mitigation measures for hazards in the North. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
CBC
23-05-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Temporary pipe installed in Puvirnituq amid ongoing water emergency
As of last night, Hilda Snowball, chairperson of the Kativik Regional Government said they've started filling up the water pumping station through the pipe, though there's still ongoing work to clear the road to get there.
CBC
22-05-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Temporary pipe installed in Puvirnituq, Que., amid water emergency
Social Sharing Water is starting to flow through a temporary pipeline in Puvirnituq, Que., amid an ongoing water shortage in the community. Workers spent most of Wednesday unrolling a roughly three kilometre long flexible pipe that bypasses a section of the permanent pipe that froze mid-March. This critical corridor connects the water pumping station to the treatment plant. The blockage, coupled with hazardous weather conditions, has restricted water delivery across the community of 2,100 people and led to a state of emergency on Saturday. The situation has resulted in school closures, and some hospital patients to be sent south for care. Hilda Snowball, chairperson of the Kativik Regional Government (KRG), said on Wednesday that they've started filling up the water pumping station, though there's still ongoing work to clear the snow on the road to the station and sewage lagoon. "The temporary pipeline will fill up the water pumping station where the water trucks get their water from, so it will continue delivering water to each resident," she said. Truck drivers from neighbouring Inukjuak have also been helping out with deliveries. Puvirnituq mayor Lucy Qalingo says things are looking up for her community and she's hopeful the interim measures will be fully operational by Sunday. "Roads are thawing, the snow is thawing, the sun is shining," she said. Roughly 120,000 litres of water has been flown in, alongside sanitary products. Service points have been set up at the primary school and hospital. These are places places where people can access necessities, such as bottled water, sanitary products and disposable utensils. A dozen local Canadian Rangers have been activated to help distribute supplies. Those rangers were already helping out unofficially in the community prior to the federal emergency management minister approving that request. Though Snowball, the chairperson of the KRG, said the official deployment means the Canadian Rangers can alleviate some of the expenses of the relief efforts. Funding is 'peanuts' Deliveries of supplies will continue until the state of emergency is lifted, Snowball said. After that the focus will be on fixing the pipe that froze, which can't happen until summer. A heating wire, which prevents water from freezing during the winter, has reached the end of its life. "It was impossible to thaw the area where the pipeline froze, so there will have to be construction on the pipeline during the summer once the ground is unfrozen," Snowball said. Determining why the pipe froze will also be a priority for the Quebec government. In 2023, the KRG signed a five year deal with the Quebec government which provides $163 million for municipal infrastructure. While Snowball appreciates that funding, she said the amount is "peanuts" when it's spread across 14 Nunavik villages. She uses the example of the renovation of a childcare facility in another Nunavik village costing roughly $7 million. She said water infrastructure is particularly outdated in the region and there are three villages looking to do repairs on pipes. "They're now 15 to 20 year old infrastructure, which is why we are seeing a lot of damage with the pipelines," she said. "As well, the service trucks … before the pandemic we purchased trucks at about $300,000. Now they're at $600,000. It will require a lot of funding to really catch up." Ian Lafrenière, Quebec's minister responsible for relations with the First Nations and the Inuit, has reiterated his desire to conduct a post-mortem after the emergency phase is over, though he doesn't believe money is the issue. "I heard people talking about the lack of money and the funding in the last agreement that we gave KRG. There was still some money in the agreement that was leftover," he said.
