Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs
April 8, 2011

Agreement Reached to Provide New Homes for Hopedale Families

An agreement between the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Nunatsiavut Government will see three families in Hopedale receive new homes. The Provincial Government will fund the construction of the homes, to be built in the Berry Road subdivision on lots supplied by the Hopedale Inuit Community Government.

The homes will replace current residences, which were found to have serious structural deficiencies due to their location on a landfill from a former United States military site.

“Through the combined efforts of the Provincial Government, the Nunatsiavut Government and the Inuit Community Government of Hopedale, we are very pleased to provide new homes to these families,” said the Honourable Patty Pottle, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs. “This was a unique problem, one that required creativity and cooperation from all involved. I express thanks to the Inuit Community Government of Hopedale for supplying the building lots for these new homes and being part of a real solution for these families. All three orders of government will continue to work together along with the affected families to ensure a smooth transition to their new homes.”

“We are pleased to be able to work in partnership with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Inuit Community Government of Hopedale to see these new houses built,” said Nunatsiavut’s First Minister Darryl Shiwak. “It is through cooperation such as this that we are able to not only address an urgent need in the community, but effectively improve the lives of these families.”

In 2009, testing conducted by Aivek-Stantec for the Department of Environment and Conservation showed that a number of residences were built on an area of buried debris, which could pose potential structural issues. In 2010, the Provincial Government retained AMEC P&P to conduct a geotechnical and structural assessment of the properties. The assessment concluded the debris underneath the structures was deteriorating and compressing, causing the soil to subside significantly. The report concluded the problem would persist and continue to worsen over time and required attention to correct.

“On behalf of the Inuit Community Government of Hopedale, we are very pleased to be contributing building lots in the Berry Road Subdivision for the construction of these new homes,” said AngajukKâk Wayne Piercy. “People have been anxious to find a solution for these families and it is great to be a part of this collaborative effort among our governments. My thanks to the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Nunatsiavut Government for their efforts to make this possible. We certainly all look forward to the day when we see these families move into their new homes. ”

“Community problems often require community solutions, and I’d like to take the opportunity to point out the important role of the community of Hopedale in what we have achieved,” said Minister Pottle. “The men and women of Hopedale collectively and continually expressed their wish that the needs of these affected families be made a top priority. That spirit of generosity and concern from within the community was a significant driving force in finding the best solution for these families.”

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2011 04 08                                                                                12:00 p.m.