Status report on transformational and major Crown projects
Canadian High Arctic Research Station
Description: In the 2007 Speech from the Throne, the Government of Canada emphasized that there are both new opportunities and new challenges in the North, and indicated it would bring forward an integrated Northern Strategy focused on strengthening Canada's sovereignty, protecting environmental heritage, promoting economic and social development, and improving and devolving governance. The Government also promised to "build a world-class Arctic research station that will be on the cutting edge of Arctic issues, including environmental science and resource development. This station will be built by Canadians, in Canada's Arctic, and it will be there to serve the world." In August 2010, it was announced that Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, would be the location for the Canadian High Arctic Research Station (CHARS) campus.
Architectural design, construction, equipment, and furniture for CHARS campus, as well as the implementation of the science and technology program are estimated at a value of approximately $250 million up to and including 2017–18. Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) is responsible for delivering on the architectural design, construction, equipment, and furniture for the campus at an estimated total cost of $204.8 million. The remaining $46.2 million for implementation of the science and technology program was initially administered by Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada and is now administered by Polar Knowledge Canada.
The CHARS campus, now largely operational, is bringing an enhanced level of research and analysis to Canada's North.
Project outcomes:
- The objective of this project is to provide researchers with access to a world-class arctic science and technology platform in the Canadian North by establishing the CHARS. Performance indicators will be developed as part of the business case to confirm this objective has been reached.
- Beneficiaries of this project include scientists, Northerners and all Canadians.
Industrial benefits:
- Design and construction of the research station will provide jobs in the Kitikmeot region of Nunavut, across the North, and in specialized sectors in southern Canada.
- Canada's consultation and procurement obligations as specified in the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act are being respected in the implementation of the CHARS initiative.
- Inuit Benefit Plans have been used as the key mechanism to deliver on Nunavut Land Claims Agreement obligations in procurement related to CHARS, including the construction project, equipment procurement, and leased housing. This approach includes implementation of an Inuit Human Resources Plan that identifies targets for Inuit labour force participation, an Inuit Skills Development Plan for on-the-job training, and an Inuit Business Plan which provides for contracts to be awarded to Inuit-owned firms. To complete the construction of the CHARS campus, over 219,000 hours of Inuit employment worth over $7 million dollars have contributed to the Inuit Benefits Plan. Skills development activities worth $400,000 have been undertaken and $51.5 million in construction contracts have been awarded to firms registered under Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.
Sponsoring department: Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
Contracting authority: Public Services and Procurement Canada
Participating departments: Not applicable
Prime contractor: The construction contractor is the EllisDon Corporation (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) in joint venture with NCC Dowland Ltd. (Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada).
Major subcontractors: Subcontracting is managed by the EllisDon Corporation (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada).
| Major milestones | Date |
|---|---|
| Creation of CHARS announced | Speech from the Throne 2007 |
| CHARS feasibility: $2 million over 2 years | Budget 2009 |
| CHARS design: $18 million over 4 years | Budget 2010 |
| Cambridge Bay location announced by Prime Minister | August 2010 |
| CHARS mandate announced by Minister | December 2010 |
| Feasibility study | September 2011 |
| Request for proposal (RFP) for design consultant tendered | September 2011 |
| RFP for design consultant closed | November 2011 |
| Design consultant contract announced | August 2012 |
| RFP for construction management services tendered | November 2012 |
| RFP for construction management services closed | December 2012 |
| Site announced in Cambridge Bay | February 2013 |
| Construction management contract for advisory services awarded | June 2013 |
| Construction management contract for constructor services awarded | May 2014 |
| Begin site preparation | June 2014 |
| Begin construction | August 2014 |
| Complete design development | January 2015 |
| Complete land acquisition in Cambridge Bay | March 2015 |
| Complete Triplex Accommodation Buildings | November 2015 |
| Complete Field and Maintenance Building | March 2017 |
| Partial Substantial Completion of Main Research Building | July 2018 |
| Authority to Operate from Shared Services Canada | October 2018 |
| Performance Inspections | Fall 2018 |
| Completion of Deficiency Review Process | Winter 2018/2019 |
| Substantial Completion of the Main Research Building | *March 2019 |
| Commissioning and Civil Works | *Spring/Summer 2019 |
| Certificate for Completion of Construction | *October 2019 |
| *Anticipated milestones | |
Progress report and explanation of variances: Performance inspections, including those for the mechanical and electrical systems of the Main Research Building occurred in the fourth quarter of 2017–18. In June 2018, partial substantial performance was granted and access was allowed to the Main Research Building. The final phase of construction is focused on outstanding items, including aspects of the mechanical systems and civil works (i.e. outside road and landscaping).
Legislative authorities to transfer the administration of the federal real property from CIRNAC to the CHARS corporation are being sought by Order in Council.
The certificate for Completion of CHARS construction is expected in October 2019.