Archived - Status report on transformational and major Crown projects
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Canadian High Arctic Research Station
Description: The Canadian High Arctic Research Station Act, which came into force on June 1, 2015, established Polar Knowledge Canada, a new federal research organization that combines the mandate and functions of the Canadian Polar Commission and the Canadian High Arctic Research Station program. The new organization is responsible for advancing Canada's knowledge of the Arctic and strengthening Canadian leadership in polar science and technology.
The new research facility in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut will attract Canadian and international scientists to work on science and technology issues in Canada's North and provide a technology development centre, traditional knowledge centre and advanced laboratories. This station is being built by Canadians to serve the world, and engage Northerners in cutting-edge science and technology. The management of the station's construction will remain with the Department until it is complete. Funding authorities for the construction of the station are set to expire in 2018–2019. This profile and funding covers the capital investment and construction period only. The formal management arrangement and program development will be undertaken as of April 2019 by Polar Knowledge Canada.
Project outcomes:
- This project will give researchers a world-class science and technology platform in Canada's Arctic. The business case will use performance indicators to determine if this goal has been reached.
- Project beneficiaries will include scientists, Northerners, and all Canadians.
Industrial benefits:
- The station's design and construction will create jobs in Nunavut's Kitikmeot region, throughout the North, and in specialized sectors in southern Canada.
- The initiative will meet Canada's consultation and procurement requirements under the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act, including Inuit and Northern involvement in its construction. Demand for goods and services will benefit local and regional businesses, and the construction manager will offer an Inuit Benefits Plan that respects land claim requirements.
- Through involvement in the station's planning and construction, Northerners will gain new skills and career experience.
Sponsoring department: Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs
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).
Project phase:
Construction: Two triplex accommodations buildings and the Field and Maintenance Building are complete. The Main Research Building is currently under construction. Commissioning will be complete in 2018.
| 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 proposals evaluated — Phase 1 | December 2011 |
| Seek decisions on construction funding | Winter 2012 |
| Design consultant proposals evaluated — Phase 2 | February 2012 |
| Design consultant contract announced | August 2012 |
| RFP for construction management services tendered | November 2012 |
| RFP for construction management services closed | December 2012 |
| RFP for construction management services evaluated | January 2013 |
| Site announced in Cambridge Bay | February 2013 |
| Consultation with Cambridge Bay residents | February 2013 |
| Construction management contract for advisory services awarded | June 2013 |
| Complete design development | Winter 2014 |
| Complete land acquisition in Cambridge Bay | Spring 2014 |
| Begin construction | Fall 2014 |
| Finalize design | 2014–2015 |
| Complete triplex accommodations | Fall 2015 |
| Complete field and maintenance building | Spring 2017 |
| Complete main research building | Summer 2017 |
| Commissioning complete | 2018 |
| Transfer assets | To be determined |
Progress report and explanation of variances:
- This Major Crown Project is largely operational and should be fully commissioned by 2018.
- The estimated cost by the end of 2018–2019 of designing, building, equipping and fitting up the station, and having Polar Knowledge Canada implement the Science and Technology Program, is about $250 million.
- INAC is responsible for the project to design, build, equip and fit up the station — an estimated cost of $204.8 million.
- The remaining $46 million to implement the Science and Technology Program was provided by INAC and is now administered by Polar Knowledge Canada.
By April 2018, Polar Knowledge Canada will operate the station and oversee the program at an estimated cost of $26.5 million per year.