INUVIK, NT and CALGARY, AB, Aug. 17,
2020 /CNW/ - ATCO Ltd. (TSX: ACO.X) (TSX: ACO.Y)
As joint owners of Nasittuq Corporation (Nasittuq), Pan Arctic
Inuit Logistics Corporation (PAIL) and ATCO Frontec today announced
they are pursuing the next Government of Canada contract to operate and maintain the
North Warning System (NWS)—a chain of radar sites spanning
Canada's northern coastline that
provides aerospace surveillance of North
America's airspace. The long-standing partners have also
signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), under which a
successful NWS bid enables PAIL to hold a scalable, majority
ownership interest in Nasittuq, which ATCO Frontec and PAIL have
jointly owned on a 50/50 basis since 2001.
"In ATCO, we have found a highly-competent partner that
understands the North and acknowledges the central role of Inuit
within it," said Patrick Gruben,
President, PAIL. "While Inuit have enjoyed a long-standing
association with ATCO, I don't view this MOU as just an extension
of an existing partnership—instead, it reflects an evolution in how
we will work together going forward."
Between 2001 and 2014, Nasittuq successfully operated and
maintained 47 different NWS sites in the Canadian Arctic, in
addition to three facilities in Ontario. During that period, Nasittuq
contributed significantly to Inuit economic development by
delivering multiple benefits including earnings, employment,
sub-contracting opportunities and Inuit professional development.
Nasittuq is currently active providing site support and management
services for the Ellesmere Island Commercial Support Contract in
Alert, Nunavut.
"ATCO Frontec has a proud and decades-long history in the North,
with investments and partnerships across all three northern
territories," said Jim Landon,
President, ATCO Frontec. "Our longstanding partnership with PAIL,
which is founded upon deep trust, respect and collaboration, is a
shining example of how we can deliver world-class technical
services, while creating sustainable socio-economic opportunities
for Inuit and northern communities."
The building and sustaining of Indigenous relationships are
hallmarks of ATCO's business, with more than 50 joint-ventures,
memorandums of understanding and other partnerships in place with
Indigenous communities – some that have lasted decades.
The NWS is a chain of radar sites and support facilities that
forms part of Canada's North
American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) agreement with the
United States. The NWS was established in 1985 to detect and
allow for an early response to potential threats entering North
American air space. In Canada, the North Warning System consists of
47 radar sites located along the Arctic Ocean: of these, 11 are
long-range radar sites, and 36 are short-range radar sites. The
Canadian facilities are remotely monitored and controlled from
North Bay, Ont. on a 24/7
basis.
About Pan Arctic Inuit Logistics
Corporation
Established in 1994, Pan Arctic Inuit Logistics
Corporation is wholly owned by the shareholder corporations that
represent the Inuit of Canada's
arctic regions: Inuvialuit Development Corporation; Nunasi
Corporation; Makivik Corporation; Nunatsiavut Group of Companies;
Qikiqtaaluk Corporation; Sakku Investments Corporation, and
Kitikmeot Corporation. PAIL Corporation's first initiative was to
pursue the award of the North Warning System operations and
maintenance contract through a Joint Venture with ATCO Structures
& Logistics. This partnership later became the Nasittuq
Corporation, a 50/50 joint venture between the two parties.
Nasittuq is on track to become majority-owned by PAIL Corporation
in 2020-2021.
About ATCO
With approximately 6,500 employees and
assets of $22 billion, ATCO is a
diversified global corporation with investments in the essential
services of Structures & Logistics (workforce and residential
housing, innovative modular facilities, construction, site support
services, workforce lodging services, facility operations and
maintenance, defence operations services, and disaster and
emergency management services); Utilities (electricity and natural
gas transmission and distribution and international electricity
operations); Energy Infrastructure (electricity generation, energy
storage and industrial water solutions); Retail Energy (electricity
and natural gas retail sales); Transportation (ports and
transportation logistics); and Commercial Real Estate. More
information can be found at www.ATCO.com.
For more information please contact:
PAIL
Patrick
Gruben
President, Pan Arctic Inuit Logistics Corporation
PGruben@inuvialuit.com
ATCO
Jim Landon
President, ATCO Frontec
T: 403-370-7372
Jim.Landon@atco.com
Media Inquiries:
Kelsey Bachler
Senior Advisor, Corporate Communications
T: 403-703-5345
SOURCE ATCO Ltd.