[LINK] "Nunavut communities struggle with junked vehicles"

[rfmcdonald]

CBC News' Kieran Oudshoom reports on a serious problem in Iqaluit, Nunavut's capital.

It's that time of year — back to school for students and back to work for adults returning from vacation — and the renewed "rush minute" means the streets in larger Northern communities are packed with vehicles during peak hours.

Making matters worse, hundreds of new cars and trucks arrive in Nunavut by sealift every year with no means of removing the derelict vehicles they're replacing, and that's a big problem for communities such as Iqaluit.

Iqaluit Coun. Terry Dobbin says there are nearly 6,000 vehicles in the territory's capital, but only 30 kilometres of road. He says that's a huge number given the city's population, estimated at just above 8,000.

Dealing with old vehicles shouldn't just be the responsibility of the city, Dobbin says.

"If there was a small import levy that you could place on those vehicles when they were brought into the city, that way a system would be in place — a fund would be in place and available — when it's time to ship these vehicles back south."