Nunavut MLA Ron Elliott says it seems like only baby steps have been taken on the High Arctic Transportation Strategy, which has been in the works for years.

Quttiktuq MLA Ron Elliott says the Nunavut government has been working on a plan to alleviate the high costs of transportation to the High Arctic communities since before he was elected. (CBC)

The plan would help people living in High Arctic communities with the cost of transportation.

Elliott, who represents the High Arctic communities of Arctic Bay, Resolute and Grise Fiord, says the Nunavut government has been working on a plan since before he was elected.

Economic Development and Transportation Minister Peter Taptuna says it's been longer than that.

“I think the discussions were on going before Nunavut became its own territory from N.W.T. days,” he said. “It's all been ongoing. There's been a lot of difficulty in coming up with solutions.”

Taptuna says once the plan is finished they will have recommendations to present to the federal and territorial governments. He couldn't say if that would be before the end of this assembly.

In 2010, the territorial government presented the communities with seven options to choose from, including the GN providing people in the High Arctic with two return air tickets a year and looking at changes to the airline routes.