The Government of Canada invests in transportation infrastructure in the Northwest Territories

YELLOWKNIFE, June 27, 2018 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada supports infrastructure projects that create quality middle-class jobs and boost economic growth. Enhancing the northern transportation system supports and promotes economic growth and social development, offers job opportunities, increases the resilience of the northern transportation system in a changing climate, and ensures that it adapts to innovative technologies.

Today, the Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs, on behalf of the Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport, announced a major investment of $102.5 million for a project that will reduce the cost of essential goods and help local businesses compete by moving goods to market.

This funding supports several key phases of the longer-term, Mackenzie Valley Highway project:

• construction of a bridge over the Great Bear River, which will improve the resiliency of the winter road to climate change, enhance safety, extend the number of operating days of the winter road by two to four weeks, and enhance the efficiency of community resupply operations;
• construction of a 15 kilometre all-weather road from Wrigley north to Mount Gaudet; and
• next steps in moving forward with the Mackenzie Valley Highway, including environmental and planning studies. The studies will inform final routing and design for the eventual construction of the all-weather highway, leading to obtaining permits for road construction.

The Government of Northwest Territories is contributing $37.5 million to the project for a total combined investment from both governments of $140 million.

This project is expected to have significant economic and employment benefits by creating an estimated 400 jobs over the life of the project.

The Government of Canada is supporting infrastructure projects that contribute most to Canada's continued success in international trade. For example, projects being funded will:

• address the unique transportation needs in Canada's territorial North to improve safety and foster economic and social development;
• support economic activity and the physical movement of goods and people in Canada;
• help the transportation system withstand the effects of climate change and make sure it is able to support new technologies and innovation;
• address transportation bottlenecks and congestion along Canada's trade corridors; and
• increase the fluidity of Canadian trade around the world through our ports, airports, roads, railways, intermodal facilities, bridges and border crossings.

Provincial, territorial and municipal governments, Indigenous groups, not-for-profit and for-profit private-sector organizations, federal Crown Corporations, Canadian Port Authorities, and National Airport System Airport Authorities are all eligible for funding under the National Trade Corridors Fund.

Quotes

"By better connecting communities, we are helping to strengthen the North, grow its economy, create opportunities for communities, all of which help build stronger families. Better roads and infrastructure also means more people can come experience the majesty of the North for themselves and share in the experience."

The Honourable Carolyn Bennett
Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs

"Our Government has demonstrated a clear commitment to the North. Enhancing the northern transportation system supports and promotes economic growth and social development, offers job opportunities, and ensures greater connectivity for Northerners."

The Honourable Marc Garneau
Minister of Transport

"Today's funding announcement matters because it demonstrates that we can turn our vision of economic prosperity and opportunity for all of our residents of the Northwest Territories into reality by working together. This funding will help advance projects that our communities, residents and businesses have been promoting for years, and allows for important planning work to continue to move the Mackenzie Valley Highway project forward."

The Honourable Bob McLeod
Premier of the Northwest Territories

"This funding announcement is of great significance to the Northwest Territories and supports key components of the larger Mackenzie Valley Highway project. Highway infrastructure plays a very important part in in the longevity and health of our communities. Not just because of the connections it will make, but also because of the skills, training and economic benefit opportunities that construction projects bring to the communities and the people of the north.

The Honourable Wally Schumann
Minister of Infrastructure for Northwest Territories

"I am pleased to see this project going ahead. Extending the operating days of the winter road greatly improves the flow of goods to Northern communities, allows for more inter-community travel and will help decrease the cost of living.  The additional jobs from construction are a much needed boost to the Sahtu region"

Michael McLeod
Member of Parliament for Northwest Territories

Quick Facts

• The National Trade Corridors Fund is designed to allow the government to address the most important capacity constraints and freight bottlenecks on a national and system-wide basis, as well as addressing Canada's territorial North specific issues including safety and economic development.
• All-season highways and winter ice roads in the North handle more than 1.2 million tonnes of freight traffic each year. This project will improve the efficiency and safety of vital transportation links to communities in Northwest Territories and support economic and social development of northern Canadians.

Related Product

• National Trade Corridors Fund Backgrounder

Associated Links

• Trade and Transportation Corridor Initiative
• Investing in Canada Plan
• Transportation 2030
• Mackenzie Valley Highway Backgrounder

Backgrounder

National Trade Corridors Fund

The $2 billion National Trade Corridors Fund is one component of the $180 billion Investing in Canada Plan, the Government of Canada's strategy for addressing long-term infrastructure needs in Canada and supporting middle-class growth and well-paying jobs. The quality of Canada's transportation infrastructure and the efficiency of the country's trade corridors is key to the success of Canadian firms in the global marketplace.

The Government of Canada is providing support for well-functioning trade corridors that will allow Canadians to compete in key global markets and trade more efficiently with international partners. It represents a long-term commitment by the Government of Canada to work with stakeholders on strategic infrastructure projects that help to address transportation bottlenecks, vulnerabilities and congestion along Canada's trade corridors.

The National Trade Corridors Fund is also a key element of Transportation 2030, the Minister of Transport's strategic plan for the future of transportation. The development of this vision, including the National Trade Corridors Fund, has been informed by extensive engagement with Canadians from coast to coast to coast, along with insights contained in the 2015 Canada Transportation Act Review report.

The National Trade Corridors Fund is a merit-based program designed to help infrastructure owners and users invest in the critical assets that support economic activity and the physical movement of commercial goods and people in Canada.

A total of $2 billion over 11 years has been allocated for the National Trade Corridors Fund, including up to $400 million in dedicated funding for Northern territorial transportation infrastructure.

Provincial, territorial and municipal governments, Indigenous groups, not-for-profit and for-profit private-sector organizations, federal Crown Corporations, Canadian Port Authorities, and National Airport System Airport Authorities were invited to submit proposals to Transport Canada which were then evaluated against the eligibility criteria for the program.

Types of projects that meet the eligibility criteria include, for example, ports, airports, roads, railways, intermodal facilities, international bridges and border crossings ? assets that are the primary building blocks of the supply chains that enable the physical exchange of goods around the world and also support the critical movement of people and goods in Canada's Northern territories.

In addition to the $2 billion of investments under the National Trade Corridors Fund, the Canada Infrastructure Bank will invest at least an additional $5 billion to address trade and transportation projects.

SOURCE Transport Canada