Check against delivery.
Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories is entering a pivotal moment. More than ever, Canada is recognizing the North’s role in the country’s economic future, Arctic sovereignty, security, and supply chains.
On March 12, the Prime Minister announced a new federal approach to advancing nation-building infrastructure and strengthening Arctic security. As part of that announcement, the Arctic Economic and Security Corridor, the Mackenzie Valley Highway, and the Taltson Hydro Expansion Project were all referred to the federal Major Projects Office.
Access to the Major Projects Office provides the Northwest Territories a powerful coordinating federal partner as these projects continue moving forward.
Mr. Speaker, the Mackenzie Valley Highway continues to make steady progress through the Environmental Assessment process. The analytical phase of the Environmental Assessment is nearing completion.
As well, in May, the GNWT and Pehdzéh Kı̨́ First Nation reached agreement on a new preferred corridor for the Dehcho portion of the project, an important example of collaboration helping move this work forward and a key milestone in continuing to progress the project. We have also been meeting with the land and water boards to ensure that we find an effective and efficient pathway to advance the whole of this project while maintaining the environmental and social standards this Territory expects.
Our team also continues to meet regularly with Indigenous governments from Wrigley through the Sahtu and to Inuvik to ensure their continued engagement in the development of this project.
Mr. Speaker, the Arctic Economic and Security Corridor is also gaining momentum as a strategic nation-building initiative for both the Northwest Territories and Canada.
Earlier this year, the Tłı̨chǫ Government, the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, and the GNWT signed a Memorandum of Understanding to advance collaborative planning and leadership for the project. Since then, work has progressed on route selection, governance, and regulatory matters. We also recognize that other Indigenous governments have traditional interests across this region. As the project advances, the GNWT will meet its consultation obligations and identify opportunities to support meaningful participation and maximum benefits for the Northwest Territories.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, the Taltson Hydro Expansion Project remains one of the most significant opportunities to deliver clean, reliable power to communities and industry. The project will expand hydroelectric capacity, connect 11 communities to a unified hydro grid and reduce reliance on imported diesel.
This project is a partnership with Indigenous governments and Indigenous organizations. Last month, several Indigenous partners signed a Letter of Intent in support of establishing a commercial vehicle to streamline participation in the Taltson project. At the same time, work continues on project planning, commercial arrangements, regulatory preparation, and progress toward resolving long-standing legacy impacts associated with the existing Taltson facility. After much advocacy by our team and Indigenous governments MOU partners, the federal government finally has a new mandate to formally engage with each Indigenous partner and find resolution of legacy impacts through a reconciliation-focused approach.
These projects represent more than infrastructure. They are long-term investments in Arctic sovereignty, economic reconciliation, energy security, climate resilience, and Northern prosperity.
Work on these projects is advancing daily. Our team is engaged in near-daily meetings with community, regional and Indigenous governments, as well as weekly meetings with assigned supports from the Major Projects Office. In short, the pace of the work on all of these projects has accelerated to meet the moment and the opportunities before us. Our goal remains, to transform the Northwest Territories, strengthening our connection to the rest of the country and positioning the North as a more integrated and strategic part of Canada than ever before.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.