Northwest Territories Premier R.J. Simpson says Budget 2025 includes important investments that align with Northern priorities. New federal commitments for infrastructure, health care, critical minerals, and Arctic security will help advance community well-being, strengthen sovereignty, and unlock economic opportunities across the Northwest Territories.

“This budget recognizes that Canada’s North is central to the country’s future. When Ottawa invests in the North, it builds healthy communities, creates new opportunities for Northerners, and helps shape a stronger, more united Canada,” said Premier Simpson.

“For the first time, Arctic energy and transportation corridors are on the map. That shows the federal government is hearing what we’ve been saying about the North’s importance to Canada’s future. The budget commits more than $115 billion for infrastructure over the next five years and expands the Canada Infrastructure Bank’s lending capacity to $45 billion. This creates new opportunities for Northern clean energy, port, and telecommunications projects that require blended financing, including the Taltson Hydro Expansion and other strategic infrastructure that secures Canada’s Arctic and Northern future.

“The new Arctic Infrastructure Fund and Trade Diversification Corridors Fund will strengthen transportation and export capacity in rural, remote, and Indigenous regions. This supports our push to advance the next generation of strategic infrastructure, including the Mackenzie Valley Highway and the Arctic Economic and Security Corridor. These projects will connect communities, strengthen sovereignty, and grow Canada’s northern economy.

“Budget 2025 also commits $67 million to accelerate regulatory processes and consultation capacity in the North, helping advance major projects in partnership with Indigenous governments. We welcome this focus on efficiency and inclusion, as it will ensure Northern voices help shape projects from the start while providing certainty to investors and supporting more predictable project timelines.

“Budget 2025 puts real capital behind nation-building through the new Build Communities Strong Fund and Health Infrastructure Fund for emergency rooms, urgent care, and other critical health facilities. We will work to bring those investments north to the roads, water systems, and health infrastructure that connect and sustain our communities.

“Health access in the Arctic is now a federal priority, which we welcome. However, we are disappointed that there was no clear commitment in this budget to strengthen Jordan’s Principle and Inuit Child First funding. Northerners continue to face significant barriers to care and support services, and we will keep pressing the federal government to close those gaps with more front-line staff, better medical travel support, and improved care closer to home.

“We are also encouraged to see renewed attention to affordability through the planned review of Nutrition North Canada. The high cost of living continues to challenge Northerners, and we hope that the upcoming review will produce practical solutions that make a real difference for families and communities.

“The budget expands the Critical Mineral Exploration Tax Credit and establishes a $2-billion Critical Minerals Sovereign Fund. These measures will help advance responsible development in resource-rich regions like the Slave Geological Province. We also anticipate that new research investments through the BOREALIS initiative and expanded aerial firefighting capacity will further support safety, innovation, and community resilience across the North.

“We are also encouraged to see continued federal attention to housing, which remains one of the most urgent challenges across the North. Safe, affordable homes are the foundation of healthy communities and economic growth.

“Taken together, these measures have the potential to support economic growth, environmental stewardship, and community resilience across the Northwest Territories. There is still more to learn about the details of these initiatives, but the direction is encouraging and reflects many of the priorities we have been advancing together. We will be engaging quickly with the Government of Canada to ensure these commitments translate into real projects and lasting benefits for Northerners, businesses, and our Indigenous government partners.

“Our message is simple: investing in the North is good for the country. It is more than regional policy; it is nation-building. The North is where Canada’s future is being built.”

Media Requests:
Cabinet Communications
Government of the Northwest Territories
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