November 17, 2010 - The Minister of Transportation, Michael McLeod, highlights the value and next steps of the Mackenzie Valley Highway.

The Northwest Territories is poised and ready to craft the newest chapters in the epic tale that is Canada’s history.

We believe our part of this rich story can provide a solution to many of the challenges facing Canada today. From realizing Arctic sovereignty to generating extraordinary opportunities for job creation and economic growth, Canada’s Northwest Territories is positioned to be a key element in the restoration of a sustainable national economy.

However, without appropriate policy action and strategic infrastructure investments, opportunities to develop these next chapters of our collective story may be lost. Tapping the unlimited potential of our Territory depends on investments being made in the right areas at the right time.

A good example of the right investment is the long-proposed construction of an all-weather road through the Mackenzie Valley to Tuktoyaktuk on the Arctic coast.

Long dubbed the “road to resources” it would unlock our vast storehouse of renewable and non-renewable energy resources - oil and gas, minerals, metals, rare earths and a huge untapped potential for hydroelectric power development.

As important, it would strengthen connections between our communities, reduce living costs, and make northern businesses more competitive; ultimately providing a dramatic demonstration of Canada’s commitment to Arctic sovereignty through the realization of vibrant, dynamic and healthy communities in our North.

And, in the face of warmer winter and the rising cost of maintaining our network of winter roads and ice bridges, the need for an all-weather link through our Territory is accentuated even further.

A major milestone was reached for the proposed Mackenzie Valley Highway with the announcement of a funding from Canada and the Government of the Northwest Territories to complete Project Description Reports documenting the logistical, engineering, and environmental factors needed to proceed through the regulatory and construction phases of building this highway.

In large part, this work is now being led by our community and Aboriginal partners along the proposed highway route – united, for the first time, in their agreement to allow this vital piece of infrastructure to cross through their traditional lands.

More than half a century of planning and preparation have brought us to this point, where the highway can move forward once sufficient resources are committed, particularly by the federal government.

The strategic value of the Mackenzie Valley Highway has been detailed repeatedly in documents including Connecting Canada: Coast to Coast to Coast and most recently, Northern Connections.

There is a lot at stake, not only for the NWT but for Canada as a whole. A recently completed economic analysis of the initiative estimates that it would generate: 14,000 jobs during construction, $15.7 million in additional disposable income annually, a 20% increase in tourism and savings of up to $2.2 billion for the oil and gas industry should the proposed Mackenzie Gas Project proceed.

Next Steps

A national railway uniting Canada from coast to coast once seemed nothing more than a dream. It took political leaders with the courage to move forward in the face of great challenges to make that dream a reality – setting the stage for Canada’s success in the decades that followed.

As in that earlier era, there is a need for both vision and foresight to complete Canada’s national highway system from coast to coast to coast.

The benefits of this highway to all Canadians have been recognized for more than 50 years.  A serious national investment in the NWT’s transportation infrastructure is now needed if Canadians are to benefit from the incredible potential of the North’s resources.

The world will soon be knocking at our door. Canada cannot afford to allow this opportunity to pass because they didn’t have the commitment or the foresight to provide a means of accessing our resources.

It is time to move forward on this vital infrastructure project. The people of Canada deserve no less.