Check against delivery

Mr. Speaker, across the Northwest Territories, infrastructure projects are about much more than design, labour and raw materials. These critical projects encompass new opportunities to build, protect and connect the North for the benefit of all Northerners.

I am proud that the Government of the Northwest Territories is collaborating more closely than ever with Indigenous governments and working together to set priorities, design projects, and help build infrastructure across the territory. This work is grounded in respect, partnership, and a shared commitment to building projects that reflect local priorities and long-term community needs.

Mr. Speaker, one of the critical projects that reflects respectful collaboration is the Dehk’e Frank Channel Bridge Replacement Project, a major infrastructure initiative to replace the existing 1960s-era bridge on Highway No. 3 with a modern structure. In addition to two lanes, the new bridge will also feature a separate pedestrian and cyclist path, which will improve safety. In preparing for the future, the new bridge will also support growing traffic demands by enabling the removal of height and width restrictions that currently limit oversized and heavy loads essential for housing, construction, and industrial activity. It will also strengthen connectivity for communities in the North Slave region and enhance access for critical mineral development and trade along the national highway system. This project is being advanced by the Tłįchǫ-Kiewit General Partnership, an Indigenous-led joint-venture between the Tłįchǫ Investment Corporation and the Kiewit Corporation. The partnership’s recent work includes the construction of the Tłįchǫ Highway, a critical corridor providing year-round safe and reliable connectivity for the community of Whatì and the first Indigenous equity investment in a Canadian Private-Public Partnership project.

Construction of the Dehk’e Bridge began in late 2025, with the new bridge expected to open to traffic in fall 2027, and the old bridge removed by fall 2028. The Tłįchǫ-Kiewit General Partnership is working with the Government of the Northwest Territories to ensure the project is delivered in a way that reflects regional priorities, protects the land and water, prioritizes cultural considerations, and maximizes long-term benefits for communities.  

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Infrastructure is also working side-by-side with Indigenous governments on major corridor and access projects, that will improve access to services and support economic development, while respecting Indigenous leadership and knowledge.

We are collaborating on winter road and marine resupply systems that are essential to northern life, and Indigenous governments are key partners in planning, operations, and local employment for these critical links.

With energy projects, we are working with Indigenous governments on community power systems and renewable energy projects. These relationships support energy security and a more affordable and sustainable future.

At the community level, we are working together to build schools and health facilities in ways that support Indigenous procurement and training.

This commitment is reflected in the new Health and Social Services Centre in Tulita, nearing the end of construction. After many delays, this project is expected to be completed this spring. Local residents have been involved from the beginning, contributing to early construction work and now working with the builders on wayfinding and interior signage, including where to place murals throughout the building.

 Another new project is the Behchokǫ̀ school, where the concept design phase is nearing completion. The departments of Education, Culture and Employment and Infrastructure are working closely with the Tłįchǫ Government, the Tłįchǫ Community Services Agency, and the design consultant through an internal working group. This coordinated approach ensures that community priorities are reflected at every stage of planning and decision-making. Collaboration has been continuous, deliberate, and embedded in every step of the project’s development.

Mr. Speaker, this is what government-to-government collaboration looks like. With these principles and practices in hand, we are the leaders in Canada. We are building together, creating opportunities together, and improving regional and territorial economies. Our infrastructure projects are anchored in determination to make the Northwest Territories more resilient. These projects are aligned with the needs and aspirations of the people of the Territory and connect us to the rest of Canada.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.