Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I spoke to earlier today, one of the critical challenges for resource development in the NWT is lack of transportation infrastructure. In recent years climate change impacts are affecting that infrastructure through melting permafrost and shortened winter road seasons. Infrastructure challenges increase cost to families and business, as we know. They also add costs and challenges for the resource sector which compromises economic growth in the territory. I'd like to ask the Minister of Transportation what his department's plan is for addressing the challenges to transportation infrastructure in the NWT. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Transportation.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Department of Transportation is committed to addressing NWT's infrastructure deficit and improving the level of services provided by the NWT transportation system. The department has recently released a 25-year transportation strategy entitled “Connecting Us,” which will guide the actions, and maintain and improve existing infrastructure, expand the highway system to better connect communities and support economic development, and modernize transportation programs and policies to improve service delivery. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I know that most of us in here are aware, but in the interest of informing NWT residents, has the Department of Transportation identified which new road projects will be priorities for this government?
NWT's transportation strategy identifies three priority transportation corridors which the department is making an effort to advance. The first one is the Mackenzie Valley Highway, the second is the Tlicho all-weather road, and improved access to the Slave Geological Province.
Can the Minister of Transportation tell us why these three corridors were chosen to be priorities?
“Connecting Us,” the department's transportation strategy, identifies the long-term plans for the transportation system, so that the system can support and enable economic development. The strategy identifies three strategic transportation corridors because of the benefits that construction of all-weather roads in these regions will have on NWT residents and long-term economic stability. The Mackenzie Valley Highway will connect several communities to the public highway system, providing transportation efficiencies that will result in a reduced cost of living for residents. The highway will also provide access to a vast wealth of petroleum reserves in the region which could be tapped into to boost and diversify the NWT economy. Replacing the existing winter road would help us adapt to the pressures of climate change, which are reducing the window of access into the Mackenzie Valley.
The Tlicho all-season road would also improve access to communities in the region, resulting in lower cost of living. The road will support future development of the NICO-based mineral project and encourage further investment in the region. Lastly, the Slave Geological Province continues to be a major contributor to the NWT economy. Providing all-weather access into this region would help the NWT reach its full potential by supporting further mine development projects.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Lastly, I would like to know how the Department of Transportation is working to identify funding for these important construction projects. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The department is working closely with the federal government on funding of submissions for the NWT under the New Building Canada Plan to fund new road projects. A detailed business case was submitted to Canada in August 2015, requesting funding to begin construction of the Mackenzie Valley Highway from Wrigley to Norman Wells. We are still awaiting a response from the federal government regarding this request.
In addition, the GNWT submitted a proposal for the Tlicho all-weather road to the P3 Canada Fund for round 7 of funding consideration. We were informed that the project was screened in. At this time, we are working to provide any additional details that our federal counterparts may require as we await final decision on this project. The departments of Transportation and Finance continue to work on P3 business case's assessment to determine optimal routing for increasing access to the Slave Geological Province. Planning work underway includes detailed road analysis and cost estimates, and will provide information so that we can maximize long-term opportunities for Northerners.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.
