$405M announcement for MVH brings excitement and calls for preparation

Those situated along the proposed Mackenzie Valley Highway route are excited about the federal $405 million investment, but say a lot of work is ahead.

Tuesday’s announcement included funding to finalize a portion of the Mackenzie Valley Highway’s environmental assessment, its design between Wrigley and Norman Wells, the construction of the Great Bear River Bridge near Tulita, and preliminary design and engineering work for two other bridges along the route.

Sahtu MLA Danny McNeely called the announcement a “wonderful sigh of relief,” saying the investment brings “prosperity and security and certainty” to residents and businesses in the region. 

McNeely said the funding will allow the Sahtu to move ahead with workforce training and other preparations for the highway.

The 2028 construction start and 2032 completion timeline proposed by the territorial government realistic and achievable, said McNeely.

Speaking at a press conference in Yellowknife on Tuesday, Steven MacKinnon, the federal transport minister, said the federal government wants to “begin essentially immediately” on the highway’s pre-construction, mobilization and construction.

MacKinnon said a highway from the south to the Arctic Ocean was “a compelling piece of the puzzle in terms of economic development.”

“But perhaps most importantly, for the people who live in the territory, it will change life for the better,” said MacKinnon.

“When you can imagine driving to an appointment or going to see relatives in a neighbouring, but not-so-close-by community, we think that the Mackenzie Valley Highway will change life for the people here in so many positive ways.”

Joshua Earls, president of the Norman Wells & District Chamber of Commerce, said he was “absolutely thrilled” by the announcement after attending it in person.

Earls said it was encouraging to see the optimism and excitement among Indigenous leaders and Sahtu representatives, and said he hopes the investment is “only the start of what is yet to come.”

In Inuvik, the town’s marketing and communications coordinator, Emilie Leneveu, said the announcement is a piece of good news, but described the proposed timeline as ambitious.

“We’re confident that if the project is underway towards the Norman Wells area, it will eventually make its way here and we’re really excited to see this come to fruition,” said Leneveu.

Dehcho Grand Chief Herb Norwegian said the funding was “long awaited,” though he said that some work still needs to be done to ensure First Nations have given full consent and communities along the route – like the Pehdzéh Kı̨́ First Nation – have the resources to serve the existing population, which could grow once construction begins.

“They need the whole fledge of social help in order to actually deal with the impact that’s going to come with [the highway],” said Norwegian.

Caroline Wawzonek, the territory’s strategic infrastructure minister, said that some of these concerns fall under community readiness, plans for which the GNWT has previously said are underway.

Wawzonek said readiness involves employment training so people are well prepared to fill positions as they open up. It also includes being ready for a possible increased presence of alcohol and illicit drugs in the community and increased demand for emergency services.

“Speaking of the Pehdzéh Kı̨́ First Nation specifically, Wawzonek said the GNWT has a work plan in place with the First Nation to help design the highway and route.”

“We really want to have a position where, as we move forward as a proponent of the project, we’re doing that while ensuring that we’re maintaining contact,” said Wawzonek.

“If the community is saying, ‘look, something’s not working from a community perspective, we won’t be able to accommodate more workers or accommodate emergency services,’ we are filling those gaps in as we go,” said Wawzonek.

Norwegian said communities along the highway are equal partners regardless of their size, and said “a good portion” of the construction work should go to First Nations contractors.

“We also need to get our people excited for work because people want work and they’re ready to go to work,” said Norwegian.

He called on NWT Premier RJ Simpson and Prime Minister Mark Carney to visit the Dehcho for an in depth discussion “about the things that would work and the things that [the territorial and federal governments] need support on, so that they can continue to move forward with their project.”

“It’s a joint effort and that’s how this partnership should should work,” said Norwegian.

Natasha Bulowski contributed reporting.