Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the construction of an all-weather road through the Mackenzie Valley to the Arctic Coast has been a priority since the 1950s. The vision was born out of the federal recognition that northern transportation infrastructure was required to build the nation’s economy and support Canada’s sovereignty.
In 1972, Canada began constructing the Mackenzie Valley Highway. Extensive construction, survey, environmental and design work was carried out until 1976. One of the department’s current employees, Mr. Joe Cooke from Inuvik, was on the field crew working north surveying the alignment. He actually drove the final survey stake into the ground when they reached the connection with the Dempster Highway.
Mr. Speaker, this was a time of great hope and potential for the North and the nation. Unfortunately, it was overshadowed by increasing uncertainty regarding oil and gas development potential and escalating political and legal issues at the time. In 1977, following the release of the Berger inquiry, a moratorium on the oil and gas development, construction was halted and the federal government abandoned the route just 18 kilometres south of Wrigley.
The federal vision of a highway through the Mackenzie Valley has been carried forward as a Department of Transportation and GNWT priority
since the department’s first Transportation Strategy in 1990. The Mackenzie Valley Highway was reaffirmed in subsequent highway strategy documents including the Department of Transportation’s 2000 strategy, Investing in Roads for People and the Economy; the National Transportation Strategy, Looking to the Future, developed in 2005; and, the more recent Pan-northern Transportation Strategy released during the 16th Assembly, Northern Connections. It also
has been identified as a priority of this government; reinforced by its inclusion within the government’s strategic initiatives.
Mr. Speaker, as we all know, a strategy can only be fully realized if the necessary implementation funding is available. In an effort to secure federal funding, the department developed Corridors for Canada in 2002 and Corridors for Canada II in 2005. These proposals resulted in an investment of more than $41 million into the Mackenzie Valley winter road bridge and grade improvements. In 2006, the department also developed a stand-alone federal partnership funding proposal for the construction of the Mackenzie Valley Highway titled Connecting Canada: Coast to Coast to Coast. Connecting Canada received positive media coverage and public statements of support from the Chamber of Commerce, the NWT Business Coalition, community leaders and members of the public; however, it has not yet resulted in federal funding or partnership commitments to complete the route.
Mr. Speaker, while new road construction in the Territory remains a federal responsibility, the GNWT has not just been sitting back waiting for the federal government to finish this highway. The department has been making considerable progress. In 1995, the department completed the all-weather road as far as Wrigley and commenced operation of the Ndulee ferry. Beginning in 2001, through a funding partnership with INAC and through the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund, the department has invested in grade improvements and permanent bridge construction on the Mackenzie Valley winter road. These bridges have dramatically extended and stabilized the winter road season and reduced the environmental and safety risks associated with ice crossing construction. These improvements will ultimately
serve the future all-weather highway. A total of 37 bridges will soon be completed. The only outstanding major bridge will be at the Bear River crossing.
The department has also begun the construction of an access road from Tuktoyaktuk to source 177. The Tuktoyaktuk gravel access road marks a major step towards our long-term goal of a Mackenzie Valley Highway. This could become the first 19 kilometres of an all-weather Mackenzie Highway connecting from the Arctic Coast.
Mr. Speaker, this government plans to continue working towards the goal of connecting the Mackenzie Valley up to the Arctic Coast. New investment of $16 million on the Mackenzie Valley Winter Road is planned through the Reducing the Cost of Living Strategic Initiative. Additional investment could also flow from the recently announced federal economic stimulus package.
Aside from the major infrastructure improvements, planning and research work for the Mackenzie Valley Highway is also underway. We are currently finalizing an economic analysis which will update and quantify the benefits of constructing the route. Through the Reducing the Cost of Living Strategic Initiative, investments, substantial environmental baseline and socio-economic work valued at $2 million is planned between 2010 and 2012.
Mr. Speaker, within the last 10 years, the department has made significant progress towards the long-term goal of a Mackenzie Valley Highway. While the 2006 Connecting Canada proposal and the corresponding $700 million cost estimate needs some updating, the benefits outlined in the proposal, including reducing the cost of living, facilitating economic and resource development and enhancing Canada’s sovereignty still holds true today as they did 50 years ago.
It has been more than 30 years since the federal government abandoned the route. The political difficulties that impeded the completion of the Mackenzie Valley Highway over three decades ago have improved. There is a renewed interest in oil and gas exploration and development including aboriginal partnership. The recent downturn in the economy only strengthens the impetus to finish the construction of the Mackenzie Highway. Major investments in Canada’s future, investments in both its people and supporting infrastructure will stimulate the economy and position Canada to powerfully emerge from this economic crisis. The benefits of completing the Mackenzie Valley Highway are greater now than ever.
Mr. Speaker, the department will continue to pursue this long-standing priority. We will continue our efforts to partner with the federal government,
aboriginal governments and industry to push this project forward. All Northerners and all Canadians will benefit from a Canada connected from coast to coast to coast. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
