Masi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] Mr. Speaker, today, I would like to make a statement regarding the highway to Whati and how the contracts were given out regarding the employment. There is a lot of employment that will go into it. It is going to be a three-year contract. We are hoping that we include a lot of training on the job and also businesses. I would like to say a few things regarding that. [Translation ends]
Whati all-season road is a P3 project with a 20 percent Tlicho Government partnership with the main contractor North Star Infrastructure, a non-NWT company. The project includes expected construction costs of $213.8 million, and project costs of $410 million over a 25-year period. The project agreement for road construction is a three-year contract. Construction work started five months ago, approximately.
Mr. Speaker, with a P3 project of this magnitude, there is a requirement that nearby communities will benefit during the life of the project through employment, training, and business contracts. From the earliest planning stages, the territorial government assured the Tlicho that its residents and business would benefit. Sadly, Mr. Speaker, the local benefits provision of the Tlicho project agreement the GNWT and the contractor have not lived up to expectations. Behchoko is home to numerous qualified Heavy Equipment Operators, but after five months, the on-site contractor has not hired one of them. Instead, they watch in frustration as a van delivers non-northern and Yellowknife-based heavy equipment operators to the work site. I've seen it and witnessed it myself, Mr. Speaker. I've witnessed it. I drive the road from here to Behchoko on a frequent basis.
Mr. Speaker, it's time that business opportunities, most contractors are going to companies from outside of Behchoko, even outside the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, this is not acceptable. The construction site is located in the heart of the Tlicho, between the Wek'eezhii Boundary and Monfwi Gogha De Niitlee Boundary.
Mr. Speaker, the window of opportunity is closing for the Tlicho. The new road opens in 2022, then the jobs, training, business opportunities will be gone. We must move now to rectify this unacceptable situation. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to work with the Minister of Infrastructure to ensure that Tlicho is not left out. I will have questions for the Minister of Infrastructure at the appropriate time. Masi.