Mr. Speaker, this Assembly speaks frequently of the need for fundamental change to how our government does business, most notably in how we care for one another. This work is progressing through government renewal, pushes for holistic reviews of income security, and medical travel, and a call for a shift to client-focused trauma-informed wraparound integrated service delivery. This kind of change doesn't get your name on your bridge or a building but is necessary for a prosperous NWT that closes gaps, is equitable, and readies us for growth.
To effectively care for Northerners, we need a balanced system that sustainably supports both social programs and services and innovative business development.
During our 2019 election, over 400 businesses identified five key pillars to strengthen northern business, grow our population and contribute to long term NWT prosperity and coined it "vote growth". Fibre redundancy was one of those five pillars.
Mr. Speaker, we live in a digital age where business and care supports rely on internet access. COVID has further expanded our broadband reliance in education, health care, and access to public health, and therefore, safety information.
Yellowknife serves over half the territory with only one fibre line and no redundancy. A one day outage in Yellowknife is said to result in an estimated GDP loss of $4.75 million and much more in missed health appointments and educational opportunities.
2019's vote growth asked the GNWT to fund and build redundant fibre lines by December 31, 2021. While completing this project in the next 35 days is not possible, yesterday Deton Cho announced its intention to pursue public funding for an Indigenous-owned submarine fibre line under Great Slave Lake. The company signed a memorandum of understanding with Northwestel to collaborate on the fibre project and bring greater telecommunications resiliency to nine communities in the Great Slave Lake region.
The new fibre loop would provide added protection to services in nine NWT communities: Fort Smith, Fort Resolution, Hay River, Fort Providence, Behchoko, Whati, Dettah, N'dilo and Yellowknife. But while both entities committed to significant financial resources, they require public sector funding to make this work, Mr. Speaker.
This is a great news story for the whole territory, and I look forward to speaking with the Minister of Finance about achieving this milestone through an Indigenous-led partnership that results in Indigenous-owned infrastructure. Thank you.