Governments of Canada and the Northwest Territories Support NWT Highway Improvements and Community Economic Development Initiatives

YELLOWKNIFE, NORTHWEST TERRITORIES--(Marketwired - July 27, 2015) -

Dr. Colin Carrie, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Member of Parliament (MP) for Oshawa, on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, and on behalf of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of the Environment, Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor), and Minister for the Arctic Council today announced three important investments for several major highway development projects in the region. Dr. Carrie was joined by Bob McLeod, Premier of the Northwest Territories, Tom Beaulieu, NWT Minister of Transportation, and Robert C. McLeod, Minister Responsible for Infrastructure, for the event.

The Northwest Territories Highway Improvement Project will receive up to a maximum of $72 million to focus on rehabilitating highways and roads to enhance transportation systems in the North. It consists of eight components that are aimed at repairing aging linkages and improving structural capacity. The following roads and highways will be improved through this project:

Also announced today:

• The Northwest Territories Highway Corridors Project: The Government of Canada will invest $1.3 million to examine feasibility options for extending the operating season for winter roads used to supply goods and services to diamond mines.
• The Inuvialuit Community Economic Development Organization (ICEDO) Community Readiness Project: The Government of Canada will investment $2.1 million to help develop community readiness for the economic development opportunities linked to the construction of the highway between Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk in the Northwest Territories.

Quick Facts

• The Northwest Territories Highway Improvement Project has been selected for funding of up to 75 percent of eligible costs, to a maximum of $72 million under the New Building Canada Fund's Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component-National and Regional Projects. This funding is conditional on the project meeting applicable federal eligibility requirements with respect to the New Building Canada Fund and the signing of a contribution agreement.
• The Government of the Northwest Territories will contribute approximately $24 million to this improvement project, which has an estimated total cost of $96 million.
• The $53 billion New Building Canada Plan provides stable funding for a 10-year period, and includes:
  • The Community Improvement Fund, consisting of the Gas Tax Fund and the incremental Goods and Services Tax Rebate for Municipalities, which will provide over $32 billion to municipalities for projects such as roads, public transit and recreational facilities, and other community infrastructure.
  • The $14-billion New Building Canada Fund, which consists of:
    • The $4-billion National Infrastructure Component that will support projects of national significance; and
    • The $10-billion Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component for projects of national, regional and local significance. Of this amount, $1 billion for projects in communities with fewer than 100,000 residents through the Small Communities Fund.
  • An additional $1.25 billion in funding for the Public-Private Partnerships (P3) Canada Fund administered by PPP Canada.
• Over this ten-year period, the Northwest Territories will benefit from approximately $421 million in dedicated federal funding, including almost $163 million under the New Building Canada Fund.
• Through CanNor, the Government of Canada is contributing $3.4 million to the Northwest Territories Highway Corridors and ICEDO Community Readiness projects.
• The Government of the Northwest Territories will be contributing at least $850,000 to support these two initiatives. Other funding partners will be responsible for all remaining costs of the initiatives. The total estimated value of these two projects is over $4.9 million.

Quotes

"Our Government's support for public infrastructure has never been stronger. We are pleased to work with the Government of the Northwest Territories to approve projects under the New Building Canada Fund, to ensure that infrastructure funding continues to flow in the territory as we focus on creating jobs, promoting growth, and building strong, prosperous communities across Canada. We are proud to invest in road and highway improvements in the Northwest Territories which will focus on increased accessibility throughout the region."

Colin Carrie, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, and on behalf of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of the Environment, Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, Minister for the Arctic Council

"Infrastructure development is a vital part of our future, as a territory and as a country. Moving our vast natural resources to market requires significant and ongoing contributions from our Federal partners. Investments in transportation infrastructure, including improvements to existing highways, contribute to the economic prosperity of the NWT, lower the cost of living and improve the lives of our residents. We are pleased the Government of Canada shares our commitment to the North and is supporting the upgrade and repair of our roadways through their New Building Canada Fund."

Bob McLeod. Premier of the Northwest Territories

Related Products

Read the backgrounder to learn more.

Associated Links

To learn more about the New Building Canada Fund - Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component - National and Regional Projects, please visit http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/nrp-pnr-prog-eng.html.

For additional information on the New Building Canada Plan, visit http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/nbcp-npcc-eng.html.

For additional information about CanNor's Strategic Investments in Northern Economic Development Program and the Northern Aboriginal Economic Opportunities Program, visit http://www.cannor.gc.ca/eng/1351104567432/1351104589057

To learn more about the Northwest Territories please visit http://www.gov.nt.ca/

To learn more about the Government of Canada's focus on jobs and the economy consult Canada's Economic Action Plan at http://www.budget.gc.ca/2015/home-accueil-eng.html.