Project Overview 

Location: Northwest Territories (connecting southern NWT to Arctic communities) Project Type: All-season highway construction Proponent: Government of Northwest Territories, federal support Status: Strategic planning, Major Projects Office focus area 

Project Description 

All-season road providing year-round access to communities currently accessible only by winter roads or aircraft. Enables resource development in Slave Geological Province and improves community connectivity. 

Investment Value 

Estimated Capital: $1-2 billion CAD 

Indigenous Partnerships 

Land Claim Frameworks: Gwich'in, Sahtu, Tlicho, Dehcho First Nations Indigenous Government Consent: Modern land claim agreements require Indigenous government approval, not solely consultation 

Partnership Requirements: 

• Benefit-sharing arrangements 

• Environmental protection measures 

• Employment commitments 

• Potential equity participation 

Certainty Advantage: Indigenous government consent provides legal certainty once secured (unlikely legal challenges post-consent) 

Key Risks 

Moderate Risk: 

• Indigenous government approval requirements 

• Remote terrain construction challenges 

• Permafrost and climate considerations 

• Extended negotiation timelines 

Investment Opportunities 

• Resource development enabler 

• Community access improvement 

• Federal-territorial cost-sharing 

• Indigenous government partnership model