Northern Infrastructure Investment

The Key to Tomorrow

Infrastructure investment in Canada's northern regions results in economic development. The current and future development of Canada's North is closely linked to the provision of infrastructure systems, as well as the ability to generate business investment in northern regions. The maintenance and development of this infrastructure, especially the road, rail, air and marine transportation systems, is essential to provide northern regions with access to markets, resources and technology.

The following examples highlight northern road projects that will create economic activity. These projects represent only one component of the northern transportation system that requires an investment commitment. There is still a need to invest in airports, rail, and other northern infrastructure such as housing and telecommunications.

Trans Labrador Highway
The completion of this highway will provide a connection to communities, access to resources, as well as economic and tourism opportunities. The Trans Labrador Highway has been designated as part of the National Highway System connecting Labrador to the rest of Canada. The first two phases of the project have been completed at a cost of $196 million, with the final phase to be built at a cost of approximately $110 million. The total project will cover almost 1,200 kilometers.

Ontario's Commitment to Northern Highways
Northern Ontario has an extensive transportation network including 11,000 kilometers of highways and a 30,000-kilometre network of multi-purpose resource access roads serving Crown lands. In addition, a network of winter roads, spanning 3,000 kilometers provides access to 31 remote First Nations communities accessible only by air and water during the summer months. In 2005 the Government of Ontario announced the Northern Ontario Highways Strategy. The strategy provides a $1.8-billion, multi-year plan for highway improvements and expansion in the North and increases the investment by nearly 40 percent over five years.

Northwestern Canada Integrated Road Network Concept Plan
The Western Premiers adopted a concept plan in 1998 that outlined the development of highway connections between Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Saskatchewan and Yukon, based on economic development opportunities generated by enhancing access to resources in northwestern Canada. A large investment in the region's highway system will be necessary to successfully implement the Northwestern Canada Integrated Road Network Concept Plan. With the end result being improved social and economic linkages to markets, this is an important investment. For example Manitoba’s Highway Renewal Plan (2007-2012) includes $164 million for northern transportation infrastructure.

Northern Economic Infrastructure Strategy
The Saskatchewan government in 2005 committed $65.5 million over five years to undertake an ambitious program of building and upgrading community access roads and key economic corridors, while at the same time ensuring that northerners maximize the associated opportunities for employment and business contracts.

Northern Québec
Roads were built to gain access to the region's abundant natural resources, particularly mining deposits, forestry and hydroelectric projects, as well as to provide important connections to Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities. The Gouvernement du Québec continues to acknowledge the importance of these roads through investment into the maintenance and expansion of the transport system.

Nunavut
The Bathurst Inlet Road and Port project is essential infrastructure for the development of mineral resources in the West Kitikmeot region of Nunavut. Interest in this project is high among potential mineral developers in the region as the viability of mining developments is dependent on an effective route for materials supply and export of concentrate. In particular, the Izok and Hackett River base metal projects, which have an estimated net value of over $15 billion, can not be developed without this infrastructure. The Environmental Impact Statement for this project is expected to be completed in the fall of 2007 with project permitting to occur in 2008. Current cost estimates are in the range of $200 million.