Investments in northern infrastructure and defense announced by Prime Minister Mark Carney last week was the topic of discussion for Northwest Territories MP and Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Rebecca Alty.
Alty said the investment reflects the federal government’s commitment to supporting northern residents.
“Not only are we looking to move forward one generation investment; we’re moving forward on three,” she said.
Projects announced include the Mackenzie Valley Highway project, the Arctic Economic and Security Corridor, and the Taltson hydro expansion project.
“There’s a big focus on the North, and I think it’s well needed.”
Alty also spoke about the opportunities these projects could bring to the North, recalling her experience visiting other northern communities in her former role as mayor of Yellowknife.
“You can see how much a community can do when they have access to ports, when they have access to roads, when they have access to reliable green power.”
“That’s where I think we can really unlock our potential here, not only in the resource sector, but in the food sector, in tourism. It’s really getting folks to think about those big opportunities with these investments.”
The minister expressed thanks to colleagues and previous leadership across the Northwest Territories for their commitment to advancing the projects.
“Local leadership and Indigenous leadership have been championing [The Mackenzie Valley Highway], territorial leadership, so I just really want to thank everybody.”
The Prime Minister also announced defense-based investments in Yellowknife, Inuvik, Iqaluit, and Goose Bay, including improvements to airports, as well as water and sewage infrastructure.
