This news release is being distributed on behalf of Members for Sahtu, Mackenzie Delta and Nahendeh. It represents the views of the Members, not the views of the Legislative Assembly or other Members.
(YELLOWKNIFE) Thursday, February 12, 2026 – The Government of the Northwest Territories, in partnership with the Government of Canada, must reaffirm its commitment to the Mackenzie Valley Highway (MVH) as a nation-building infrastructure project that will strengthen Canadian sovereignty in the Arctic while delivering economic opportunities to Northern communities. Built in two phases, the all-season highway will connect Wrigley to Inuvik, traversing the Dehcho, Sahtu, and Beaufort Delta regions, establishing a critical transportation corridor through Canada's resource-rich Northwest Territories.
Urgent Call for Federal Partnership and Commitment
With only 18 months remaining in the current territorial government’s mandate, immediate federal commitment is required to move the Mackenzie Valley Highway from planning to construction.
- Decades of consultation and assessment have positioned the project to proceed
- Further delays risk setting the project back years
- Federal and territorial governments must act now to secure funding and deliver this nation‑building infrastructure
Quotes
“The Mackenzie Valley Highway is about asserting Canadian sovereignty at a time when our Arctic faces unprecedented international attention,” said Daniel McNeely, MLA for Sahtu. “For the Sahtu region, this project unlocks access to our mineral and energy resources while creating real opportunities for our people. This is infrastructure that serves both the national interest and Northern communities.”
“For our young people, the Mackenzie Valley Highway represents connection and opportunity,” said George Nerysoo, MLA for Mackenzie Delta. “It reduces isolation, lowers the cost of living, and provides access to jobs, education, and services while respecting our cultures and relationship with the land.”
“The Mackenzie Valley Highway is more than gravel and bridges; it is a lifeline that binds Nahendeh, Sahtu and Mackenzie Delta to the heart of Canada, weaving together families, economies, and cultures. Its steady progress upholds our sovereignty, uplifts residents with access to opportunity, and reinforces a nation where every road leads home.” Said Shane Thompson, MLA for Nahendeh
Strengthening Sovereignty Through Strategic Infrastructure
The Mackenzie Valley Highway is critical to Canada’s national interest and Arctic sovereignty by:
- Establishing permanent, year‑round infrastructure that reinforces Canada’s presence in the Western Arctic
- Improving through dual access for the Canadian Armed Forces and federal agencies to monitor and respond in Northern regions
- Supporting permanent settlement and economic activity in areas facing growing international attention
- Demonstrating Canada’s long‑term commitment to Northern development amid climate change and global competition for Arctic resources
Unlocking Resource Wealth and Economic Prosperity
The MVH would enable responsible development of Northern resources by:
- Providing access to major deposits of critical minerals, precious metals, oil and gas, and forestry resources
- Reducing transportation costs and making previously uneconomic projects viable
- Strengthening Canada’s supply of critical minerals essential to clean energy, technology, and national security
- Generating long‑term GDP growth, tax revenue, and economic activity well beyond the extraction sector
Connecting Communities and Building National Unity
Reliable, year‑round road access would transform life in the Mackenzie Valley by:
- Ending seasonal isolation during spring breakup and fall freeze‑up
- Reducing the cost of living by lowering transportation costs for food, fuel, and building materials
- Improving access to healthcare, education, employment, and services
- Supporting tourism and enabling Northern businesses to access Southern markets
- Strengthening social and economic ties between Northern and Southern Canada
Employment and Training Opportunities
The MVH would create lasting employment and business opportunities, including:
- Hundreds of construction‑phase jobs in heavy equipment operation, engineering, environmental monitoring, and project management
- Long‑term employment in highway maintenance, transportation, tourism, and resource development
- Targeted hiring and training for Northern and Indigenous residents
- Partnerships with Aurora College, Indigenous governments, and industry to deliver skills training
- New opportunities for Indigenous development corporations and Northern entrepreneurs
Alignment with Canada's Arctic Strategy
The project directly supports Canada’s Arctic and Northern Policy Framework by:
- Advancing sovereignty, sustainable economic development, and community infrastructure
- Supporting federal priorities for critical minerals and Northern development
- Proceeding through collaborative environmental assessment and impact benefit agreements with Indigenous governments
Quick Facts
- Approximately 800 km of new all‑season highway connecting Wrigley to Inuvik
- Completes a continuous road corridor from Southern Canada to the Beaufort Sea
- Estimated $58.9 billion contribution to Canada’s GDP over 30 years
- 300–500 direct jobs during peak construction and 50+ permanent positions in operations and maintenance
- Transportation cost reductions of 25–40% for Northern communities
- Developed in partnership with Indigenous governments through consultation, environmental assessment, and impact benefit agreements
For further information, please contact:
DANIEL MCNEELY, SAHTU
@email
GEORGE NERYSOO, MACKENZIE DELTA
@email
SHANE THOMPSON, NAHENDEH
@email