There's been plenty of talk about supporting smaller, local Canadian businesses amid U.S. President Donald Trump's threats of tariffs and annexation. Some of the country's larger projects are getting support in various corners as well.
Take, for example, the Slave Geological Province Corridor (SGPC), a proposed all-season road connecting the NWT to the Nunavut border. Executive director for the NWT and Nunavut Chamber of Mines, Karen Costello, said recent geopolitical events have caused an enhanced awareness of its benefits, not only to the NWT but also Canada's Arctic security.
"We should seize the opportunity to move this project forward," she said.
Costello said the corridor would serve as a key transportation route, supporting resource exploration and development while connecting to southern transport networks and a deep-water port in Nunavut. Between the two initiatives, Costello said it represents a chance for both territories to realize the benefits of their mineral potential.
It's unlikely a project of this magnitude will ever materialize without the support of Indigenous governments, however. A statement from the Yellowknives Dene First Nation (YKDFN) reads that, while it acknowledges the corridor's potential benefits, it also expresses concerns regarding current routing, meaningful participation and safeguarding Section 35 Indigenous rights enshrined in the Constitution.
"While acknowledging the project's increased relevance amid shifting regional dynamics, YKDFN emphasizes the necessity of collaborative dialogue to address these issues. We seek a development approach that balances economic opportunities with environmental stewardship and respect for our inherent rights," the First Nation's statement reads.
Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce president Mark Henry voiced his support for the corridor. He suggested that the city is at pivotal point in its history and now is the time to define itself.
One of the ways the corridor helps do that is by giving a clear example of what Arctic sovereignty can look like, he explained.
"Sovereignty has been talked about in a very vague way for years," said Henry. He described Arctic sovereignty as an axe. At its edge is the military, but what supports it, the wedge, so to speak, is infrastructure. Infrastructure, in this case, would be the corridor.
Henry also mentioned that the Slave Geological Province is a relatively untapped major mineral resource centre.
"We know that's a rich ore body and one of the constraints to accessing it is infrastructure," he said. "So a roadway through that area will drive massive economic development."
The proposed road would run from Yellowknife, making the city a hub of whatever economic activity the road can help produce, Henry remarked.
"From a Yellowknife perspective, we're starting to recognize ourselves as an important player in these geopolitical realities," he said.
According to the Department of Infrastructure, the cost for the corridor is around $1 billion, though that figure comes from a study done in 2019.
"As with any major capital project, cost estimates are subject to updates based on factors such as project refinements and evolving project requirements," the department stated. "An update to the SGPC project cost estimate will be required as design advances, and prior to decisions to advance to construction."
Premier R.J. Simpson also mentioned in the corridor while discussing new Prime Minister Mark Carney on March 17.
"Advancing the Slave Geological Province Corridor SA国际影视传媒� linking to the Arctic Security Corridor (Grays Bay Road and Port project) - presents a strategic opportunity to integrate the Arctic into the North American road network, strengthen supply chains and expand access to global markets in partnership with Indigenous governments in the NWT," said Simpson.
