Sahtu Secretariat Incorporated (SSI) is once again calling for the construction of the Mackenzie Valley Highway, but this time, the organization is framing the project as a national defence priority.

On April 8, SSI released a report titled SA国际影视传媒楽ecuring CanadaSA国际影视传媒檚 Link to the Arctic: the National Defence and Security Benefits of the Mackenzie Valley Project.SA国际影视传媒� It highlights the highwaySA国际影视传媒檚 importance to the countrySA国际影视传媒檚 national security goals, pointing to the NorthSA国际影视传媒檚 infrastructure challenges as a big problem in the face of Russia and ChinaSA国际影视传媒檚 pushes into the Arctic.

SA国际影视传媒淸The military] needs that road if they have to transport equipment or whatever,SA国际影视传媒� SSI chairman Charles McNeely said. SA国际影视传媒淲hy not complete the road to help with Arctic sovereignty and protection? It would be good to see a [military] presence down this way on a regular basis.

SA国际影视传媒淚t shows the rest of the world that weSA国际影视传媒檙e developing Canada, weSA国际影视传媒檙e protecting our people. This road shows the world that Canada is making its presence known in the North.SA国际影视传媒�

The Mackenzie Valley Highway, which would be a two-lane, all-season gravel road, has been a point of discussion among people in the Sahtu for decades. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 estimated that the project could cost upward of $1 billion to complete. However, the federal government recently committed to spending more than $70 billion on national defence over the next two decades, and in the process emphasized the importance of strengthening its military presence in the North.

That announcement from Ottawa has filled McNeely and his colleagues with renewed optimism that the Mackenzie Valley Highway might soon become a reality.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 starting to feel good about it now, now that weSA国际影视传媒檝e got a lot of publicity about our calls for a road,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚 think now people know the need is here, and the time is now. LetSA国际影视传媒檚 get it done now, because if we wait another three or four years, the costs will keep rising, the costs will rise drastically.SA国际影视传媒�

While SSI is pitching the highway as an important step toward CanadaSA国际影视传媒檚 security goals, it would benefit people in the Sahtu and other Northerners in many other ways.

Climate change is already taking an immense toll on people in the North, as slow winter freezes have delayed the creation of ice roads, and low water levels have impacted long-established shipping routes. An all-season road would make travel and the transport of goods through the region much easier, which could in turn lower the high prices of many goods, the report states. The North has also been plagued by devastating floods and wildfires in recent years, and the road would make it easier for people to escape those crises.

McNeely is hoping the many benefits of the road are finally becoming clear to people within and outside of the territory.

SA国际影视传媒淭heySA国际影视传媒檙e probably starting to know now, with us that live here letting people know about the cost of living and the transportation costs,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲e see it happening. I live with it every day here in Fort Good Hope. I see global warming, I see everything thatSA国际影视传媒檚 affecting us right now. Our shorelines are being washed away. There are landslides going into the Mackenzie River. The water levels are going low. Where boats could go before, boats canSA国际影视传媒檛 go now.SA国际影视传媒�

McNeely is planning a trip to Ottawa in the near future to make a case for the road in person.

SA国际影视传媒淭he SSI board consists of all the presidents of all the land corporations in our region,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淜eep on lobbying SA国际影视传媒� thatSA国际影视传媒檚 what weSA国际影视传媒檝e been told [by them]. We put money aside to meet with the chief in Wrigley, trying to get everyone on the same page, and weSA国际影视传媒檙e going to go lobby in Ottawa, thatSA国际影视传媒檚 part of the plan too.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e not giving up now. WeSA国际影视传媒檙e just starting. WeSA国际影视传媒檙e going to keep moving ahead.SA国际影视传媒�