Ontario Construction News staff writer
The Government of Canada last week announced $25 million for the construction of an all-season road in the Northwest Territories, awarded to NorZinc Ltd.s.
“NorZinc is thankful and appreciative of the National Trade Corridors Funding to help build the All-Season Access Road to the Prairie Creek Project,” said Robin Bienenstock, executive chair at NorZinc Ltd. “This road will aid the Prairie Creek Mine to deliver an expected $8 billion of metal supply, including high-grade zinc concentrate, generating new economic activity within Canada’s borders, supporting Canada’s efforts in enhancing a more resilient, transparent, reliable and integrated supply chain of critical metals.
The construction of the all-season road from Liard Highway 7 to the Prairie Creek mine site is expected to:
- Provide year-round transportation access to the Prairie Creek mine site, national park areas and Indigenous traditional territories;
- Facilitate production at the Prairie Creek mine and the transportation of critical minerals from the mine to international markets, which has the potential to contribute an estimated $8 billion in revenue for Canada and the Government of Northwest Territories over the next 20 years;
- Provide benefits to local Indigenous communities as the road will provide access to the Naha Dehe Dene Band’s traditional territory; and
- Increase access to tourism and eco-tourism in the Nahanni Park Nature Reserve
“This isn’t just about building infrastructure, it’s about building connections—to communities, to markets, and to Canadians,” said Pablo Rodriguez, Canada’s Minister of Transport. “By enhancing transportation access, we’re making life cost less for all Canadians.
“This funding will also be transformative for our First Nation partners in the North through increased economic activity leading to the creation of jobs, the development of new transportation infrastructure, and better services for the people who live and work in this northern and remote region.”
Through the National Trade Corridors Fund, Transport Canada is supporting improvements to Canada’s roads, rail, air, and marine shipping routes to foster domestic and international trade.
The National Trade Corridors Fund is a competitive, merit-based program designed to help infrastructure owners and users invest in the critical transportation assets that support economic activity in Canada. A total of $4.1 billion has been committed to projects since 2017.