The ice road to the Ekati and Diavik diamond mines in the Northwest Territories. Credit: Dominion Diamond.
In the Northwest Territories, infrastructure that lags behind southern Canada is limiting the potential of the territory’s mining development and increasing its costs as well, said leaders of the N.W.T. government at PDAC on June 14.
Premier Caroline Cochrane and Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment (ITI) Caroline Wawzonek told The Northern Miner in an interview that they want the federal government to step up and provide more support for the territory’s infrastructure needs.
While mining has historically been the economic bedrock of the N.W.T. and currently accounts for 21% of its GDP, just over half of its 33 communities are connected to all-season roads. This reality affects economic and social development.
