Mixed feelings in Fort Good Hope, N.W.T., about Mackenzie Valley Highway project

People in Fort Good Hope, N.W.T., had the opportunity this week to share their feelings about the proposed Mackenzie Valley Highway project — both good and bad.

On Wednesday, the Mackenzie Valley Review Board held a community session in Fort Good Hope to discuss the project. The territorial government has long been proposing to build an all-season highway from Wrigley to Tulita and Norman Wells.

The highway has been talked about for decades. The most optimistic scenario would see 281 kilometres of permanent highway complete by 2037.

Many people at the Fort Good Hope session had questions about how the highway will affect community members' day-to-day life.

Sahtu Grand Chief Wilbert Kochon said the apparent rise in crime rates and drug trafficking in the region has some residents feeling uneasy about the highway, and the easier access it would provide to the community.

"If we can heal a lot of our young people and get ready for it, I think we'll be fine. But right now we need to think about our young people," said Kochon.

Many community members were concerned that the highway could be built before any addiction treatments centres are in the territory. 

Kochon described a lot of mixed feelings.

"They want [the] highway, but on the other hand, there's other things that are happening with drugs," said Kochon.

He says many agree with him though, in believing that the pros outweigh the cons. He says the transportation of goods is becoming more expensive, and winter roads and barge deliveries are becoming less reliable. 

The community session also involved government officials, elders, and Fort Good Hope high school students.

Kochon stressed the importance of discussing project repercussions with younger people in the communities. He said setting up meetings that give youth the opportunity to discuss the highway in an informal setting would be good to see happen.

"They think very differently than us. We think we're talking about them, but maybe there's something that they want done," said Kochon.

Sahtu youth share their thoughts

Brian Savoy, a counsellor and teacher at Chief Albert Wright School in Tulita, said young people and elders have been thinking of the Mackenzie Valley Highway project, especially about how long until it might be up and running.

Savoy said the highway is something they've explored in the school's curriculum. Last year students wrote an essay on the highway and described the pros and cons that were most significant to them.

He says some are concerned about increased access to the community for drugs and alcohol, but students are also thinking about the uncertainty of future winter road seasons.

"Having the freedom and ability to go wherever you want, it's a big thing," Savoy said.

Savoy said round trip flights from Tulita to Yellowknife are typically more than a thousand dollars.

He said that students want dependable access to goods and services that might come with a new highway. He said some are also interested in what it could mean for tourism and development opportunities. 

Last fall, a few of Savoy's students participated in a community session held by the Mackenzie Valley Review Board and shared their thoughts on the highway. Savoy said if there are public hearings in Tulita they would likely be interested in being a part of those conversations too.

"They care, and we want to see their futures become brighter," said Savoy.

Timeline not yet set for environmental assessment

The Mackenzie Valley Review Board acknowledged this week that many stakeholders are wondering what the environmental assessment timeline for the highway looks like.

The board's executive director, Mark Cliffe-Phillips, said it's still waiting for the territorial government to submit more information. 

"It's all the updates to the project design and the mitigations and any new commitments that have been made by the [Government of Northwest Territories], based on all the feedback that they've heard," said Cliffe-Phillips.

The board is expected to decide later this month when the project will proceed to the public hearing stage. That would be followed by a final report and ultimately a decision on the environmental assessment. 

The Bear River Bridge, which would be near Tulita and had previously been identified as a key component for the project, was also discussed at the Fort Good Hope community session.

The territory says plans have changed and there is no longer enough money for the bridge. Officials said they're now looking at alternative options for crossing the Great Bear River.