The territorial government has announced $1.8 million in funding to help offset increased shipping costs for communities in the Sahtu and Beaufort Delta regions.
Due to record low water levels, the annual resupply barges along the Mackenzie River were cancelled, leaving residents without access to essential goods and services and no other affordable supply alternatives.
Through the new funding program, eligible businesses, Indigenous organizations, and community government can receive up to $30,000 to cover the cost difference between barge shipping and alternative methods, such as flying supplies in by air.
The NWT’s Industry Minister Caitlin Cleveland said that this will be a one-time funding arrangement.
“Our anticipation is that we’ll continue to monitor the water levels along the Mackenzie and do our best to continue baring up the Mackenzie River,” Cleveland said during a media conference on Wednesday.
Looking ahead, the water levels are anticipated to stay low next spring.
“We’re heading into freeze up and water levels are still record low at many places across the territory,” said Emma Riley, a hydrologist with the territorial government. “We do really need record high snowpack, or greater than average snowpack, in order to start recover from low water levels.”
“The Mackenzie Valley Highway obviously would provide a permanent solution to the issues we’re facing right now,” said Lorne Browne, director of fuel services at the GNWT’s Department of Infrastructure.
Browne said they are working with federal partners to secure funding and go through environmental process, which could take several more years before construction begins.
In the meantime, the GNWT plans to better support winter traffic by widening the Mackenzie Valley Winter Road with additional signage installed and more road maintenance.
Applications for the funding program are open until March 7, 2025.