-
A ‘reset’ or ‘one and done’? First Nations and first ministers set to hold historic meeting
Source: CBC Politics
Date: 2026-10-25 08:00:00.0
Tags: [National, Indigenous, Governance, Infrastructure, Resources, Mining]The Assembly of First Nations, led by National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, and Canadian first ministers are holding a historic, closed-door First Ministers' Meeting in Ottawa to redefine relations, discuss infrastructure, healthcare, and economic development, and address major project involvement. Notable absences include the premiers of Alberta, British Columbia, and Quebec, while several Indigenous leaders have expressed skepticism over meeting formats, speech restrictions, and stalled federal Indigenous legislation under Prime Minister Mark Carney. The federal government, through the Privy Council Office and Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty, plans to announce new community supports during the one-day conference.
Read Original -
N.W.T. leaders press Ottawa for major projects investment
Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-10-06 18:47:19.0
Tags: [National, Infrastructure, Transportation, Energy, Mining, Indigenous]Representing the Northwest Territories Council of Leaders, Premier R.J. Simpson, Tłı̨chǫ Grand Chief Jackson Lafferty, N.W.T. Métis Nation President Garry Bailey, and other regional leaders met in Ottawa to demand federal investments in major northern infrastructure. The proposed initiatives include the Arctic Economic and Security Corridor, the 800-kilometer Mackenzie Valley Highway extension to Inuvik, the Taltson Hydro Expansion, and the Inuvialuit Energy Security Program. These investments are framed as vital economic replacements following the closures of the Ekati and Diavik diamond mines in 2026, alongside the upcoming closure of the Gahcho Kué mine in 2028. Territorial officials emphasized that these projects must proceed through co-management and shared decision-making to address both economic transition and severe community challenges such as high living costs and housing shortages.
Read Original -
N.W.T. leaders press Ottawa for major projects investment
Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-10-06 18:47:19.0
Tags: [National, Infrastructure, Transportation, Energy, Mining, Indigenous]The Northwest Territories Council of Leaders, led by Premier R.J. Simpson, Tłı̨chǫ Grand Chief Jackson Lafferty, and N.W.T. Métis Nation President Garry Bailey, pressed federal ministers in Ottawa for major infrastructure investments as the territory faces the closure of major diamond mines like Ekati, Diavik, and Gahcho Kué. The delegation urged federal funding for Indigenous-led and co-managed projects, including the Arctic Economic and Security Corridor, the 800-kilometre Mackenzie Valley Highway extension to Inuvik, the Taltson Hydro Expansion, and the Inuvialuit Energy Security Program. Territorial officials highlighted that historical underfunding and high operating costs leave local governments strained in delivering essential services across 33 communities while trying to pivot their economy.
Read Original -
First Nation opens work camp at Faro mine cleanup project in Yukon
Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-09-18 20:54:45.0
Tags: [National, Mining, Environment, Indigenous, Infrastructure, Resources]The Dena Nezziddi Development Corporation, owned by the Ross River Dena Council, has opened the Tsē Zūl work camp at the abandoned Faro mine site in central Yukon to house workers for a massive federal remediation project. Located 200 kilometres northeast of Whitehorse, the facility is designed to accommodate nearly 300 workers and provide long-term revenue and employment opportunities for the First Nation. The Faro mine complex, which operated for nearly 30 years as a lead-zinc mine before its bankruptcy and abandonment in 1998, represents one of Canada's most complex industrial cleanup sites, expected to take decades to complete.
Read Original -
N.W.T.’s ice road to 3 diamond mines unlikely to open for 2027 season
Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-09-14 23:13:23.0
Tags: [National, Infrastructure, Transportation, Mining, Resources, Indigenous]The Northwest Territories' Tibbitt to Contwoyto Winter Road is unlikely to open for the 2027 operating season for the first time since opening in 1982, due to the end of commercial production and financial restructuring at three major diamond mines: Rio Tinto-owned Diavik, Ekati (overseen by PricewaterhouseCoopers under creditor protection), and De Beers' Gahcho Kué. Management committee director Howard Nowell stated that the closure decision provides early clarity for contractors, service providers, and support communities, though operations are expected to resume in 2028 to support ongoing site remediation and clean-up efforts. Marc Whitford, president of the North Slave Métis Alliance, noted the suspension will negatively impact Indigenous-owned corporations and contractors such as Det'on Cho Logistics, which rely on the winter infrastructure for seasonal employment and transport.
Read Original -
N.W.T.’s ice road to 3 diamond mines unlikely to open for 2027 season
Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-09-14 23:13:23.0
Tags: [National, Infrastructure, Transportation, Mining, Resources, Indigenous]The Northwest Territories’ Tibbitt to Contwoyto Winter Road is unlikely to open for the 2027 operational season, marking the first closure since the ice road opened in 1982. Operated annually from February to March, the road services three diamond mines northeast of Yellowknife: the Rio Tinto-owned Diavik mine, the Ekati mine overseen by PricewaterhouseCoopers under creditor protection, and De Beers' Gahcho Kué mine. The suspension is driven by the end of commercial production and active remediation at Diavik and Ekati, alongside financial difficulties at Gahcho Kué that accelerated its closure timeline to 2028. Indigenous corporations and contractors such as Det'on Cho Logistics, owned by the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, face significant economic impacts from the loss of infrastructure maintenance and lodge operations, though winter road service is expected to tentatively return in 2028 to support ongoing cleanup efforts.
Read Original -
Support wavers from pair of Akaitcho First Nations on major N.W.T. infrastructure projects
Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-09-11 19:13:19.0
Tags: [National, Infrastructure, Energy, Indigenous, Mining, Resources]Two Akaitcho First Nations, Deninu Kųę́ First Nation and Łutsel K’e Dene First Nation, have expressed strong disapproval and suspended support for major Northwest Territories infrastructure initiatives, specifically the Taltson Hydro Expansion and the Arctic Economic and Security Corridor. Deninu Kųę́ First Nation stated its suspension will persist until the Government of the Northwest Territories formally recognizes its severe legacy impacts from the original 1965 Taltson generation facility built near Fort Resolution. Both First Nations cited a lack of meaningful consultation and failure to secure free, prior, and informed consent under Section 35 of the Constitution Act. In response, Deputy Premier and Minister Responsible for Strategic Infrastructure Caroline Wawzonek maintained that the territorial government remains confident it can address outstanding concerns and continue discussions regarding land use, caribou habitats, and community benefits.
Read Original -
N.W.T. looking to bolster critical minerals at Canada Investment Summit, says premier
Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-09-11 10:00:00.0
Tags: [National, Economy, Mining, Resources, Infrastructure, Indigenous]Northwest Territories Premier R.J. Simpson and Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment Caitlin Cleveland are attending the invitation-only Canada Investment Summit in Toronto, organized by Prime Minister Mark Carney to target $1 trillion in federal investments. The N.W.T. delegation is pitching half-a-dozen advanced resource projects to global investors from the United States, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, including Honey Badger Silver's Prairie Creek mine (PC Silver), the NICO Mineral Reserves mine, the Yellowknife Lithium Project, the Nechalacho rare earth mine, and the Pine Point mine development project. Furthermore, the territory is highlighting enabling infrastructure initiatives—such as the Mackenzie Valley Highway and Nunavut's Grays Bay Road and Port Project connecting to the Arctic Economic and Security Corridor—alongside established Indigenous regulatory co-management frameworks to lower operational costs and attract sustainable development capital.
Read Original -
N.W.T. looking to bolster critical minerals at Canada Investment Summit: Premier Simpson
Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-09-11 10:00:00.0
Tags: [National, Economy, Mining, Resources, Infrastructure, Indigenous]Northwest Territories Premier R.J. Simpson and Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment Caitlin Cleveland will pitch half-a-dozen resource projects at the invitation-only Canada Investment Summit in Toronto, organized by Prime Minister Mark Carney to target $1 trillion in investments over five years. The delegation will showcase advanced critical mineral, gold, and silver projects—including Honey Badger Silver's Prairie Creek mine (PC Silver), the NICO Mineral Reserves mine, the Yellowknife Lithium Project, the Nechalacho rare earth mine, and the Pine Point mine development project. Furthermore, the territory is highlighting enabling infrastructure such as the Mackenzie Valley Highway and Nunavut’s Grays Bay Road and Port Project to reduce transportation costs and facilitate ethical, sustainable resource development through regulatory co-management arrangements with Indigenous governments.
Read Original -
North Coast Transmission Line breaking ground to power economic growth
Source: British Columbia - Government News
Date: 2026-09-03 18:40:00.0
Tags: [British Columbia, National, Infrastructure, Energy, Mining, Indigenous]The Government of British Columbia and BC Hydro, alongside federal funding support through the Canada-British Columbia Co-operative Prosperity Agreement and the Canada Infrastructure Bank, have broken ground on the North Coast Transmission Line (NCTL) to expand clean electricity infrastructure in northern B.C. The multi-phase project—consisting of Phase 1 from Prince George to Glenannan (completing by mid-2030) and Phase 2 extending toward Terrace (construction beginning in 2027 and completing by winter 2032)—will more than double transmission capacity to power major mining, energy, and industrial projects. Once finished, the NCTL is expected to employ 1,400 workers at peak construction, create 9,700 direct full-time jobs, contribute nearly $10 billion annually to provincial GDP, and generate approximately $950 million annually in provincial and municipal revenue. Additionally, the project involves ongoing negotiations to finalize co-ownership agreements with First Nations by the end of the year to ensure direct economic participation and sustained revenue sharing.
Read Original
