The Government of Canada is committed to ensuring greater connectivity for Northerners and strengthening trade corridors. This supports our supply chains, helps grow our economy, and creates good, middle-class jobs.
Today, the Minister of Transport, the Honourable Omar Alghabra, and Newfoundland and Labrador's Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, the Honourable Elvis Loveless, made an important investment announcement. Through the National Trade Corridors Fund, Minister Alghabra announced an investment of up to $200,000 for a pre-feasibility study to be led by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador will also contribute $200,000, bringing the potential total investment to $400,000. The study will explore the feasibility of a new, all-season roadway connecting northern Labrador to Canada's Trans-Canada Highway network via the Trans-Labrador Highway.
In addition to connecting communities, the roadway would facilitate travel, reduce travel and shipping costs and increase food security. It would also facilitate access to essential goods and services, and create economic development opportunities.
A road into northern Labrador would be expected to start in the vicinity of the Town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay or the Lake Melville area, and extend as far north as the Inuit communities of Rigolet, Postville, Makkovik, Hopedale, and Nain, and the Innu community of Natuashish.
The knowledge gained from the research funded by this investment is expected to have important economic and environmental benefits for the region.
The National Trade Corridors Fund provides funding for research projects in the Arctic and the North to support northern transportation infrastructure like ports, airports, all-season roads, and bridges. These projects enhance the safety, security, economic, and social development of the northern area of Labrador, which is comprised of the Nunatsiavut region, Canada's three territories, the Nunavik region in Quebec, and the Town and Port of Churchill in Manitoba.
