Our team, consisting of Deton’ Cho Stantec (DCS) and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), is pleased to offer the following response to the Request for Proposal for the Seasonal Overland Road (SOR) Financing Options Study for the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT), Department of Transportation. This report follows the structure outlined in the DCS and PwC May 31, 2012 proposal to the (GNWT).

The following business case presents an opportunity for Canada and the GNWT to further collaborate in the construction of a 321 kilometre section of highway from Wrigley to Norman Wells in the Central Mackenzie Valley. The Project would further assert Canadian sovereignty in the North by providing reliable access into a relatively isolated region of the territory, incentivizing resource exploration and development of the rich petroleum reserves of the region, and promoting social and economic opportunities for residents of the NWT and Canada. It is estimated that 14,082 jobs within the NWT and the rest of Canada will be created during the construction phase of the project, while 161 long-term jobs are expected to be created for the operation and maintenance phase.

It is with great pleasure and promise of a prosperous future that we invite the Government of Canada to partner with the Government of the Northwest Territories on the construction of the $700 million Mackenzie Valley Highway project from Wrigley to Norman Wells for consideration under the National Infrastructure Fund of the new Building Canada Plan.

This PDR is the “story” of the Highway through the GSA, based on the nearly five decades of initiatives, studies, consultations and reports, and serves as the guiding document for the Highway development proposal. The PDR is subject to the terms of the Gwich’in Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement (GCLCA) and to the extent there is a conflict between the PDR and the GCLCA, the provisions of the GCLCA shall govern to the extent of the inconsistency.

This PDR covers the construction of the Highway through the Tulita District in the SSA, based on the nearly five decades of initiatives, studies, strategies, consultations and reports, and serves as the initial guiding document for the proposal to develop the Highway in the area. The PDR is subject to the terms of the Sahtu Dene and Metis Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement (SDMCLCA). To the extent there is a conflict between the PDR and the SDMCLCA, the provisions of the SDMCLCA shall govern to the extent of the inconsistency.

The results of the study strongly suggest that building the AWR is good for the residents of the Mackenzie Valley, the Canadian energy sector, and all governments in Canada.