Today, the Minister of Transport, the Honourable Omar Alghabra, and the Honourable Elvis Loveless, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, each announced an investment of up to $200,000 for a total of $400,000 for a pre-feasibility study for the construction of a road connecting the existing Trans-Labrador Highway to communities in northern Labrador, under the National Trade Corridors Fund.
The roadway would connect communities, facilitate travel, reduce travel and shipping costs, increase food security, 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 projects, such as research, 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 in the northern area of Labrador containing the Nunatsiavut region, Canada’s three territories, the Nunavik region in Quebec, and the Town and Port of Churchill in Manitoba.
Quotes
“Our government has made significant investments in the transportation network in Labrador, including ferry services for the Strait of Belle Isle and northern Labrador, and the Trans-Labrador Highway, which was completed earlier this year. We look forward to reviewing the information from the pre-feasibility study once it has been completed.”
Honourable Elvis Loveless
Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure
“Many isolated communities in the Nunatsiavut region are not connected to the Trans-Labrador Highway presently, relying instead on air and marine services for travel and goods. A new roadway connection between northern Labrador and the Trans-Labrador Highway would provide an all-season link to the south, and with it social and economic benefits including access to employment and economic development sites. This pre-feasibility study is a first step in the evaluation process.”
Honourable Omar Alghabra
Federal Minister of Transport
“Transportation is key to economic and social development. This study is a positive first step that will provide us with information to determine the technical, financial, environmental and social viability of a road connection to Northern Labrador. I look forward to working with the Nunatsiavut Government and the Innu Nation as we work towards bridging the transportation infrastructure gap in this region.”
Honourable Lisa Dempster
Minister of Labrador Affairs and Minister of Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation
“Ensuring safe transport in and out of Labrador’s north has remained a top priority for our government. In partnership with the province of Newfoundland and Labrador and the strong leadership of the Nunatsiavut Government, I am pleased to see this important investment move forward. By investing in this pre-feasibility study, we are one step closer to making this valuable infrastructure a reality.”
Yvonne Jones
Parliamentary Secretary to the Federal Minister of Natural Resources and to the Federal Minister of Northern Affairs
“Having been professionally involved in this important project for many years, I am pleased to now be associated with this exciting next step for strengthening transportation networks in Labrador. The Provincial and Federal partnership for the pre-feasibility study reflects the shared priority to further connect all of Labrador’s communities. Stronger and more reliable transportation networks will have social and economic benefits for everyone.”
Perry Trimper
MHA for Lake Melville
-30-
Learn more
Trans-Labrador Highway Paving Completed Marking Historic Day in the Big Land
National Trade Corridors Fund Backgrounder
Trade and Transportation Corridors Initiative
Media contacts
Kathryn Summers
Transportation and Infrastructure
709-729-1758, 699-6147
kathrynsummers@gov.nl.ca
Allan Bock
Labrador Affairs Secretariat
Office of Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation
709-896-7935, 899-6446
allanbock@gov.nl.ca
Nadine Ramadan
Press Secretary and Communications Advisor
Office of the Honourable Omar Alghabra
Minister of Transport
Nadine.Ramadan@tc.gc.ca
Media Relations
Transport Canada, Ottawa
613-993-0055
media@tc.gc.ca