Federal budget commits $3.1 billion to the Mackenzie Valley Highway

Canada’s Budget 2026 commits $3.1 billion over five years to fully fund construction and certain maintenance costs for the Mackenzie Valley Highway. The Northwest Territories government says the highway could improve connections between communities and access to services.

Other proposed support includes:

• A major-projects management entity, with initial support for the Mackenzie Valley Highway and Taltson Hydro Expansion.
• An extension of the Clean Electricity Investment Tax Credit to 2040, expanded to qualifying territorial transmission lines operating at 69 kilovolts or higher.
• Support for delivering 560 homes in Yellowknife, $610.3 million over four years for Nutrition North Canada and related initiatives, and $10 million over four years for the Dechinta Centre.

The budget also proposes renewing funding for Jordan’s Principle. The territorial government says it does not address changes it has sought to remove barriers facing schools and education bodies.