The Tłı̨chǫ Government and the Yellowknives Dene First Nation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly advance the Arctic Economic and Security Corridor (AESC). The Government of the Northwest Territories attended the signing, has issued statements of support, and is working with the Indigenous governments to help advance the corridor. The AESC proposes an all‑season road and port link to Grays Bay, Nunavut, to connect the territory’s interior to tidewater. In September 2025 the project was recognized by Canada’s Major Projects Office as a Project of National Interest, a designation that can help make it eligible for federal support and fast-tracking for what is expected to be a multi‑billion‑dollar construction effort.
Hay River — the Northwest Territories’ primary railhead and the northernmost rail connection to southern Canada — is expected to serve as a main logistics base for the corridor because it is the territory’s railhead and home to Marine Transportation Services (MTS). Marine Transportation Services, based in Hay River, is expected to handle a significant share of fuel and heavy‑equipment shipments needed to build the road and port. Recent dredging and harbour restoration work (2023–24), together with subsequent federal investments, have improved Hay River’s channel to better accommodate larger barges and deeper‑draft vessels used in northern resupply, strengthening its role as a staging point for Arctic projects.
Local leaders and the Town of Hay River see the corridor as a source of new jobs and economic activity as regional diamond mines wind down. The MoU and related agreements prioritize Indigenous‑owned and northern‑based companies for early contracting opportunities through proposed governance and procurement models (including a special‑purpose vehicle involving Indigenous corporations), with the aim of keeping economic benefits in the North.
Project leaders have scheduled community updates and committee meetings in January and February 2026. As of January 28, 2026 a public schedule for South Slave–specific consultations had not been released; residents are being asked to watch for announcements about local sessions where planners will outline timelines and discuss expected traffic and environmental impacts.
