There was some serious investment in building projects in the Northwest Territories in 2023.
Construction permits of all types totalled $107.3 million in value, a 38.8 per cent jump from $77.3 million in 2022.
Commercial construction, at $79.9 million, was responsible for the bulk of that, more than five times the $13.9 million spent on commercial building in 2022.
Residential projects, on the other hand, tumbled to $25 million, less than half of the $56.3 million spent in 2022. Statistics Canada data shows that 119 residential units were erected in the territory in 2022 compared to just 84 in 2023.
Industrial construction amounted to a paltry $1.8 million in 2023 while institutional and governmental builds were an even smaller $620,000 in value.
Some of the major projects underway in the NWT in 2023 included the $67.7-million, 61,580-square-foot aquatic centre in Yellowknife; the Inuvik runway extension, which had a $20 million budget in 2023-24, a $30-million renovation and addition to Tuktoyaktuk's Mangilaluk School and the NWT Power Corporation's expansion of the Taltson hydro-electric facility. In Fort Simpson, Nogha Enterprises began erecting a new tourism centre and accommodations for the Liidlii Kue First Nation.
Construction made up 8.76 of the NWT's gross domestic product in 2023, up from 7.89 per cent the previous year.
The average weekly wages for construction workers in the NWT was $1,646.47 as of February 2024.
Federal commitments
The Government of Canada finally moved ahead with construction of a new Department of National Defence multi-purpose facility in Yellowknife in May. The 99,000-square-foot project, estimated to cost $86 million, is expected to be finished by late 2026 or early 2027. Joint Task Force North and 1st Canadian Ranger Patrol Group will occupy the structure in the Engle Business District. It was originally proposed for construction in 2022.
The federal government expects 520 people will be needed to carry out the work.
In April, Ottawa announced $8.4 million to fast-track 154 affordable homes in Yellowknife.
The money is intended to help the municipal government streamline the development process to build medium-density residences, such as townhouses, and student housing. There was no timeline or locations given for the initiatives. In addition, a previous announcement of $20.8 million for 50 affordable homes in Yellowknife -- made by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last October -- still had no details attached as of April either.
In January, the federal government committed $19 million to build 50 homes for Indigenous residents in the NWT. That will result in $4.2 million going toward 26 homes in the Tlicho communities of Wekweeti, Gameti, Whati and Behchoko, along with $2.8 million from the Tlicho Government.
In Fort Liard, Ottawa is putting up $1.8 million and $870,000 will comes from the Acho Dene Koe First Nation and its economic development corporation ADK Holdings Ltd. to construct five homes.
The Government of Canada will spend $3.3 million for 10 homes in Lutsel K'e with a contribution of $2.2 million coming from the Lutsel K'e Dene First Nation.
Nahanni Butte will see seven new homes thanks for $5.5 million from the federal government in addition to $890,000 from the Nahanni Butte Dene Band and $500,000 from Housing NWT.
Wrigley will benefit from six new homes due to a $4.4 million injection from Ottawa and $511,000 from the Pehdzeh Ki First Nation.