Arctic Economic & Security Corridor

The Arctic Economic & Security Corridor (AESC) is a tri‑government initiative to build an all‑season northern corridor that secures Canada’s Arctic sovereignty, unlocks critical minerals, and supports long‑term community prosperity.

• The AESC will unlock access to high‑value critical mineral regions, strengthening Canada’s clean‑tech, energy-transition, and defence supply chains.
• Enhance Arctic security and sovereignty by improving year‑round access and federal presence in the North.
• Creates lasting economic opportunities through training, jobs, and infrastructure that support northern communities and future industries.
• Advances reconciliation through shared governance, co‑development, and long-term partnerships with Indigenous governments.

• Key Partners: Tłı̨chǫ Government (TG), Yellowknives Dene First Nation (YKDFN), North Slave Métis Alliance (NSMA), other regional IGs
• Region: North Slave to the Slave Geological Province corridor toward Nunavut
• Status: Partnership building, governance design, routing principles, updated technical work
• Phase: Pre-development / early planning
• Capacity: Corridor to support transportation, energy, and critical mineral access (multi-modal concept)
• Timeframe:
  • 2025–2026: vision & governance work 
  • 2026: Technical evaluation and long-term development
• Funding sources: GNWT (core work), Transport Canada (NTCF), potential federal strategic infrastructure programs

What’s happening now 

• Intergovernmental Working Group active with Tłı̨chǫ Government, Yellowknives Dene First Nation and the GNWT.
• The Tłı̨chǫ Government, Yellowknives Dene First Nation, and Government of the Northwest Territories signed a memorandum of understanding for advancing the Arctic Economic & Security Corridor.
• Shared vision statement and governance models in development.
• Updated critical mineral mapping underway (Aurora Geosciences).
• Federal alignment meetings with Major Projects Office and strategic infrastructure secretariats.

Next Steps

• Finalize tri-government MOU (target Jan 2026).
• Confirm routing principles and begin technical evaluation.
• Support Tłı̨chǫ Government and Yellowknives Dene First Nation access to NTCF funding for IK, engagement, and technical participation.