The federal government has given the green light for funding to improve underground water and sewer infrastructure in BehchokÇ«Ì, Northwest Territories, as confirmed by local authorities. The approved funding is allocated specifically for Rae, while a separate request for similar upgrades in Edzo is still awaiting approval.
Residents of BehchokÇ«Ì have been eagerly awaiting this funding for several years, as many households have faced water supply challenges during past winters due to frozen pipes. Chief Bertha Rabesca Zoe expressed the significant impact of the federal funding, acknowledging the community’s struggles with water issues, particularly with frozen pipes affecting both Rae and Edzo.
Chief Rabesca Zoe emphasized the ongoing advocacy efforts by the community government to secure the funds for Edzo, noting that the project there is already planned and would be ready for implementation. The larger scale of the Edzo project is highlighted by the fact that nearly 95% of houses are connected to the main water system, necessitating additional resources.
Pushp Seth, the senior administrative officer for BehchokÇ«Ì, refrained from disclosing the exact amount of funding until a formal agreement is signed, expected within a couple of weeks. The community had applied for the funds two years ago and has persistently followed up, with support from the territorial government, even after an initial denial.
Additionally, the federal government has also approved funding for a water intake study and upgrade in Rae. Seth mentioned the age of Rae’s water intake system, indicating collaboration with a contractor to assess whether repairs or replacements are necessary.
The funding originates from the Canadian Housing Infrastructure Fund (CHIF), established in 2024 to support water and solid waste infrastructure projects nationwide to enhance housing supply. The Northwest Territories have been allocated $74.2 million over a decade from this fund.
To qualify for CHIF funding, municipalities and communities in the territories must commit to climate-related initiatives such as wildfire resilience and permafrost mitigation. Future steps in BehchokÇ«Ì include analyzing funding requirements, finalizing design plans, and issuing requests for proposals. Construction is anticipated to commence next year, with a timeline of one to two years depending on the project design.