The local authorities in BehchokÇ«Ì, N.W.T., have received federal approval for funding to improve underground water and sewer infrastructure in the Rae area. Meanwhile, a separate request for similar upgrades in Edzo is still awaiting approval. This funding has been long-awaited by the community, as many households have faced water supply issues during past winters due to frozen pipes.
Chief Bertha Rabesca Zoe of BehchokÇ«Ì expressed the significant impact of the federal funding, noting the challenges faced by the community with water issues, particularly during the recent harsh winter. The government will continue to advocate for the approval of funds for Edzo, where a project is already designed and ready to begin. Given that a majority of houses in Edzo are connected to the main water system, the project will require substantial resources.
Behchokǫ̒s senior administrative officer, Pushp Seth, mentioned that the formal agreement for the allocated funds has not been finalized yet, but it is expected to be completed within the next few weeks. The community had applied for these funds two years ago and has been persistent in following up on the application with support from the territorial government.
In addition to the water and sewer upgrades, federal funding has also been approved for a study and potential upgrade of Rae’s water intake system. The funding comes from the Canadian Housing Infrastructure Fund (CHIF), aimed at enhancing water and waste infrastructure to address housing needs across the country. The Northwest Territories have been allocated $74.2 million over a decade from this fund.
Municipalities and communities in the territories receiving CHIF funding must commit to climate-related initiatives such as resilience to wildfires and permafrost thaw. The next steps in BehchokÇ«Ì involve analyzing funding requirements, completing design work, and issuing requests for proposals. Construction is expected to commence next year and may take a year or two depending on the project’s design.