The seasonal road leading off the ice to Stony Rapids takes up to four hours to travel. (submitted photo/Jake Mercredi)

By Derek Cornet

infrastructure project

All-weather road connecting Fond du Lac could cost up to $135 million

Apr 22, 2021 | 4:22 PM

Fond du Lac Denesuline First Nation Coun. Jake Mercredi is calling upon the provincial and federal governments to construct an all-weather road to link his community to the rest of Saskatchewan.

“We’re the most isolated people in northern Saskatchewan,” he said. “Everything always has been transported by barge or by semis. That’s costing the community a lot.”

Currently, Fond du Lac residents or goods either travel by ice roads in the winter, barges in the summer or from a local airline throughout the year. With such limited modes of transportation, Mercredi said it contributes to high costs for flights, gas prices, food and more.

For instance, he said a return trip to either Prince Albert or Saskatoon for one person on an airplane is nearly $1,000.

“People are taking their chances to try and get as much supplies to last them for a while until boat seasons open up,” Mercredi said.

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Mercredi also explains Fond du Lac is missing out on its true potential without an all-weather road. He noted such a highway would bring more opportunities to northern Saskatchewan and young people could more easily leave the community to pursue academics, sports and other possibilities.

Ministry of Highways spokesperson Patrick Book mentioned there have been ongoing discussion about such a project ever since the band approached the ministry with the idea a couple of years ago. He added a funding model needs to be worked out between the federal and provincial governments to support such a large investment.

“One of the key points to consider in this discussion is that constructing an all-weather road, which I think is the desire, would be extremely expensive,” Book said. “It would be between $90 million and $135 million according to our estimates.”

Book went on to say an extensive environmental assessment would also need to be conducted to mitigate any potential outcomes.

As for now, Book noted the ministry will continue to fund the cost of annual ice roads.

“We currently fund 100 per cent of the cost of to build and maintain the annual ice road that services Fond du Lac,” he added. “If there was a longer term solution that would put money into a more permanent solution, I think that’s something the Ministry of Highways would always be interested at looking at.”

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno