Grays Bay Road and Port
Proponent
West Kitikmeot Resources Corporation
Sector
Transport
Location
Kitikmeot Region, Nunavut
Proponent
West Kitikmeot Resources Corporation
Sector
Transport
Location
Kitikmeot Region, Nunavut
Description
The Grays Bay Road and Port (GBRP) is a proposed all-season ~230 km road from the Nunavut border to a deepwater port and airfield at Grays Bay on the Arctic Ocean. The deepwater export terminal and airstrip, could have dual-use (civilian-military) potential, subject to further assessment by National Defence.
The Grays Bay Road and Port will be delivered through West Kitikmeot Resources Corporation, a partnership between the Kitikmeot Inuit Association and private investors.
Together with the Arctic Economic and Security Corridor, the project would create critical export links, including connecting Yellowknife and Grays Bay. It would also enable new resource exploration and development in the mineral-rich Slave Geological Province of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
There are ongoing community consultations and Indigenous-led studies in the region, to discuss routing options to minimize impacts to local wildlife and marine ecosystems. The impact assessments, led by co-management boards, provide for broad participation that will help bring forward recommendations in these areas.
This project, in conjunction with other major Northern Resilience Projects (Mackenzie Valley Highway and the Taltson Hydro Expansion), will create significant opportunities for economic growth and support Canada’s security and expanded military presence in the North.
Description
The Grays Bay Road and Port (GBRP) is a proposed all-season ~230 km road from the Nunavut border to a deepwater port and airfield at Grays Bay on the Arctic Ocean. The deepwater export terminal and airstrip, could have dual-use (civilian-military) potential, subject to further assessment by National Defence.
The Grays Bay Road and Port will be delivered through West Kitikmeot Resources Corporation, a partnership between the Kitikmeot Inuit Association and private investors.
Together with the Arctic Economic and Security Corridor, the project would create critical export links, including connecting Yellowknife and Grays Bay. It would also enable new resource exploration and development in the mineral-rich Slave Geological Province of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
There are ongoing community consultations and Indigenous-led studies in the region, to discuss routing options to minimize impacts to local wildlife and marine ecosystems. The impact assessments, led by co-management boards, provide for broad participation that will help bring forward recommendations in these areas.
This project, in conjunction with other major Northern Resilience Projects (Mackenzie Valley Highway and the Taltson Hydro Expansion), will create significant opportunities for economic growth and support Canada’s security and expanded military presence in the North.
Quick facts
- Indigenous equity: The Kitikmeot Inuit Association (KIA) has been a proponent developing the GBRP project since 2018, and the project has the potential to have significant Inuit equity.
- Development: Has the potential to unlock critical mineral exploration and development, including copper and zinc.
- Transport access: Together with the Arctic and Economic Security Corridor, it will establish the first all-season road linking Nunavut to the National Highway System.
- Dual-use: Will establish a deepwater port and airfield at Grays Bay, which creates potential dual-use (civilian-military) opportunities.
Benefits
- Provides the enabling infrastructure for critical minerals exploration, expanded military presence and northern security.
- Provides road access from Yellowknife to the Port of Grays Bay, increasing supply chain resiliency.
- Establishes a new deepwater port with critical mineral export potential in the Arctic.
Latest updates
- On March 12, 2026, the project was referred to the Major Projects Office (MPO).
- On March 1, 2026, West Kitikmeot Resources Corp. submitted the Impact Statement for the Grays Bay Road and Port Project to the Nunavut Impact Review Board, and the project is currently undergoing an assessment by the Board pursuant to the Nunavut Planning and Project Assessment Act.
- The MPO is working with proponents to determine funding solutions, identify acceleration options, and support and streamline relevant regulatory processes. This work will be carried out while recognizing the unique treaty-based impact assessment framework and local regulatory environment in Nunavut.
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