Thanks to the Canadian Chamber of Commerce more than 175,000 businesses may be behind completing an all-weather Mackenzie Valley Highway from Wrigley to Tuktoyaktuk, but having read last week's News/North editorial it's clear a little more education is required closer to home.

First off, investing in this route - which was promised to the North more than 50 years ago by Prime Minister John G. Diefenbaker - is about much more than curing the social problems caused by isolation.

In terms of employment, there would likely be 14,000 person years of work tied to building the highway over an expected four or five-year period. An additional 100 full-time, permanent jobs would be created through ongoing maintenance and service requirements along the route.

These would be careers for residents and generate wealth that would stay in the Dehcho, Sahtu and Delta forever.

The resulting jump in exploration has the potential to generate another 86,000 person years of employment and a whopping $58.9 billion boost to national gross domestic product. Now that's economic stimulus.

The highway would also create a true circle tour when linked into the Dempster, which is expected to increase tourism visits to the NWT by more than 20 per cent or roughly 2,500 visits.

Building the highway would also open the door for an infrastructure corridor through the heart of the NWT.

All along the route communities could enjoy the benefits of clean, hydroelectric power; high speed, fibre optic cable connections; increased economic activity; a lower cost of living and an increased quality of life.

In the North, we often complain that we're desperate for the kind of infrastructure the south takes for granted.

It's probably safe to say that the idea of year-round roads, hydro power and high speed communication networks are largely taken for granted by some in Yellowknife, too. Creating strong, healthy communities outside the capital region is critical to the future of the NWT and Yellowknife.

This is about inviting other residents from the rest of this vibrant territory to share in the prosperity infrastructure enables.

All levels of government have said they support the idea of the Mackenzie Valley Highway and now we are coming to the time when they need to put some money where their mouths have been.

In the next few months the NWT Chamber hopes to see both the federal government and our territorial leaders take the next bite out of this mega-project. Whether it's construction of the Bear River Bridge near Tulita, geophysical work through the Gwich'in and Sahtu lands, or actual construction of the all-weather route between Tuk and Inuvik, it is time to get building a future for the NWT.

It's time to build the Mackenzie Valley Highway.