The Northwest Territories is a land rich in people and resources covering almost 1.2 million square km over 10 percent of Canadas land mass. Within this vast area is a population of 43,505 living in 33 communities. Only one-third of the land area of the Northwest Territories is within 100 kms of an all-weather road. Thus, air and marine transportation play a very important role in the mobility of Northerners. Transportation infrastructure allows an economy to grow, and prosper through increased access to essential goods and services and to natural resources. Linking communities within a region provides jobs, fosters social development, improves mobility, reduces the cost of living, and improves access to services. Created in 1989, the mission of the Department of Transportation is to provide an integrated transportation system in the Northwest Territories to meet the social, economic and political needs and aspirations of Northern residents by providing safe, secure, accessible, and reliable movement of people and goods. The NWT faces many unique challenges to the operation of an effective transportation system. The harsh climate, geographic distances between communities and markets, limited construction season, sensitivity of the environment, and developing economy are important considerations in the construction, operation, and maintenance of the transportation system.