Home page

Text size

E-mail this page

DEH GAH GOT'IE KOE/FORT PROVIDENCE
Increasing the safety of the travelling public is one of the motivators behind a campaign to get cellphone service in Fort Providence.

In July, Deh Cho MLA Michael Nadli started a petition that asks the territorial government to encourage tele-communications companies to establish cellular service in Fort Providence. The petition gathered 995 signatures. - NNSL photo illustration

In July, Deh Cho MLA Michael Nadli started a petition in the hamlet asking the territorial government to encourage tele-communications companies to establish cellular service in Fort Providence. The petition had 995 signatures when Nadli tabled it in the legislative assembly on Oct. 25.

The petition was inspired by Fort Providence residents who have been asking for awhile why the community doesn't have cellphone service, said Nadli. The community's geographical location and the imminent opening of the Deh Cho Bridge are two reasons the service should be established, he said.

'There was a need'

"I felt there was a need," Nadli said.

Fort Providence is located just off of NWT Highway 3.

"It's a major artery of traffic to Yellowknife and of course down south," said Nadli.

Cellphone service is available in Enterprise and on one escarpment between Enterprise and Kakisa, but between Kakisa and Fort Providence there is nothing, he said.

The need for the service will become more crucial when the Deh Cho Bridge opens at the end of the month and traffic begins moving along the highway 24 hours a day, said Nadli.

More confidence

The service, depending on its range, would give travellers more confidence, especially if a situation arises where they need RCMP or medical assistance.

The service would also benefit people going out on the river to hunt or fish, he said.

Residents would also like to be able to use cellphones in the hamlet so they can be more mobile, instead of relying on land lines, said Nadli. The MLA owns a cellphone that he uses in Yellowknife.

"I usually just put it away when I come back here," he said.

Chief Wayne Sabourin said the Deh Gah Got'ie First Nation supports the campaign for cell service for Fort Providence.

"We've been talking about it for some time," he said. "It's very critical that we have this service."

Sabourin also pointed to the Deh Cho Bridge as being one of the main motivators. When it opens, the bridge will alter everything on the north side of the river, he said.

"There's going to be 24-hour traffic."

Cellphone service will help local businesses adapt to serving customers around the clock and will also offer increased safety to travellers.

Fort Providence is located centrally in the Deh Cho and is one of the larger communities in the region – both reasons for cellphone service, he said.

"I'd like to push this and see it happen," he said.

Like Nadli, Sabourin owns a cellphone but can't use it in the community. He carries it on trips to Hay River and Yellowknife and outside of the territory.

Nadli expects to hear an official response from the government to the petition in February. This is a basic infrastructure need that needs to be expanded so the government should support it, he said.

NorthwesTel, which provides telephone service in Fort Providence, has been in contact with Nadli.

The company is currently looking at a business case for cellphone service in the area, but has no timeline at the moment, said Emily Younker, the manager of corporate communications with NorthwesTel.

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.