Road access is an issue for many remote, northern communities in Canada where access is currently limited to winter roads and to plane, boat, or ferry access in warmer weather. People living in remote communities want to enjoy the same benefits southern and urban communities receive from having road access. Reduced transportation costs mean lower costs for all sorts of products from groceries to construction materials. Improved access also increases the economic development possibilities for a community, and provides social benefits such as expanded travel to neighbouring communities and better access to medical facilities.

Not all of the results of building a road are positive. Road building permanently alters environmental habitat. When a road crosses a stream or river it affects wildlife and aquatic systems (fish, vegetation, water quality). In addition, roads may allow more people to hunt in areas that were previously only accessible in traditional ways (on foot, or by boat, canoe, or snowmobile) and they can potentially allow access to cultural sites that should be left undisturbed. There are ways to minimize the negative effects of road building. To help protect the environment as much as possible, construction should take place in winter, the road should be routed to avoid sensitive wildlife and cultural areas, and it should cross a minimal number of streams or rivers. Communities can also plan for, and perhaps avoid, some of the negative social problems that roads can bring to a community.

Click on Select-A-Career or EnviroCareers to find out more about the environmental jobs related to road access and all-weather roads:

• Conservation Biologist
  
• Environmental Scientist
  
• GIS Ananlyst
  
• Remediation Scientist
  
• Environmental Co-ordinator
  
• Aboriginal Liaison
  
• Forester