When I was touring in Quebec two years ago I camped in Neuville with a Québécois cyclist that rode to "Tuk" from Calgary the previous year, He said it was a brutal ride. often long lonely distances between outposts or villages, crazed truck drivers, mud and bears. His bike was a Koga-Miyata expedition bike ("World" model IIRC) which is in the same family as a Beckman, Gordon BLTX or Rock & Road EX. all are 26" wheeled touring bikes
While the frame is important much of the difference is on the head badge, Rivendell makes a very good bike but they are "Bling" so the price is higher. Bruce Gordon has been building touring bikes since the 70's and has long been considered one of the best. $1000 for his BLTX frame is a good deal IMO. Robert Beckman hasn't been around as long as Gordon, but he has set the quality bar higher. but what ever delivery time Beckman estimates,you may need to double that. A lesser known builder who does great work at a reasonable price IMO is Tom Teasdale
http://www.tetcycles.com/Frames/Moun...t_touring.html

For where you are going strong wheels will be more important than who made your frame. with the exception of Koga Miyata ( provided you can find one) few off the shelf bikes will have durable enough wheels for what you want to do. Peter White is a very good wheel builder on the east coast.

Edited to add: I looked up a " InuviK" on CGOAB and found two journals related to the Dempster Highway to Inuvik
Their experiences contradicts some of what I was told. http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/searc...k&o=lt&doc_id=