Climate change, sovereignty also dominate agenda

Western premiers presented their usual united front in support of the push by Nunavut and the Northwest Territories for a devolution agreement with Ottawa during their annual conference in Iqaluit last week.

"I'm always encouraged by the support offered by my colleagues," Okalik told reporters at the conference's closing press conference July 6.

The seven premiers issued a joint statement calling on Ottawa to enter negotiations with Nunavut this fall for a devolution deal.

Nunavut wants the federal government to give up control over the management of public lands and natural resources, and give Nunavut a share of royalties from resource extraction, which could eventually be worth billions of dollars if the territory's oil and gas reserves are ever developed.

Okalik said he wants a devolution deal "for the North so we can run our own affairs like the rest of the country."

"The expectation [from the other premiers] was ‘let's get on with it,'" he said. "It's something that's been on the agenda for quite some time and it's something that needs to be resolved."

NWT Premier Joe Handley said his territory, which has more mines operating and an active oil and gas sector, lost out on $275 million in royalties last year, up from $28 million in 1998.

"We've got a lot of areas we should be investing money in and with the current arrangement [with Ottawa] we get enough to get by on each year, but that's it," he said.

Just weeks ago, Paul Mayer, the federal government's point man on the Nunavut devolution file, urged a go-slow approach, with a final agreement coming in 2011 at the earliest.

But Saskatchewan Premier Lorne Calvert, who's fought running battles with Prime Minister Stephen Harper in recent weeks over resource revenues, said he's "very, very supportive" of a devolution agreement for Nunavut.

And Manitoba Premier Gary Doer said a devolution deal for the North is good for Canada in general and western Canada in particular.

"The real issue is… do you want bureaucrats in Ottawa deciding the future of these economic opportunities or do you want people in the area, who have the greatest interest in sustainability and also the greatest sense of opportunity developing these resources?" Doer said.

The statement also echoed last month's "northern vision" released by northern premiers by calling for increased transportation, education and health infrastructure for remote communities. Without criticizing the prime minister, Yukon Premier Dennis Fentie said Ottawa's military approach to sovereignty is overlooking the people who already live north of 60.

"We think there's a human context to Arctic security and sovereignty," he said.

Handley said Harper has made good promises to the North, but "now we're waiting for delivery."

The premiers pledged to find ways to get their governments to plan for adapting to climate change, while sharing research and exploring ways to profit from shifts in conditions.

Okalik said he didn't see any conflict between the premiers' work on climate change and the possible production of oil and gas reserves within Nunavut.

"We'd love to find alternate energies but in the absence of alternate sources of energy we'll take advantage of any opportunity that comes our way," he said.

Last week marked the first time Nunavut hosted the Western Premiers Conference. Next year's conference is to be held in Saskatchewan.