Northern communities call for federal money and a say in Arctic decision-making

Solomon Awa wants to open talks with the federal government after a “milestone” resolution was approved June 1 by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities at its annual conference in Ottawa.

Awa, the mayor of Iqaluit, also serves as president of the Nunavut Association of Municipalities.

The resolution calls on the federal government to invest in critical infrastructure and climate initiatives, include northern municipalities in discussions related to Arctic sovereignty and security, and recognize the North’s self-determination.

A joint statement backing the resolution was co-signed by municipalities across Nunavut, Northwest Territories and Yukon.

“[The resolution] reflects our shared commitment to ensuring the North is fully recognized as central to Canada’s future — not peripheral,” Awa said in a June 2 letter addressed to Nunavut’s mayors and senior administrative officers.

The passage of this resolution reflects a growing Indigenous influence on the national stage, he said, adding that the time when southern representatives can speak for northerners has passed.

“Indigenous people are starting to raise their voices,” Awa told Nunatsiaq News in a phone interview Thursday.

“It also reinforces the importance of working together across territories to speak with one strong, united voice on issues that matter to us.”

A co-ordinated push for infrastructure development across the three territories could lead the way for new projects, said Arlen Foster, who works for Stantec as a principal and infrastructure practice lead for northern Canada.

Stantec is an engineering, architecture and consulting firm with roots in Alberta. The company designed Iqaluit airport’s terminal and is involved with consultation and engineering work on the proposed Grays Bay road and port project.

On average, other provinces and territories have 200 times more roads than Nunavut, Foster said.

Even then, only two per cent of Nunavut’s roads are paved, compared to the national average of 40 per cent for a region, he added.

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities includes more than 2,100 municipalities and 20 provincial and territorial municipal associations, including the Nunavut Association of Municipalities.

Awa said he plans to contact the federal government soon to discuss the needs expressed in the resolution.

Nunatsiaq News contacted Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada for comment on the resolution, but has not received a response.