Northern premiers call for more “strategic investments” from Ottawa

The need for more federal money was very much on the minds of Canada’s northern premiers when they met in Dawson City, Yukon, last week for the Northern Premiers’ Forum.

“It’s always a pleasure to meet with my colleagues from the Northwest Territories and Yukon,” said Nunavut Premier Joe Savikataaq in a news release on the annual get-together, held on June 13 and June 14.

The gathering saw Savikataaq, Yukon Premier Sandy Silver and Northwest Territories Premier Bob McLeod donning Nunavut-20 T-shirts for a photo opportunity.

“Despite our differences and challenges, we stand united as northern Canada, and firmly advocate for the interests and needs of the Arctic,” said Savikataaq. “As always, we are stronger together.”

Yukon Premier Sandy Silver, Nunavut Premier Joe Savikataaq and Northwest Territories Premier Bob McLeod pose in their Nunavut-20 T-shirts during their recent get-together in Dawson City, Yukon. (Photo courtesy of the GN)

During their meeting, the premiers talked about how the Arctic is often short-changed within Canada.

That has an impact on the expansion and modernization of “major and transformative infrastructure,” they said.

In their end-of-meeting release, the premiers called for more “strategic investments” from Ottawa for economic and energy infrastructure, as well as for more programs to support the wellness, safety and well-being of northerners.

They also want Ottawa to “rethink” how federal money is handed out and streamline what they called “overly complex” funding arrangements for some programs and transfers.

And they want to see a “predictable and co-ordinated” flow of money between federal and territorial governments and Indigenous groups—an issue that Savikataaq brought up in a recent interview with Nunatsiaq News in connection with money that Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami has received for various programs.

Overall, the three premiers agreed that the lack of transportation, energy, and digital communications infrastructure now constrain both human and economic potential in all territories.

To improve conditions, they said they want to see a more co-ordinated effort between the territories and the federal government to support infrastructure development, such as national utility corridors and better transportation infrastructure.

This would also improve access to resources and expand internal trade, they said.

Another common concern among the premiers was climate change, which they said was woven into every item they discussed.

The premiers want to see more flexible, northern-specific programs to address increasing costs related to infrastructure due to the effects of climate change, including flooding, wildfires, erosion and permafrost thaw.

The premiers also agreed to seek “long-term federal support” for reconciliation efforts, including addressing the recommendations from the final report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

On that, they said Indigenous peoples and organizations should drive the healing effort, with support from all levels of government.

The meeting helped to set their common priorities ahead of next month’s western premiers’ conference and the Council of the Federation meeting later this summer.

The N.W.T. will host the 2020 Northern Premiers’ Forum.