Premier welcomes Prime Minister Carney ‘home’ to the North
Prime minister makes stopover in Iqaluit to reaffirm Canada’s Arctic security and sovereignty
Premier P.J. Akeeagok, left, speaks with Prime Minister Mark Carney in Iqaluit on Tuesday morning. Carney made a visit to the Nunavut capital on his return trip from London and Paris, where he held meetings with U.K. and French leaders on Monday. (Photo by Jeff Pelletier)
Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in Iqaluit Tuesday morning and was greeted at the commissioner’s house with a “welcome home,” by Premier P.J. Akeeagok.
Carney — who Akeeagok referred to in his welcome as a “fellow northerner” from Fort Smith, N.W.T. — was sworn in as prime minister on Friday, succeeding Justin Trudeau.
By the time Carney left Tuesday afternoon, he had outlined a total of $6 billion in federal spending on Arctic security and community infrastructure.
Carney was in the Nunavut capital for a one-day stop following a brief trip earlier this week to London, where he met with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and had an audience with King Charles, and Paris, where he met with French President Emmanuel Macron.
Carney said the purpose of his visit to Iqaluit is to “advance and reaffirm our sovereignty in Nunavut.” He also spoke briefly about the need for the federal government to deliver on “better housing.”
“I look forward to our discussions,” Carney said, before he and Akeeagok went inside the commissioner’s house for a closed-door meeting.
After the meeting, Akeeagok told reporters he and Carney “went into detail” about the “opportunity the North or the Arctic has to be able to offer the country to help diversify our economy.”
Akeeagok emphasized to Carney the need for the federal government to provide funding for “nation-building” projects, the premier told reporters.
Following their meeting, Carney and Akeeagok headed to Iqaluit’s Canadian Forces forward operating location near Iqaluit’s airport.
That’s where Carney announced Canada is partnering with Australia to develop advanced over-the-horizon radar technology.
He also announced $420 million in spending to bolster Canada’s year-round military presence in the Arctic.
Finally, Carney announced $253 million to improve infrastructure. That includes:
- $94 million to upgrade power plants in Cambridge Bay, Gjoa Haven, Igloolik, and Iqaluit;
- $74 million to improve housing infrastructure and accelerate housing development;
- $66 million to build, renovate and repair homes across Nunavut; and
- $20 million towards Nunavut Nukkiksautiit Corp.’s Iqaluit hydroelectricity project.
“The announcements today will strengthen Arctic security, they’ll bolster our partnerships with our closest allies, they’ll build the North’s economic potential and advance reconciliation,” Carney said.
Following the announcement and Carney’s departure to Ottawa, Akeeagok spoke positively about the prime minister’s visit.
“We just had the prime minister, who just got sworn in just a few days ago, just come,” Akeeagok told reporters.
“I think we’ve really had a good rapport … that we could continue to build on, looking at key issues that are of interest to the North.”
This was not Carney’s first visit to Iqaluit as a public official. Previously, as governor of the Bank of Canada he took part in a 2010 meeting with G7 finance leaders.
Akeeagok is set to meet with Carney and Canada’s other premiers Friday.
Premier, take him to the Warming Centre at the Damp Shelter and to Tukisigiarvik Centre to really have a feel on how the housing crises really is and how mental health and addictions resources are needed. This would be a reality check for the new Premier.
I meant a “reality check” for the new prime minister
I was going to vote for Pierre cause , i dislike Justin , but i will vote for him instead.
Trudeau > Poilievre > Carney
Vote for Trump and Poilievre.
Maybe next election Nunavut will vote for an Inuk premier.😂😜
Are you say PJ is not Inuk?
Don’t let Carney fool you by saying he’s now going to do everything Pierre has been saying for years.
Carney will come with the same liberal problems.
Whether you like Pierre or not, Canada needs a conservative federal government to fix the mess the liberals have created.
We heard you PJ on a waste of millions our Government to approve Qik deep sea port ,
What a dream and not to be used ,
Let it be a small safe harbor is all it’s needed ,
Why look at Pang Fisheries and have struggles trying to keep Employment going half the time struggle to keep Employment going ,
No one will want to move up there unless AFA will pay for room and pay of millions ,
Sweet dream MLAs wasted if proceeded take a look of Pang fish plant first hard enough todate on winter fishing ice gone and no more fishing today .
Eyes and ears
Not even close.
Not even close.
Just another……
He is not PM is the acting PM! He can not say or do anything for anyone! His words are just nonsense! He doesn’t care about anyone but himself. Come on! There was no election to vote him in! He just assumes everyone is dim enough to listen to his false promises.