Territorial leaders form united front

MICHAELA RODRIGUE
Nunatsiaq News

IQALUIT — The leaders of Canada’s three territories will now present a united front in their fight for more money from the federal government.

Last week, the leaders of Nunavut, the Northwest Territories and Yukon met at Iqaluit to take part in the first Northern Leaders’ Forum and to sign a co-operation agreement.

The Northern Co-operation Accord says the three territories will work together on “issues of mutual concern.”

Many of those issues are rooted in money — especially the need to extract more money from Ottawa

In a press release, the three leaders outlined some of the issues they want to attack together this year.

They include:

Receiving royalties from non-renewable resource development in the North;
More money to implement self-government agreements and;
More money for infrastructure such as transportation.
The three premiers were not available to comment on the priorities at press time, but upon signing the accord the premiers said the written accord should give them a stronger voice at this week’s premiers conference in Quebec City.

“With the three northern leaders sharing information and seeing how we can work together and having a common voice, hopefully we’ll have some effect when we meet with the southern premiers,” said Northwest Territories Premier Jim Antoine.

Nunavut Premier Paul Okalik said because of their common territorial status, it makes sense to lobby the federal government together.

“We don’t have the same authority as provinces, so we have to work together to achieve our agenda,” Okalik.

And Antoine said the territories will keep each other notified about each other’s funding agreements with the federal government.

The three leaders also agreed to continue the collaboration between each of the territories’ tourism associations.

Other issues the territories will attack together include:

* gaining seats on all major national boards or committees;

* lobbying on Nav Canada fees and regulations;

* stable postage rates for food mail.

A press conference on the agreement and this week’s premiers conference was scheduled after Nunatsiaq News press-time. Yukon will host the next Northern Leaders’ Forum next March.