Western premiers call for more infrastructure spending
Leaders speak at close of annual Western Premiers’ Conference in Whitehorse
Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok, far right, speaks to reporters at the close of the Western Premiers’ Conference held in Whitehorse on Monday. (Photo courtesy Western Premiers’ Conference)
Canada’s western premiers called for more federal spending on infrastructure Monday at the close of their annual four-day conference in Whitehorse.
Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok highlighted discussions the group had around Arctic security, infrastructure and sovereignty, calling them “incredible nation-building opportunities … it supports vibrant communities.”
He said that addressing the infrastructure gap between the North and much of the rest of Canada as well as creating electricity and fibre links to the territory are of the highest importance.
Akeeagok also cited the Grays Bay Road and Port project as key to Arctic sovereignty and exploiting Nunavut’s wealth of critical minerals.
The Gray’s Bay Road and Port project, estimated to cost $554 million, includes a plan to build a 230-kilometre all-season road and deepsea port. It would link Nunavut to Canada’s mainland via the Northwest Territories.
The leaders agreed to work toward an agreement focused on shared infrastructure priorities, conference host, Yukon Premier Ranj Pillai said.
The goal is to bring jobs and economic advancement to the people of western and northern Canada, he added.
The leaders also spoke about the continued urgency of addressing disaster preparedness as Canada “faces the prospect of another destructive fire season,” Pillai said.
“At this table, we don’t just represent the 13 million residents of the northern and western jurisdictions, we represent a wide range of viewpoints across the political spectrum,” he said.
Each year since 1973, Canada’s western premiers have held joint forums to discuss issues they have in common.
In addition to Akeeagok and Pillai, other leaders in attendance were British Columbia Premier David Eby, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew and Northwest Territories Premier R.J. Simpson.
I fully support government spending on infrastructure projects. This is the kind of thing governments should focus on.
Unfortunately, our current government has been engaged in an orgiastic spending spree that has been among the highest ever recorded by a federal government, and for what? What concrete achievement has all that produced?
We need a new government in this country that will refocus on the essentials. Not one that is obsessed with throwing money at every vanity project in hopes of being loved in perpetuity. That too is clearly not working.
HEAR , HEAR !!!!!!!!!!!
This message is to those that are being blinded, may you see the light and let truth set you free. Word of the day “incredible” in every topic by wannabe po & jt. Let’s hear those incredible, most monumental and historical words and keep rolling in those pictures so Nunavummiut won’t be forgotten in between. Reminder: actions speaks louder than words, which means – talk less and do more, over do as I say, not as I do… Let it sink in.