Members of the Northwest Territories Council of Leaders met with federal ministers and parliamentary secretaries in Ottawa to discuss northern priorities and work to advance major projects in the North.
The council members met with the ministers responsible for transport, internal trade, Crown-Indigenous relations, Indigenous services, and many other departments, as well as the parliamentary secretary responsible for housing and infrastructure and representatives of the federal Major Projects Office.
Some of the topics of discussion included ongoing health care support for the territory, such as the renewed federal-territorial health agreement and investments in16 health infrastructure projects announced earlier this month, and concerns over the impacts of climate change on the NWT.
The leaders also emphasized the need for federal departments and agencies to work to better understand the realities of northern politics and the relationships between governments in the North.
“When territorial and Indigenous leaders come together and speak with one voice, we send a clear message about what the North needs and what we can achieve by working together,” said NWT Premier R.J. Simpson.
Another important topic was the upcoming major infrastructure projects in the North, namely the Arctic Economic and Security Corridor, the Mackenzie Valley Highway, and the Taltson Hydro Expansion Project.
Council members expressed their support for these projects and reiterated that these projects will require sustained federal investment and a strong partnership between governments.
“With the right infrastructure and partnerships in place, we can build a stronger future for our communities, improve services for Northerners and make an even greater contribution to Canada,” said Simpson.
This is the third year that council members have travelled to Ottawa to share a united voice on northern issues and create opportunities for Indigenous governments to share their own priorities with federal policymakers.
