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Hamilton Spectator

Northern premiers look to expand horizons and opportunities during Northern Premiers' Forum

Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok says within Canada's three Northern territories exists an 'incredible opportunity'. 'We're seeing so much uncertainty around the world, right across this country, and I think one thing as Northern territories that we provide all Canadians is certainty. We have so much opportunity,' Akeeagok said. The premier recently attended the annual Northern Premiers' Forum held in Haines Junction, Yukon, joined by this years' chair Yukon premier Ranj Pillai, and NWT premier R.J. Simpson. Akeeagok said as a team of three, the premiers are pushing and demonstrating that the territories are emerging as a key region for prosperity and possibilities for growth with 'nation building projects'. 'I too, very much look forward to working very closely with the Prime Minister on implementing the vision that we want to see Canada become, and the role the North could play when you look at wanting to truly diversify our economies and building Canada so we become more resilient and prosperous,' he said. Investing in opportunity Within Nunavut, Akeeagok said the Arctic security corridor with its access over to the NWT has 'incredible critical mineral potential' that the world needs, but 'what we don't have is an investment and a partner in Ottawa to make that real. 'But we've brought in new organizations who are the proponents of that proposal. We're supporting them. We're backing them, and I very much look forward to solidifying that relationship even further with the NWT as we move forward as well.' Akeeagok went on to say they also have had a few successes in terms of connecting on projects with Manitoba and Premier Wab Kinew, one example being the Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link (KHFL), being led by the Inuit-owned Nukik Corporation. The 1,200-km link between Manitoba and the Kivalliq region of Nunavut, will benefit five communities and two mines by using electricity instead of diesel fuel. 'Nunavut is the only jurisdiction that is not connected by fiber or road … so it's exciting to see that project advance. 'It takes a team to advance these projects, and I feel very honored to be able to work with the two friends that are right next to me, to be able to advance some really exciting work that really will change the fabric of this country,' he said. And with the creation of a deep-sea port on the Eastern part of the territory at the mouth of the Northwest Passage, Akeeagok said it would diversity the local economy and increase opportunities for Canada. Collaboration welcome Akeeagok said after incumbent MP Lori Idlout was re-elected to parliament, he ensured they would continue with an 'open door policy' to enable them to communicate about the nation-building projects that were underway. 'I really feel that Nunavut has so much to offer in terms of providing that certainty and that clear direction of what we could do together. She's been a strong advocate on some really exciting work,' he said. Garnering interest In terms of global interest in Canada's North, Yukon Premier Ranj Pillai said 'not a month goes by' where a consul general or ambassador doesn't come to the Yukon to discuss Canada's North. 'I think specifically Nordic countries have been really reaching out to us to talk about the opportunities of the three territories coming together, where we can work together. There's already the cultural fabric that's that binds our Indigenous Peoples across the North into Alaska, but also into Greenland and into and Nordic regions,' Pillai said. 'Beyond that is that there's a lot of Canadians, as we all know, that do not have a real strong understanding about what the Yukon is, or what happens in the Yukon, in the Northwest Territories, or Nunavut. And so we're also seeing a time when Canadians are actually taking a moment of pause to try and understand what the North is all about. So I think that's why it's pivotal, because it becomes a conversation during an election cycle,' he said. Local heroes Akeeagok said he had the pleasure of welcoming Prime Minister Mark Carney to Nunavut in his first domestic travel in the country, and was able to discuss investments such as defense, housing, and a permanent, year-round presence of the Canadian Rangers. 'They are truly the heroes. They are the eyes and the ears of the North. And we all know many of them, their family, their community members that wear many hats,' he said. 'I've had the opportunity to connect with the Rangers and to actually hear exactly where they see the need for investments, the investments into, let's say, equipment so that they could do a little longer patrols, or whether it's the support to allow them to do more of the patrols and the less paperwork is what we heard as well, to streamline some of those processes.' 'I very much look forward to continuing these conversations with the Prime Minister, and it's going to be interesting. And I very much look forward to hearing who the new or returning defense minister might be. I believe we've had a really good working relationship in identifying priorities that come from the North,' he said. Akeeagok also said that by investing in Nunavut, they will see a 'direct impact' in terms of the high cost of living in communities. 'I am very pleased to see a lot of those projects that we've identified make it into the platforms, and now we'll be very eager to see if it actually gets brought in through the first budget, but we'll be very closely looking into that. 'But I feel very optimistic that we've really seen some great momentum around a lot of those projects, but it will require those federal investments to make them happen.' Topics of discussion during the forum among the three premiers also included the health and well-being of Northerners, balancing economic growth with environmental protection as well as sustainable development practices, and support for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and the fundamental right to self-expression.