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Hamilton Spectator
6 days ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Carney points to Grays Bay as key nation-building project
After meeting with Canada's premiers in Saskatoon Monday afternoon, Prime Minister Mark Carney name-dropped Nunavut's Grays Bay road and port as a major project of national significance he wants to see get approved quickly. The comment came in response to a reporter asking why a joint news release from the prime minister and premiers did not list any specific projects. 'I can give you, if I may, lots of examples of those projects, which range from Grays Bay port and road,' Carney said, before naming several other projects across Canada. 'There is a long list of projects that bring the country together, diversify our markets, make us more resilient, create good jobs and growth, have very good prospects of Indigenous partnerships, and beyond.' Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok welcomed seeing Grays Bay on the list, as the project is one of four he and Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. president Jeremy Tunraluk are advocating for. The other projects are the Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link, Qikiqtarjuaq deepsea port, and a hydroelectric project in Iqaluit. 'I was reflecting back to all the leaders that had and continue to push this major project forward,' Akeeagok told reporters Monday, making reference to Tunraluk and Kitikmeot Inuit Association acting president James Eetoolook. 'It was a great day for Nunavut to be recognized as an opportunity for these big nation-building [projects] to happen in the Arctic.' Brendan Bell, CEO of project proponent West Kitikmeot Resources Corp., also welcomed Carney's comments though, he said, he's not surprised. 'It's certainly a validation for all of the work that's gone on here,' Bell said in an interview. 'There's just no daylight between the leaders in Nunavut on this project, and that makes it a fairly safe and easy project for the prime minister to advocate for and to promote.' Grays Bay road and port would consist of a 230-kilometre all-season road and deepsea port that would link the mineral-rich lands of western Nunavut to the rest of Canada. The estimated cost sits at nearly $1 billion. Bell said in October that he's aiming for the federal government to cover 75 per cent of the cost, with the Government of Nunavut funding the rest. Carney and the premiers released a statement after Monday's meeting, agreeing to collaborate on speeding up the approvals of projects of 'national interest.' Among the criteria for the projects is that they must strengthen Canada's resilience and security, support economic growth, have a high likelihood to be achieved, be a high priority for Indigenous communities, and offer potential for clean growth. Another key requirement is consultation with Indigenous Peoples. In Nunavut, projects must go through the Nunavut Impact Review Board before they are approved. Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok, right, speaks in Saskatoon Monday. Also pictured are Yukon Premier Ranj Pillai, left, and Newfoundland Premier John Hogan. (Photo courtesy of Premier P.J. Akeeagok/X) Akeeagok said his priority projects include 'certainty' they will be approved. 'All the projects that we put in [were] really from the lens of making sure that these are being led by Inuit, for Inuit, that really will have a huge benefit not only for the territory, but for the country,' he said. There was a tone of unity from the premiers Monday. Ontario Premier Doug Ford said it was the 'best meeting' he had in 10 years, and colourfully described Carney as 'Santa Claus.' 'He's coming and his sled was full of all sorts of stuff. Now, he's taking off back to the North Pole, he's going to sort it out and then he's going to call us,' Ford said. Akeeagok said he 'couldn't agree more' with what Ford said. '[Monday] was about having really good discussions around identifying some of these key projects,' he said. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hamilton Spectator
7 days ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Akeeagok eager to hear Carney's plan on major project approvals
As Prime Minister Mark Carney is poised to speed up the way major nation-building projects are approved, Premier P.J. Akeeagok says Nunavut is eager to collaborate. Akeeagok, along with his fellow premiers, is to meet with Carney in Saskatoon on Monday. It will be their first in-person gathering since King Charles outlined the Carney government's agenda last Tuesday in the speech from the throne. 'Through the creation of a new Major Federal Project Office, the time needed to approve a project will be reduced from five years to two; all while upholding Canada's world-leading environmental standards and its constitutional obligations to Indigenous Peoples,' Charles said in his speech. 'The government will also strike co-operation agreements with every interested province and territory within six months to realize its goal of 'one project, one review.'' Akeeagok said he was 'really excited' to hear those remarks. The premier remains consistent that he has four major projects on his priority list, which he and Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. president Jeremy Tunraluk jointly endorsed in March. Those projects are the Grays Bay road and port project, the Qikiqtarjuaq deepsea port , the Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link , and a hydroelectric project for Iqaluit. 'You look at the four projects we've advanced, and they're all Inuit-led initiatives that really have been in the wishes and the vision of Inuit for decades,' Akeeagok said. 'The whole country is really looking for certainty at this moment, and I think it's so important to ensure that all these discussions around nation building focus on the consent of the Indigenous people.' Akeeagok described seeing growing support for those four projects in recent weeks from other premiers. In early May, he said his fellow northern premiers gave their support. Last week, western Canadian premiers joined in. Next, Akeeagok said, he hopes to bring in more premiers and Carney. A one-on-one meeting with Carney is not on Akeeagok's agenda, the premier's office says. However, Akeeagok said he has a good relationship with Carney. He said he continues to be thankful that the prime minister made Iqaluit one of his first trips shortly after taking office in March. Beyond Akeeagok's wishlist of projects, there will be a lot to discuss at the meetings, including tariffs and Canadian sovereignty. 'We have the solutions here and Nunavut has the certainty in terms of really bringing forward these exciting initiatives that have been envisioned for many, many years,' he said. 'We're looking forward to those conversations around the first ministers meeting of what we could do to fast track, whether it's significant investments or others as well.' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hamilton Spectator
12-05-2025
- Business
- 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.
Hamilton Spectator
06-05-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Territorial leaders talk trade at premiers' forum in the Yukon
Eliminating trade barriers, establishing a territorial trade zone and securing funding for 'nation-building projects' were some of the priorities set out by leaders of the territories at the Northern Premiers' Forum in the Yukon last weekend. Premiers P.J. Akeeagok of Nunavut, Ranj Pillai of the Yukon and R.J. Simpson of the Northwest Territories met in Haines Junction and Whitehorse from May 2 to 4 as part of their annual trilateral forum. At a news conference Sunday, the leaders focused on economic development in the North through infrastructure and resource development. '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,' Akeeagok said. The premiers spoke about a promise Prime Minister Mark Carney made to eliminate federal barriers to internal trade among provinces and territories by July 1. One barrier Simpson said needs to addressed was how regulations on the transportation and trucking of goods can vary from jurisdiction. Reviewing trade barriers will require consultation with Indigenous groups across the territories and respect for treaties, Pillai said. He wants the process to lead to establishment of a 'territorial trade zone' that would allow better commerce and transportation among the territories. 'I think it gives us an opportunity to be willing partners at the table, but it also gives us a chance to educate our other colleagues about what's unique here,' Pillai said about eliminating barriers across the country. 'But we do need Canada on this one. We need them more committed than ever, and I think that'll be how we position the conversation as we go into July 2.' To eliminate trade barriers, the three premiers spoke of the need to develop 'nation-building' projects across the North. Akeeagok repeated his and Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.'s wish list of federal support for four major projects for Nunavut — West Kitikmeot Resources Corp.'s Arctic Security Corridor/Grays Bay road and port project, Nukik Corp.'s Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link, and Nunavut Nukkiksautiit Corp.'s Iqaluit hydroelectric project. He mentioned the Alaska Highway, which runs through the Yukon from British Columbia and was built during the Second World War at a time of 'urgency.' 'We are at that moment again, but it requires Canada, as a great country that we are, to actually invest here right at home,' Akeeagok said. Pillai, who chaired this year's Northern Premiers' Forum, said he expects the trio to meet with Carney soon after the prime minister visits U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington D.C. on Tuesday — a visit the three said they will watch closely. The premiers also said they look forward to northern investments in the next federal budget, expected to be released sometime after King Charles delivers the speech from the throne in Ottawa on May 27.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Manitoba ends some electricity exports to U.S., with plans to turn northward
WINNIPEG — Manitoba will soon have more energy for itself and other Canadian jurisdictions after two hydroelectric contracts with a Minnesota utility expire at the end of this month, Premier Wab Kinew said Monday. The contracts, signed in 2010, are for a combined 500 megawatts of power to Xcel Energy. Kinew said Manitoba is repatriating energy by keeping that power for domestic use. "We've decided, as Canadians and Manitobans, we are going to use that power to build up our own economy here at home," Kinew said. "So in Manitoba, that means more housing, more factories. But it also gives us the opportunity to talk about trade corridors." While the change coincides with the trade dispute with the United States, Crown-owned Manitoba Hydro said Monday it had not intended to renew the contracts in any event. The 500 megawatts of power have been factored into the utility's plans for the coming years, as it faces potential capacity limits in peak winter months as early as 2029. Kinew said 50 megawatts of the newly available power will be set aside for potential development of a transmission line that would connect parts of Nunavut to Manitoba's grid. The Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link, an infrastructure project that aims to reduce dependence on diesel fuel in northern communities, is in the early stages and could be online by 2032. Kinew said he wants the federal government to help pay for the project, which would serve the far north of Manitoba and some 11,000 Nunavut residents west of Hudson Bay. He also wants federal help for an east-west power grid. "We're also willing to say, hey, if folks are serious about building a trade corridor towards the West or to other parts of Canada, we've got 450 megs of power that we're ready to bring to the table to build up our country and to protect our sovereignty," said the NDP premier. The Opposition Progressive Conservatives said it's unclear whether a reduction in sales to Minnesota will hurt Manitoba Hydro's bottom line. The utility has a higher debt load than utilities in other provinces, after large cost overruns on two megaprojects. "We have a Crown corporation that's $25 billion in debt," said Tory energy critic Lauren Stone. "(Kinew) needs to be candid with Manitobans as to what this is actually going to cost Manitoba ratepayers down the line." Kinew said other contracts with utilities in the United States will continue and export commitments will be honoured. "When we say we are going to keep our word, we do exactly that." This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 14, 2025. Steve Lambert, The Canadian Press Sign in to access your portfolio
