Northern development starting to move forward

In Canada and especially in the North, development of any kind includes many more components now than it ever has. At no time in our history has development required the environmental scrutiny and aboriginal consultation that it does today. When I think of development in the North, it needs to include governance, social, and economic pieces, in addition to addressing environmental concerns. We need to develop a secure, attractive investment climate. This includes political certainty, which means settled land claims and self-government agreements where aboriginal people are full partners in the development of their land. Currently in the N.W.T. we have about 10 land claim and self-government negotiations in various stages. Much of the potential development of the Northwest Territories has been on hold, pending years of negotiations. The current minister of indigenous affairs and northern development, Carolyn Bennett, appointed two ministerial special representatives to review the Dehcho and Akaitcho-Metis negotiations. The reports have been concluded and shared with all parties, and hopefully soon there will be a new path forward. Finalizing these land claims will open up areas for new development and create certainty for aboriginal people, for industry, and for governments. We are fortunate in the N.W.T. to have a good regulatory process in place, a co-management system set up under the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act that could be a model for the rest of the country. The social development part has to include healthy, educated people who are ready to take advantage of development. For many reasons, the legacy of residential schools, unhealthy living conditions like overcrowding, homelessness, and drug and alcohol addictions, continue to impact individuals, families, communities, and governments in the North. Our government has made investments in homeless shelters and new housing that are significantly greater than the previous government, but the need in our communities remains high. Fixing the generational issues will take time and effort—from the many new commitments, like implementing the recommendations in the Truth and Reconciliation report, to the inquiry into missing and murdered women, and new investments in aboriginal languages and adult basic education. I hope to see improvements in the lives of our aboriginal residents. Being proud of and embracing a culture that has a history of marginalization will help with the health and welfare of aboriginal communities. Finally, to support development in the N.W.T., we also need to lower the development cost by building infrastructure. In such a vast land, larger than Alberta and Saskatchewan combined, the lack of all-season roads and the increasing unpredictability of ice roads is a huge impediment to exploration and development. Canada needs to invest in this infrastructure, especially in new roads (which are still a federal responsibility in the N.W.T.) and better runways to attract industry, and interconnect our communities. I am pleased to see many of the infrastructure funds our government has announced will include a “base plus per capita” amount. In the past, when funding was divided up on a purely per capita basis, given our small population, higher costs and large land mass, it has been immaterial. Lowering other costs, for example by investing in alternatives to diesel, will also help attract investment. Budget 2017 has earmarked $400-million for an Arctic Energy Fund directed at reducing northern communities' reliance on diesel. In many areas of northern development—economic, social, and governance—I have seen progress since becoming a Member of Parliament. It is never as fast as I would like, but there are many pieces that are starting to align, and fit together, and move forward as they have never before. Michael McLeod is the Liberal MP for Northwest Territories. The Hill Times

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Northern development starting to move forward

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