When Indian and Northern Affairs Minister Robert Nault sits down at his new desk in Ottawa, he should start from the bottom of the pile of files instead of the top. According to DIAND assistant deputy minister Jim Moore, the file on moving upwards to 70 department jobs North is 46 on the list to read.
Surely some of the 45 files having a higher priority deal with such issues as helping the Nunavut government cope with the enormous task of governing a new territory, outstanding land claims in the NWT, Northern aboriginal medical, dental staffing and patient benefits and Northern resource and economic development.
These issues and others related to the North could be handled with far greater efficiency by Northern based staff. Perhaps because the minister is from 'Northern' Ontario, he will carry no bias and see the wisdom of such a move.
It's good to see Arviat and Baker Lake MLAs Kevin O'Brien and Glen McLean calling for the Nunavut housing crisis addressed to be addressed.
O'Brien is bang on when he points out the number of pressing social issues that are a direct result of the housing crisis.
The O'Brien-chaired Standing Committee recommendation to start a 75-unit housing initiative would be a start in tackling what even the premier acknowledges is a top priorities for the Nunavut government.
The 700 families waiting for houses would be better served if Housing Minister Manitok Thompson's proposed seven-month task force included a start to construction of the 75 new units.
The need for housing now is immediate and indisputable.
The search for a foreign sub sighted in waters off Pangnirtung is a fresh reminder of how vulnerable Canada's arctic defences are.
There is presently no threat from a hostile power, but a military attempting to cope with shrinking budgets should rethink its priorities.
Canada's Northern border is a unique one. Does it make sense for our military to spend money on conventional hardware? Why try maintaining a respectable footing with our larger allies when we can never hope to mount more than a token force?
Naval exercises in the Caribbean do little for Canada's defence. We would be better off to focus on arctic and ocean surveillance strategies, both in the air and under the ice. Developing a world class expertise in arctic defence strategy exceeding that of our allies would make us a more essential component in Nato defences than we presently are.
A $1.9 million contract was recently awarded to Hay River based Northern Transportation Company Ltd. for work on the Diavik diamond minesite.
NTCL will be building 23 steel fuel storage tanks. This contract illustrates the economic opportunities the industry offers territory wide.
With construction of the mine to cost over $1 billion, there are bound to be many such lucrative contracts but business is going to have to sell themselves as NTCL did. Hay River is being especially aggressive and beside the NTCL contract, is competing with Yellowknife for secondary diamond processing operations.
That's how it's done -- aggressive selling and competitive service.
The health and vitality of any culture can be measured by the health and vitality of its arts.
The arts communities in the Northwest Territories is growing. The success over the last summer of music festivals and cultural get-togethers is a good indication that both the talent and the interest is there.
The books and plays and original art being produced here in the North is ensuring that we have a creative element to our lifestyle. But where is that element coming from and what kind of support is it receiving from the population at large?
The NWT Arts Council has approved $140,000 for the coming year to about 20 artists.
That works out to $7,000 per artist -- not a lot to guarantee the health of arts and all the education and pride and cultural strength it brings.
Perhaps it's time to reassess where we're investing our money for the future.
For a time earlier this month, the eyes of the world turned briefly to Nunavut -- and seemed to be impressed.
President Jacques Chirac of France and Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien visited our new territory and toured Canada's newest capital, meeting the people and taking in the sights.
They also spent some time in Cape Dorset and Pangnirtung, experiencing the North.
Exposure of this kind is like gold to any region and doubly so for one that's just getting its feet under it.
Whether anything comes out of it immediately, ties have been made and possibilities suggested. Any exposure at this point can only be good and the more we can attract, the better. The next step is to make it work for us.