Paul Bickford
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Apr 15/02) - The terrorist attacks of Sept. 11th has affected how the federal government views Northern priorities, says Ethel Blondin-Andrew.

Government initiatives in the North have been delayed by the terrorist attack on the United States and Ottawa's reaction to it, the Western Arctic's MP said at a recent meeting.

"The government had to completely revise its priorities out of necessity," she explained. "It's an unfortunate thing, but that's the way it is right now."

The MP said it is hoped Prime Minister Jean Chretien will soon visit the NWT to discuss some of the major issues, such as devolution and resource revenue sharing.

The issue arose at a funding announcement April 5 in Yellowknife when Blondin-Andrew was asked about the slow pace of some major Northern issues, including a change to federal per capita funding.

She said changing that arrangement is extremely complicated. "It's almost like changing the constitution."

Finance Minister Joe Handley, who was also at the signing, said he is not frustrated dealing with the federal government.

"I don't think I will give up," he said, explaining the initiatives are long-term processes that are not going to be resolved overnight.

And Handley noted the federal government is still providing funding to the NWT. "There's continually money coming in."