Yellowknife (June 30/03) - Canada needs to protect its third ocean, and it has to do so now.

That's what NWT premier Stephen Kakfwi thinks. He says Ottawa needs to look north a little more, and a little closer.

"The degree of sovereignty has decreased by circumstance but it doesn't diminish that this is our homeland," he said during a recent interview.

Kakfwi said a stronger Canadian presence in the North would help establish sovereignty.

"Canada has to increase its presence. We need more ships. We need to be doing more work on climate change, environmental studies, air quality studies. We need more presence on the islands," he said.

"Jurisdiction is one issue we've had a lot of controversy about, particular for aboriginal people. The Arctic is our home. We have a right as a people."

The premier sees the possible opening of the Northwest Passage as an issue Ottawa needs to tackle soon.

"The Northwest Passage did not become a big issue until climate change became an issue."

"I'm not happy to hear people say it should be international waters. It's a matter of convenience for commercial purposes but we don't want old boats or derelicts to navigate our waters," he said.

Kakfwi thinks it's in everyone's interest to keep the Northwest Passage in the hands of Canada.

"Recognizing Canadian Arctic sovereignty is in the continent's benefit," he said.

Kakfwi is looking forward to working with the federal government and Nunavut on ways to keep the North sovereign.

"We would be very interested in taking part in finding a strategy on how to assert our sovereignty in the North," he said.

The Nunavut premier did not return repeated phone calls before publication.