Mike W. Bryant
Northern News Services

Cambridge Bay (Sep 08/03) - Banking on previous success from their show of unity last spring, the North's three territorial premiers signed an accord, Wed., Sept. 3, they believe will add toughness to their campaign for more federal dollars.

Premier Stephen Kakfwi: Northern premiers will use unified strategy to lobby Ottawa for more funding.

NWT

Premier Stephen Kakfwi and the Yukon's Dennis Fentie met with Nunavut Premier Paul Okalik in Cambridge Bay, re-confirming an era of co-operation they say was impossible under former Yukon Premier Pat Duncan's Liberal government.

The Duncan Liberals were defeated by Fentie's Yukon Party in a general election held last November.

"I recall in the year 2000 we had health discussions and we could not get together as Northern premiers leading up to those discussions. We got nothing out of it," said Okalik.

"In the latest health discussions, we came up with a strategy and that strategy worked very well because we were able to work together," Okalik said.

Last February, all three premiers walked out on health accord talks with Prime Minister Jean Chretien, after he refused to give the territories additional funding over and above the per capita formula being offered.

The move garnered significant national media coverage, forcing Chretien to backpedal and dole out another $60 million to the three territories two weeks later.

Now with the signing of the Northern Cooperation Accord, the premiers say they intend to turn up the heat on a range of issues from the U.S. missile defence to a greater share of resource royalties from mining.

"There may be other events that take place that we'll draw attention to," said Kakfwi.

"That's what we do as politicians," he said. "I have no doubt we'll try to find ways to do that in the future."