Yellowknife (July 28/06) - New Democrat leader Jack Layton threw his support behind a plan to beef-up the military presence in the North during a stopover in Yellowknife, last week.

NDP leader Jack Layton - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

With the potential of more shipping traffic through the Northwest Passage and billions of dollars in gas sitting below the Arctic Ocean, Canada needs to solidify its hold on the North, he said.

"Whenever you get a chance to assert (your sovereignty), you should."

His comments came about two weeks after Liberal leader Bill Graham suggested the Conservatives and Prime Minister Stephen Harper were exaggerating the threat to Canada's northern borders.

Layton and his wife, fellow MP Olivia Chow, were in the territories to promote the New Democrat's vision of the North.

Layton has visited Yellowknife and the North several times since the early 1980s, including once last year during the run-up to the federal election.

He said fairness for Northerners, sovereignty, the environment, and understanding social issues are key concepts in the NDP strategy for the North - a part of the country all Canadians should know more about.

"(The phrase) 'From sea to sea to sea' reminds Canadians that there is a Northern boundary," said Layton, referring to Western Arctic MP Dennis Bevington's plan to include a reference to the Arctic Ocean in the country's motto.

While Bevington's opinion was criticized by some, the comments made the North a hot topic of conversation in the south, explained Layton.

In terms of fairness to Northerners, Layton said looking at a larger tax credit to deal with the cost of living is one issue to consider.

Revenues from resource development should also go to those living in the North, Layton said.

As for the environment in the North, Layton calls the NWT "a beautiful place". But when it comes to global warming, it's here where there are "warning signs of what's to come."

Warming climates will affect the North in many ways, making winters shorter and threatening those who make their livelihoods using the ice roads.

Layton said there are many opportunities for the NWT to promote tourism and development and still protect the fragile Northern environment.

Chow met with women's and children's groups on Saturday morning in Bevington's office and talked about day care and other social problems.

Following his stop in Yellowknife, Layton flew to Nahanni National Park where he planned to canoe the historic Nahanni River with his wife and Bevington.