SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Prime Minister Stephen Harper will to visit the North Aug. 17-21, including a stop in Yellowknife, and Western Arctic MP Dennis Bevington hopes any announcements made will be substantial.

"Any time the prime minister of the country visits the North, I think that's good. It's important Canada pay attention to the North," Bevington said Monday.

But getting the right kind of attention is also important, he added.

"I would hope the visit would have more meaningful announcements for the North than his (Harper's) previous visit last summer," said Bevington.

Last year, Harper visited the North on a three-day trip in late August, making announcements in both Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk. They included the launch of Canada's polar class icebreaker program and the pledge to double jurisdiction in the Arctic Ocean.

This trip, Harper is said to be prepared to release spending initiatives as he visits each territory's capital city. It is also rumoured he will finally reveal the locations of the new Northern Economic Development Agency and the new Arctic research centre.

The tour will mark Harper's fourth consecutive summer visit North.

Bevington has his fingers crossed the latest tour will also mark something else: a departure from what he sees as Harper's military-focused Northern agenda.

"I hope this visit isn't simply to talk about the importance of Canada's military in the North, but to talk about the importance of Northern communities," he said.

Bevington said he would like to see "movement on governance for the three Northern territories" and added he hopes the PM stays away from repeating funding initiatives "he's already announced (but makes again) for the second or third time."

Also on Bevington's wish list is a focus on the North's sky-high living costs.

"To me the biggest problem in many of the Northern communities is the high cost of living making it difficult for people to live in the North and raise their families here," he said. "I would look to the PM to address those issues. I think those are paramount to strong communities in the North," he added.

Brendan Bell, last year's Conservative candidate for the Western Arctic, was also happy to hear Harper would be continuing his traditional summer trek to the North but chose not to speculate on what announcements the PM may make.

He did say, however, that there are several things the Conservative party is working on and are "optimistic" about moving forward: the much-mentioned economic development agency; increased infrastructure; and a "beefed-up military presence in the North."

Bell added he is also personally interested in seeing an increased search-and-rescue presence for the North based in the North.

Beyond that, Bell said, "it is no secret" the Conservatives would like to see the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline go ahead but he also recognizes not much will happen until the Joint Review Panel's assessment is complete.