SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Anyone hoping to hear how the Liberals would fix the high cost of living in the North during party leader Justin Trudeau's visit to Yellowknife, likely came away disappointed. Trudeau was very short on specifics and somewhat vague with several of his answers during an exclusive one-on-one interview early Sunday morning.

Justin Trudeau was in Yellowknife on Sunday as part of the Liberal Party of Canada leaders tour of the North. - Walter Strong/NNSL photo

The Liberal leader was in the city for three days as part of his five-day visit to the North, including stops in Inuvik and Iqaluit. Trudeau travelled with his seven-year-old son Xaviar plus several staffers and handlers.

"Our platform will be released at election time. This trip is about drawing and discussing different options and making sure that what we do offer in an electoral platform, but more importantly as a government, will respond to the very real needs Northerners have. That's something that is more important to get right than to get quickly," Trudeau said.

He was reminded that Prime Minister Stephen Harper has been to the North at least once a year since becoming prime minister, arguably giving the North a higher profile and investing more federal dollars into projects than previous Liberal governments.

Trudeau was quick to point out that when he was young, he accompanied his father, former prime minister Pierre Trudeau, to the North almost every year, suggesting Harper has not done anything more in terms of visiting the North than any past Liberal prime minister.

He also said he has a different focus when it comes to the North than Harper.

"For me, this is very much about emphasizing something different than what Mr. Harper has done.

"He tends to focus on land and resources and military, I'm trying to focus on the people who live here. When we talk about Arctic sovereignty, when we talk about the North we have to talk about the people who live here, who thrive, who are interested about the future they are building here for their kids, for the community. That's my focus here," he said.

Trudeau did share specific comments on the Nutrition North program.

"I think one of the basic things is a Nutrition North program that actually works. The auditor general's report was absolutely damning. The fact of the matter is that it is more expensive to feed one's family and to pay for things in the North than it is in the south," he said.

"Canada needs to be a country that is fair right across the country and that means government will need to give support to families in the North that is fair and that means a Nutrition North program that actually works to make it affordable for people to raise healthy families."

High-cost dinner

Trudeau said he has no second thoughts about charging $600 per person for a dinner event in Yellowknife despite the high cost of living being one of the major issues in the North.

"I certainly agree that if that was the only event I had, the only public availability I have in the North then that would be an issue.

"But I'm of course doing lots of public events as well. There will be plenty of chances for people to come and chat with me and share their thoughts," said Trudeau.

"Money is important in politics and people are willing to step up and support."

While in Yellowknife, Trudeau also met with aboriginal leaders as well as the business community.

Overall, Trudeau says while there is much work ahead for his party, there have been many positive indicators along the way.

"We have an awful lot of work to do win back the confidence and people's trust in the next election.

"I have to say I am incredibly encouraged by the response I get right across the country: the number of candidates, the number of volunteers, how we have been doing in byelections - they are all positive indicators that the Liberal party is very much doing the right kinds of things."