Arthur Milnes
Northern News Services

NNSL (Feb 08/99) - Premier Jim Antoine has asked his leadership rival to lead the way in the creation of a Northern economic development strategy for the new western territory.

The Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Stephen Kakfwi, will serve as facilitator of the project and will hold planning meetings and consultations over the strategy in the coming months.

"The development of a strategy must be undertaken in partnership with other levels of government and stakeholders in the western NWT," he said in a statement last week.

"Without support from Aboriginal leaders, municipal governments and industry, no strategy can be successful as a blueprint for future economic development."

A discussion paper, written by former GNWT cabinet secretary Roland Bailey under a contract worth approximately $500,000, will be used as a basis for discussion, Kakfwi said. It should not be considered a strategy in itself, he added.

"We recognize that the ownership of the land and resources rests with the Aboriginal peoples," Kakfwi said in an interview. "We have to recognize this (and that) they want jobs and that Aboriginal communities want to participate... We accept that and it has to be done together."

Kakfwi would not provide further details about time lines or completing the strategy or dates for consultations meetings. He would only say the meetings should be under way soon.