Ottawa (Feb 21/03) - It was only two weeks ago that Premier Stephen Kakfwi told the NWT the Prime Minister "blew it." Today he's singing a different tune.

Now that Prime Minister Jean Chretien has conceded to the demands of Canada's three territorial premiers by creating a special $60 million health-care fund for the North, the angry rhetoric has disappeared in favour of conciliation.

Premier Kakfwi: 'Likely northern premiers will now sign the health accord.' -

"I think it's important to recognize how important it is to maintain some relationship (with) the Prime Minister's Office," said Kakfwi from Ottawa.

"That ensures that we have access to the many federal ministers we have to do business with."

Kakfwi, along with Nunavut Premier Paul Okalik and the Yukon's Dennis Fentie, met with Chretien yesterday morning at 24 Sussex Drive -- the site of many power-brokered deals over the years.

Kakfwi said he was confident the prime minister would deliver, particularly considering the attention focused on Chretien in the national media when the Northern premiers accused him of neglecting the needs of the territories' residents.

The three premiers walked out on health accord talks between territorial and provincial leaders and Chretien Feb. 5 after he refused to grant additional money outside of population-based funding.

If they had accepted the deal, it would have worked out to around $5.2 million annually for three years for the NWT.

More talks ahead

The new deal reached yesterday will give the territories $20 million each as a "floor," with ongoing talks for more money over the years to come. Kakfwi was short on details yesterday but said they will be worked out before the end of the current fiscal year, March 31.

He said it is likely the premiers will now sign the health accord, and a cancelled visit from Health Minister Anne McClellan will resume next month.

Kakfwi said he suspects Chretien was pre-occupied by events on the world stage heading into the health accord talks, and that may have been a reason he initially chose to ignore Northern health needs.

"He's pre-occupied with Iraq and many international businesses," said Kakfwi.

"That's why we wanted to get it clear and not be shuffled off to the finance minister or the minister of health."

The premier also said he shoulders some of the blame for the misunderstanding because they went to the health talks expecting a special deal while Chretien wanted to wait until after the health accord was signed.

"He just assumed we would have our talks after the meeting," said Kakfwi. "I think we all share the responsibility for not quite having our ducks lined up."

Ken Seethram, president of the NWT Medical Association, said the NWT could always use more, but another $20 million will definitely help.

"It's a start," said Seethram.

"It still doesn't work out to the per capita formula we could apply elsewhere in the country but, again, we don't provide all the services that we offer in the country."

Western Arctic Liberal MP Ethel Blondin-Andrew credited Kakfwi with remaining steadfast during the dispute.

She said the attention he received on the national stage of late will only help the NWT in the future.

"If we get more money on infrastructure it will be because of his persistence and his hard work," said Blondin-Andrew. "I think that will be the next emerging battle."