Yellowknife (Oct 06/04) - Premier Joe Handley says he is happy by what he heard in yesterday's Speech from the Throne, but not particularly surprised.

Gov. Gen. Adrienne Clarkson made two specific references to the North during the speech Tuesday, which outlined the Liberal minority government's plans for the next session of Parliament.

Handley said most of the commitments to the North had already been worked out between aboriginal leaders and the territorial and federal governments.

"It was a pretty broad-brush view of the plans for the future," said Handley.

"Of particular interest is the commitment of the government to work with territorial governments, aboriginal people, and develop a comprehensive strategy for the North."

The Throne Speech called for a comprehensive Northern strategy to "foster sustainable economic and human development; protect the Northern environment and Canada's sovereignty and security; and promote co-operation with the international circumpolar community."

Handley said he talked to Prime Minister Paul Martin about developing a Northern strategy in January and again at the First Minister's Conference last month.

"This is a chance, by looking at development, by looking at environmental issues, to plan our infrastructure in a way that is orderly, fair to everybody, and has some vision to it," said Handley.

He said up until now, planning and infrastructure in the North generally followed where the mines were built. He said Ottawa hasn't made any financial commitments towards the strategy.

Western Arctic MP Ethel Blondin-Andrew, however, said the speech is a sign that Northern concerns have "landed" in Ottawa.

"I think we reached a point where decisions had to be made," said Blondin-Andrew.

The minister of state for Northern development said her role will be to work with other circumpolar countries regarding such issues as climate change and discussions over Canada's sovereignty in the North.

"The borders are not just to the south of Canada," said Blondin-Andrew.

She couldn't say how much money Ottawa intends to invest in the strategy either, but said there will eventually be some dollar figures announced.

Mayor Gord Van Tighem, meanwhile, said he was pleased to hear the Liberal government has committed to an earlier campaign promise to give a portion of the federal gas tax to municipalities, although he predicts it won't amount to much if Ottawa doles it out on a per-capita basis.

He wants to see each province and territory get one per cent plus a per-capita share.

"That way it's best for all but it's also much more beneficial to the smaller communities that really need to be buoyed up," said Van Tighem.