Yellowknife (Apr 25/05) - Despite an aggressive ad campaign, numerous meetings and extensive consultation, the Northern Strategy has not caught on with the public.

Efforts to gather ideas from ordinary Northerners ended in mid-April with just 276 questionnaires returned from Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut and the rest of Canada.

Most of the returns - 73 from the Northwest Territories, 102 from Yukon, 69 from Nunavut and 32 from the rest of Canada - were filed on-line, sending all but a few of 21,000 surveys printed in English, French and Inuktitut to the recycling bin.The low number of responses doesn't surprise Premier Joe Handley.

"It's what we expected. Looking at broad strategies is not something that people engage in readily," he said.

Handley spoke with a score of interest groups, "so I'm comfortable with the amount of consultation we've had. This is a living document. There will be other opportunities for input."

Barb Saunders, executive director, of the NWT Status of Women Council, one of the groups government consulted, said the surveys and consultations fall short on capturing the ideas of Northerners.

"The process was rushed," Saunders said, "and will not produce an accurate reflection of Northerners' views or priorities."

"They can't do this in three months; it's not adequate, even for this initial consultation," Saunders said.

"It's got to take a year. The draft should be vetted by as many people as possible."

David Baker, executive advisor of the federal Northern Strategy team, said the April 15 cut-off was necessary to complete the first draft of the strategy by June.

"We're going to have to get on with the analysis right away," Baker said.

The brainchild of Northern leaders and federal politicians, the Northern Strategy began to take shape after it was highlighted in the October throne speech. Prime Minister Paul Martin and the three territorial premiers launched consultations in December.

Baker is one of a team of 10 people in Indian Affairs and Northern Development who worked with territorial government officials to develop a framework for the strategy.

Consultations and the questionnaires, developed by federal and territorial officials working behind the scenes, will fill the first chapter of what is to be a "living document."

"The June report is just the beginning of the process," said Baker, who didn't know if further public consultation is planned.

"We still have some fundamental issues to discuss on how best to keep it a living document," Baker said, including "the ongoing participation of aboriginal governments in this process."

What it cost

* In six months, the Northern Strategy ran up printing and advertising bills of $250,000.

* Six months of salaries for 10 top-level federal public servants, and as many more in the three territories. Estimated cost: $750,000.

* Travel expenses for federal ministers, territorial leaders and their entourages to attend consultations throughout the North.

* Prime Minister Paul Martin also promised $120 million over three years to be shared equally by the three territories. The first instalment was to be delivered in June.