Iqaluit (Aug 14/06) - The Prime Minister and Minister of Defence came to Iqaluit on Aug. 12 with no new specifics on Nunavut's role in Arctic sovereignty.

Neither Stephen Harper nor Gordon O'Connor was yet prepared to say where the promised deep-water port and military training centre will be located. Details on those projects will be included in a report to be completed this fall, according to O'Connor.

As they marked the launch of Operation Lancaster - a patrol of Arctic waters by Canadian Armed Forces vessels and aircraft - the federal political leaders did acknowledge the contributions of the Inuit. And they committed to strengthen the presence of the Canadian Rangers.

"On this you have my word, we will back our sovereignty over our land with all the tools at our disposal," Harper said, acknowledging that coveted northern oil, gas and minerals will only become more valuable in the future.

Standing on an elevated podium overlooking a crowd of assembled soldiers, dignitaries and community members in the parking lot of the Legislature on Saturday, the Prime Minister said the North is poised to play a much bigger role in Canada's economic and social development. In addition to his stops at Alert and Yellowknife over the next week, Prime Minister Harper will also visit the Jericho diamond mine.

Iqaluit's Lizzie Kelly, who was in the audience, welcomes a greater military presence. "It makes you feel more safe," she said.

But Madeleine Cole, a doctor at Baffin regional hospital, contended that the government should invest in Northern schools and hospitals "instead of pouring money into big military boats."

"It's better to have happy Canadians living in the North instead of military stationed up here at great expense to Canadian taxpayers," said Cole, who was carrying a placard to make her opinion known.

Harper later told reporters that the federal government will use new territorial financing arrangements to address educational needs. However, the Prime Minister noted that education is a territorial responsibility, not federal.

Earlier this year, conciliator Thomas Berger recommended that Ottawa spend tens of million of dollars more in education money to enhance Inuit language and culture.

Following a private meeting with Harper on Saturday, Nunavut Premier Paul Okalik said he conditionally accepts the federal government's planned methods of responding to the territory's unique educational, housing and infrastuctural demands.

"I said, 'Look, as long as we get sufficient funds to address our issues, I don't care (what) way you provide us with additional dollars to manage our affairs,' " said Okalik, adding that Harper is also supportive of eventually seeing Nunavut "stand on our own two feet."