SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Northern premiers gathered in Yellowknife last week to discuss some of the major issues facing the territories, including climate change, housing, policing, devolution, infrastructure and sustainable health care.

Northern premiers, Eva Aariak, Nunavut, left, Floyd Roland, NWT, and Dennis Fentie, Yukon, gathered in Yellowknife last week to discuss issues facing the territories. - Nicole Veerman/NNSL photo

The ninth annual Northern Premiers' Forum was held just days before today's federal election.

NWT Premier Floyd Roland said at press conference Thursday that the election adds to the importance of the work that Canada's three territories are doing together.

Roland said working with Yukon Premier Dennis Fentie and Nunavut Premier Eva Aariak, is a way to "put the Northern territories in a place where we can influence and affect decisions made across this country."

Roland said a federal election brings with it unique challenges for territories and provinces.

"If a new government is to be put in place, there's a new learning curve with that," he said, adding that with a returning government, there is a familiar process with familiar contacts.

If the government changes, he said the territories need to be prepared to get a foot in the door, pushing forward Northern issues.

"We gotta put our case forward in support of each other and hopefully they (the federal government) align with our work, our vision."

Part of that vision, is moving forward with devolution in NWT, while also pushing the federal government to start negotiations with Nunavut.

The NWT signed an agreement-in-principle with the federal government in January.

Aariak and Fentie acknowledged the AIP as a positive step for residents of the NWT, although it hasn't had unanimous support among First Nations in the territory.

The Yukon signed a devolution agreement in 2003. Fentie said although it took a decade to finalize, it has made positive impacts on the territory.

"A very positive change has taken effect in the Yukon because of devolution," he said. "So I can only encourage the citizens of the Northwest Territories, the First Nations, and the government of the Northwest Territories to continue their efforts to finalize the deal and take on the management and control of lands, waters and resources here in the NWT – become masters in your own house."

Along with devolution, the premiers also discussed the need for an extension of the Territorial Health System Sustainability Initiative, which expires March 31, 2012.

Roland said the annual $30-million contribution is essential to the territories' ability to move toward long-term health care sustainability.

Discussions also called for predictable funding from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, federal help for policing costs and a refocusing of CanNor to address long-term territorial infrastructure projects.

The premiers also released documents addressing climate change issues and the need for Northern governments to explore renewable energy.

Roland said the documents will help the territories win funding from the federal government for major green energy projects.

"Much of the work we've been doing as jurisdictions around alternative energies – increasing our hydro capacity, looking at wind energy, looking at geothermal – it's that type of work we're using and building on when it comes to building our business case with the federal partners."

To see the Pan-Territorial Adaptation Strategy and the Pan-Territorial Renewable Energy Inventory, visit www.anorthernvision.ca.

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