SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
When Prime Minister Justin Trudeau returned to the territory for the first time since the federal election he was forced to defend his unilateral move to bar oil and gas drilling in Arctic waters - a decision both the territory's premier and the mayor of Tuktoyaktuk have criticized.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau held a town hall to answer questions in Yellowknife on Feb. 10. - Shane Magee/NNSL photo

Trudeau was asked about the ban during a town hall-style event with several hundred people in Yellowknife Feb. 10 by Tuktoyaktuk Mayor Darrel Nasogaluak who said people in the region are upset.

"We're at a loss of what we'll do next," said Nasogaluak, who on Jan. 31 co-signed a letter with the Tuktoyaktuk Community Corporation expressing disappointment about the ban.

"We are offended that your government which has espoused the importance of consulting with aboriginal Canadians on important matters of interest would take this decision without any notification to or consultation with the Inuvialuit or residents of Tuktoyaktuk," the letter states.

Trudeau said the move was made to protect the environment.

"Quite frankly it has never been determined that it can be done safely," Trudeau said of drilling in Arctic waters, adding any spill would be calamitous. He said the ban would be re-evaluated should technology improve and that they're a long way from being able to drill safely.

The exchange came early in event where Trudeau fielded questions on indigenous education, the limits of free speech, marijuana legalization, the Dehcho process land claim, health care funding and breaking his promise on electoral reform.

Eli Purchase, who previously ran for the Green Party in the NWT, asked Trudeau what he'd say to people cynical about election candidates who break promises.

Trudeau had pledged the 2015 election would be the last one using the first-past-the-post system but backed off that earlier this month.

"I've obviously been struggling with this over the past months," Trudeau said as part of a seven-minute answer on why his government changed course.

"Then do it!" a heckler shouted.

"This was my choice to make and I chose to make it with full consequence of the cost that is possibly going to come to it. But I will not compromise on what is in the best interest of Canada," Trudeau said.

Alex Clinton asked Trudeau whether he'd do more to support infrastructure like the all-season highway through the Slave Geological Province and deep-water ports.

"We're not just up here being tourists, we make a living here and we make a living by mining and oil and gas," Clinton said. "Are you going to do more to help us on the all-weather road?" Clinton asked.

"Yes, absolutely," Trudeau replied as audience members clapped.

"We need to make sure we are unlocking the economic opportunities and jobs, not just to make money for southern companies but to make sure that the communities and the people that live up here have jobs that are created and a big part of that is infrastructure investment," he said.

Graham Strickert, a assistant professor University of Saskatchewan had lined up outside the gym where the event was held hoping to ask about protection of waterways. He was in Yellowknife for a touring exhibit called the Delta Display about the Slave, Peace/Athabasca and Saskatchewan river deltas.

"All three of these deltas are experiencing major declines in biological productivity, difficulty for the people living there to continue to practice a traditional livelihood and we know the causes of that is connected to upstream development, in particular the changing of the release of water flow through hydro dams," Strickert said in an interview.

The prime minister did call on him but Trudeau deflected whether he'd create a national water strategy.

"I hear you loud and clear and look forward to hearing from you more on ways we can move forward with protecting and preserving this most extraordinary of our resources," Trudeau said.

During an answer about marijuana legalization, Trudeau claimed there's no black market for alcohol.

"When I ask people when was the last time they bought beer or bottle of vodka on the black market in Canada, they look at me sort of confused. There is no black market for alcohol in this country," he said, prompting audience mummers of "what?"

Alcohol is prohibited or limited in several communities in the territory but alcohol is still readily available through bootleggers. RCMP regularly promote seizures of illicit alcohol entering those communities.

Trudeau had flown in from Iqaluit where he held events Thursday. He began his morning in Yellowknife meeting with members of the Canadian Armed Forces at Joint Task Force North, followed by the town hall.

He was joined by Indigenous and Northern Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett, Health Minister Jane Philpott and

Northwest Territories MP Michael McLeod.

He met with Premier Bob McLeod for 30 minutes where concerns with the oil and gas ban, infrastructure and need for jobs were discussed, according to cabinet spokesperson Andrew Livingstone.

Trudeau visited a Aboriginal Head Start classroom in Ndilo and was met with cheers and a group hug from Kalemi Dene School students.

At the Snowking castle under construction on Yellowknife Bay, he used a large saw to cut a block of snow.

He stood before dozens of Mildred Hall School to answer questions from reporters and then the children.

Jackson Caisse, a Grade 8 student, asked Trudeau whether he thought he'd be a better prime minister than his father, Pierre Trudeau.

Trudeau said he's proud of his father but isn't focused on whether he'll do a better job, adding he'd leave it up to history to judge that.

Trudeau was last in the territory in October 2015 during the election campaign where he held an event at Mildred Hall School.

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