The United States ambassador to Canada completed his first visit to the Northwest Territories where he discussed a range of shared priorities.
David L Cohen, who has been the ambassador since November 2021, travelled to Tuktoyaktuk, Inuvik and Yellowknife this week. He met with local and Indigenous leaders, cabinet members, Rangers, and members of the Canadian Armed Forces and visited the Diavik diamond mine.
“I’m really here to complete my exposure to northern communities,” he said. “Before I came to Canada I was given some pretty good advice, which was to always remember that President Biden appointed me and this United States Senate confirmed me to be the United States ambassador to Canada, not be United States ambassador to Ottawa.”
The ambassador represents the interests of the US in Canada and facilitates communication and advocates for shared priorities between the two countries. Cohen said travelling to all of Canada’s provinces and territories has deepened his understanding of the unique challenges they are each facing.
“I’ve taken on a responsibility, and I think it’s something that helps make those major elements of the job important, to engage as much as I can with the Canadian people from all throughout the country to rebuild the trust that historically has existed between Canada and the United States that may have taken a bit of a hit in recent years.”
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‘A crying need for infrastructure’
In the North, Cohen said shared priorities between the US and Canada include Arctic security, critical minerals, reconciliation with Indigenous people and a “crying need for infrastructure.”
Developing critical minerals in North America, he said, is key to the energy transition and reducing reliance on China for minerals such as lithium and cobalt. He noted the US government invested in the NWT’s proposed Nico mine earlier this year.
“We are not in competition with the Canadian government around these development activities. We are in partnership and allyship with them, but more importantly, advocacy and investment in infrastructure,” he said.
Cohen pointed to the Mackenzie Valley Highway as an example of infrastructure investment that is “desperately needed” in the NWT. He also highlighted the need for investment in broadband access as well as housing, healthcare and education.
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“All of these are incredibly important infrastructure needs of the Arctic and they’re all part of the United State’s commitment of working together with Canada to be able to extend that type of infrastructure into the Arctic,” he said, adding that is needed for economic, security, defence and critical minerals development.
Cohen also said climate change is accelerating the need for infrastructure development in the Arctic, which is warming nearly four times faster than the rest of the globe. He noted one of his previous attempts to travel to the NWT was cancelled due to last year’s historic wildfires.
‘Cautiously optimistic’
When it comes to defence, Cohen said the US is “pleased” with the Canadian government’s renewed attention to the Arctic. Earlier this year, Canada updated its defence policy with a focus on the region and is currently working on an Arctic foreign policy.
“If I were a resident of the Arctic, I would be at least cautiously optimistic that the future is going to see more investment, more engagement, more participation by the Canadian federal government and the US federal government in improving the quality of life, infrastructure in the Arctic,” Cohen said.
Cohen departed the NWT for the Yukon on Wednesday. He previously travelled to Nunavut last year.
