NWT Premier RJ Simpson has been joined in Ottawa by more than a dozen Indigenous leaders and cabinet members to speak with federal ministers about northern priorities this week.
During a Tuesday press conference in Ottawa, Simpson said the NWT Council of Leaders – made up of representatives from the GNWT and various Indigenous governments – had travelled together to Canada’s capital for the first time “with a clear and united message.”
“The Northwest Territories stands at the crossroads of Canada’s strategic future and with the right public policy decisions, we are poised to make substantial contributions to Canada’s prosperity and national security,” he said.
Simpson stressed the importance of collaborating, stating the NWT has “the most complex system of Indigenous and public governance in Canada.”
“Reconciliation is not a platitude. It’s a reality that guides our every policy decision,” he said.
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After being selected as premier, Simpson told reporters collaboration with Indigenous governments would be a hallmark of the 20th Legislative Assembly.
“We’re no longer in an era where the GNWT thinks it’s the boss and is doing everything. We have to work together,” he said at the time.
‘A catalyst for action’
On Tuesday, Tłı̨chǫ Grand Chief Jackson Lafferty called the NWT Council of Leaders “a catalyst for action.”
“We have come together to Ottawa to ask Canada to invest in our future,” he said.
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“We can leverage our collective strength and create solutions that benefit our communities, the North for a sustainable future.”
Jackson said each region has its own ideas to grow the economy, highlighting the potential of renewable energy and mineral resources in the Tłı̨chǫ region.
Danny Gaudet, the Ɂek’wahtı̨dǝ́ or leader of the Délįnę Got’įnę Government, stressed that significant infrastructure gaps in the North are increasing the cost of living, particularly in the Sahtu, where resupply barges were cancelled this past summer.
“The cost of living has gone through the roof and we need the collective leadership to work together to figure out solutions for the Sahtu, and not only for the Sahtu but for all the other communities in the Northwest Territories,” he said.
The future of the North
According to Simpson, this week’s meetings with federal leaders focused on housing, infrastructure, climate adaptation, critical minerals, treaties, addictions and public safety.
“By focusing on these priorities, the NWT will not only uplift its own residents, but also provide the federal government with strategic assets necessary for national security and economic stability,” he said.
“It’s time to seize this moment because the future of the North is the future of Canada.”
A press release from the Prime Minister’s office on Monday stated Justin Trudeau and Simpson spoke about strengthening Arctic security and sovereignty, advancing critical infrastructure projects, building more homes and climate change.
