‘The North isn’t for sale,’ NWT premier says of Washington trip

On the heels of a trip to Washington, DC, NWT Premier RJ Simpson says Canada is united in the face of a potential trade war and threats to sovereignty.

Last week, all 13 of Canada’s premiers travelled to the United States capital to advocate for maintaining strong Canada-US relations.

President Donald Trump has used his term’s opening weeks to threaten tariffs on Canadian goods and repeatedly assert that Canada should become the 51st US state, among other actions.

“It’s not just the North that could be impacted, it’s all of Canada. And so the North is supporting the rest of Canada and the rest of Canada is supporting the North,” Simpson said.

“I think the one comfort I have is that we’re not alone in this, we are part of a Team Canada approach that is very unified.”

Simpson said premiers met with Republicans and Democrats, congresspeople, senators, top White House officials and business leaders.

“Now we have a clearer picture of where the Americans are coming from. In the end, though, it all comes down to what President Trump wants to do,” he said.

‘Not interested’ in statehood

Simpson said he spoke with US officials about the NWT’s geography and critical minerals, making it clear that the territory is “not trying to hand those things over” but is open to a strong economic relationship with the US.

He said the territory has strong regulations that protect its water and resources but they need to be streamlined to make it easier for businesses to invest in the NWT.

The NWT government has spent years developing regulations for its Mineral Resources Act with that in mind.

Simpson said the message of needing to invest in the North – while stressing that “the North isn’t for sale” – is one he shared alongside the other territorial premiers during a panel discussion at the Wilson Center, a think tank based in Washington, DC.

“We are not trying to give things away to the United States,” he said.

“We want to make it a place where you can come and do business and be part of a secure North American supply chain that is going to benefit both the United States and Canada but … we’re not interested in being a part of the United States or a 51st state.”

While in Washington, the premiers of Nunavut, NWT and Yukon also met with representatives from Alaska, Greenland and Denmark. Greenland, similarly, has been an object of Trump’s attention in recent weeks, with the president asserting the US should acquire it.

“Because there’s so much attention on the North and on the Arctic, it’s important that we talk to our neighbours,” Simpson said.

“Going forward, as things happen, we will be able to maintain those relationships, hear from those jurisdictions what they’re doing in response to issues … and figure out how we can work together for diplomatic and regional purposes.”

In a press release, the NWT and Nunavut Chamber of Mines praised the premiers’ messages around investment in northern infrastructure, resource development and Canada’s critical mineral sector.

“Their advocacy reinforced the importance of strengthening North American supply chains and advancing strategic projects that promote economic growth and Arctic security,” the press release stated.

‘Take care of Canadians first’

Asked about Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s stated plan to create a military base in Iqaluit, Simpson said he was unable to comment as he was not aware of whether military research had informed the proposal.

He did say, however, that the NWT is “very strategically located” and there is a need for more than one military installation in Canada.

Inuvik Boot MLA Denny Rodgers has said he was “discouraged to hear” a plan focused on Nunavut, highlighting that Inuvik is a forward operating location and has a Norad base.

Nunavut Premier PJ Akeeagok has said he was not informed of the Conservative’s plan, reminding Poilievre in a news release that “decisions about the North cannot occur without significant input from northerners.”

Whoever becomes Canada’s next prime minister, Simpson said they will need to be able to negotiate with the US, not back down, and have a strong sense of how to shore up Canada’s economy.

He said that means supporting Canada’s critical minerals industry and investing in nation-building projects, including transportation networks and improved telecommunications in the North.

“It’s clear that we can no longer rely on the traditional world order,” Simpson said.

“Things are different now and we need to ensure that Canada can take care of Canadians first.”