Debates of November 30, 2007 (day 6)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have heard a lot in regards to the Prime Minister’s announcement in regards to the Throne speech in regards to Arctic sovereignty and also looking at more military presence dealing with the many challenges seen by way of ships travelling back and forth. But yet, Mr. Speaker, we have heard very little on behalf of this government on exactly where we stand in regards to Arctic sovereignty, and yet, Mr. Speaker, the Arctic is our home, it is our territory, but yet we have not really responded on it. Mr. Speaker, the residents of Aklavik travel back and forth between Alaska to visit relatives and whatnot. But yet, Mr. Speaker, these are our eyes and ears on the ground. These people are already out there. They travel back and forth between Alaska and Canada, but yet we are not really using them. We have the Rangers program. I think, as a government, we have to start using that. I would like to ask the Premier, exactly are we in communication with the federal government when it comes to Arctic sovereignty in regards to how the federal government can include us in any discussions on Arctic sovereignty in regards to the residents of the Northwest Territories?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Premier, Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 87-16(1): Arctic Sovereignty Matters

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the area of Arctic sovereignty is of great interest to us here in the Northwest Territories. In my brief discussion with the Prime Minister, I referenced the Throne speech. It is good to hear that the Arctic is playing such a prominent role in it. I look forward to working with his government in coming up with how we can be a part of dealing with Arctic sovereignty. In other areas, I have also mentioned that Arctic sovereignty, we are here, we are living here. One of the things they can do is support us in securing the sovereignty piece by helping us with our infrastructure. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Supplementary To Question 87-16(1): Arctic Sovereignty Matters

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I believe it is critical that we, as government, do have a position going forward but, more importantly, realize the importance our communities play and the residents, especially in the Beaufort Sea and Mackenzie Delta have played in regards to the Arctic sovereignty. The threat that we have in the Arctic is coming from Russia in regards to submarine traffic and also in regards to air transport flights over the Arctic. I think it is important that we, as government, do a better job by way of ensuring that the federal government commits to infrastructure to accommodate the residents in our communities, but also, more importantly, make that presence a reality by way of realizing the importance that people play in our communities in regards to being the eyes and ears on the ground. I would like to ask the Premier, exactly have we developed a position dealing with Arctic sovereignty so that we can present something to the federal government?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 87-16(1): Arctic Sovereignty Matters

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we, as the 16th Assembly, haven’t had opportunity to come up with a proposal as of yet. There is some ongoing work on how we can strengthen our position, what are the key pieces we would like to present as being what we would call solutions to the issue of Arctic sovereignty. A solution is that we are here and we can help the federal government in that area. So we don’t have a proposal yet. There are meetings coming up within the new year that can help us along this way and further discussions about what avenues might be available to us. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Supplementary To Question 87-16(1): Arctic Sovereignty Matters

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I believe that by building a road to the Beaufort Sea is one way that we, as Canada, can show that we do have control of sea to sea to sea, which includes all the portions around Canada, but also developing an Arctic institute by way of either the Inuvik region or…

Do you have a question, Mr. Krutko?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Premier, exactly are we looking at federal funding to help us implement our needs by way of infrastructure needs to push the road to the Arctic and also have an Arctic institute in the Beaufort Sea?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 87-16(1): Arctic Sovereignty Matters

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as we have highlighted on a number of occasions, core infrastructure for the further development of the Northwest Territories, for our people, for transportation is one of the key pieces we see as we proceed forward. So we will need to continue to work in that area. We are, of course, when it comes to highways, know that it is the federal government’s responsibility, but that shouldn’t stop us from continuing to put the argument forward and look for some solutions as we proceed forward on a number of initiatives. So, yes, we are going to work with the federal government and try to see if there are areas that we can use as we proceed forward in trying to help secure the issue of Arctic sovereignty for the federal government. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Supplementary To Question 87-16(1): Arctic Sovereignty Matters

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in regards to the military side, the Beaufort has played a role in regard to the DEW Line sites, the Inuvik army presence that they had during the 1970s and into the 1980s. I would like to ask the Premier, have we looked at the possibility of a military presence in the Arctic and where they are going to be located? I know there have been a lot of announcements in the Eastern Arctic but very little on the western side. So I would like to ask the Premier, has he also had discussions on military presence in the Arctic and where they are going to be located?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 87-16(1): Arctic Sovereignty Matters

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have not had discussions on the area of a military presence in the Northwest Territories and where they would be located. We know there is an increased presence. For example, the Forward Operation Location in Inuvik has been busier this last fall and winter than it has in the last number of years. So they have stepped up some of their work and their presence in the Arctic already. We haven’t had any direct discussions about a further enhancement of that area. Thank you.