Fostering Prosperity in the North

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It is a great pleasure for me to address this third meeting of the Circle of Northern Leaders.

I’d like to begin by expressing my enthusiastic support for the overarching goal of the Circle—working together for a stronger, more prosperous Northwest Territories.

Like you, I believe in taking a collaborative approach during my tenure as Minister, because I believe it is the only sure way to produce effective solutions. As the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and non-Status Indians, I’m determined to make tangible and lasting progress on a broad range of issues. And I know that the only way to achieve this goal is to enlist the support of like minded partners—such as the men and women here today. We must all work together.

From past experience, I am quite familiar with the unique challenges and opportunities facing the Northwest Territories. As some of you may know, I served on the House Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, which could be a sometimes factious committee formed by the former Liberal Government. For ten years, I also served as a member of the Indian Specific Land Claims Commission. Many of you may not know, though, that I’ve taken my family on numerous vacations North of 60. All of these personal and professional experiences inspire me to do my best to help improve the lives of Northerners.

Prime Minister Harper has entrusted me with several significant portfolios, including Aboriginal peoples, Northern development, and pipelines. Like the Prime Minister, I believe that my mandate offers a wide range of opportunities to establish valuable partnerships and benefit from powerful synergies. Since taking office, I’ve devoted most of my time to meeting with partners and exploring opportunities to work together. That’s why I’m in the North this week. I’ve come to listen, to learn more about your needs and aspirations, and to determine how best to address your concerns and advance your goals.

This government recognizes that the North now plays a larger role than ever in Canada’s sovereignty and prosperity. Northerners must help define the North’s role in Canada by participating in the decision making processes that shape key policies. This government is determined to work with Northerners and make progress on social, economic and environmental issues. We are interested in a partnership with aboriginal and non-aboriginal Canadians alike. We are interested in continuing the work of previous Conservative Governments, that is, to build a nation founded upon principles of respect & inclusion, a Canada in which territories & provinces are partners, not adversaries.

In recent years, the pace of change in the Northwest Territories has accelerated rapidly. This trend is widely expected to continue with the completion of land claim and self governance agreements, devolution and resource revenue-sharing, and resource development projects all on the horizon. Each item on that list will be accompanied by unique challenges and opportunities.

To make the most of these opportunities, I’m convinced that the North must continue to strengthen its governance structures. Transparent, accountable and effective governance not only guarantees a voice for Northerners, but also ensures that voice is heard clearly.

This morning I met with the Aboriginal Summit Leaders and had discussions on a number of matters, including intergovernmental relations. I cannot stress enough the importance of strong working relationships among Aboriginal and other northern governments. In order to move forward, it is imperative that we work together.

As an example, the progress of initiatives such as the Circle of Northern Leaders bodes well for the future of the Northwest Territories. The Circle’s ability to attract leaders from such a wide range of groups and to engage them in relevant, thoughtful debate is the mark of mature regional governance.

An assembly such as this is not common in many parts of Canada. I congratulate you on your ability to make it work. Your capacity to work together, in a less partisan way, carving through narrow self interest – all the while focusing on the collective needs of Northerners – is to be applauded.

The theme chosen for this year’s event — “Seizing the Day: Training and Development in the Northwest Territories” — demonstrates that the Circle is keen to address crucial, current issues. To cope with change, Northerners will need to acquire new skills and knowledge. The Circle fosters precisely the kind of open, frank discussion needed to design and implement effective, relevant training programs and courses.

The Government of Canada is committed to make progress on the remaining land claims and self-government agreements, on devolution and to honour its role in enhancing northern political development. Prime Minister Harper has committed to ensuring that Northerners participate in benefits from resource development projects.

We have much to do.

The Prime Minister recognizes that the economic boom underway in the North represents a valuable opportunity for the federal, territorial and local governments, Aboriginal groups, private businesses and Northerners to demonstrate how respectful partners can work together and create extensive and far-reaching benefits.

Nowhere is the need for collaboration greater than with the proposed Mackenzie Gas Project—the largest development project yet proposed in the North. The potential advantages of the project are tremendous: economic self sufficiency, for instance, and improvements in quality of life for all Northerners. The potential costs, however, could also be significant if there is insufficient attention paid to the possibility of negative impacts on a sensitive environment and ancient cultures. We need to respect the balance between economic development on the one hand, and the protection and advancement of environmental and social objectives on the other.

The Conservative Government supports the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline project, providing it can proceed in a sustainable and equitable way.

There is much work still to be done:

• The negotiation of Access & Benefit Agreements between remaining First Nations and project proponents;
• The successful continuation and indeed completion of the regulatory process which is underway;
• The pursuit of the concept of the Socio-economic Fund, tied to the project milestones, and the construction of the legislative and financial framework around that Fund;
• The consummation of acceptable arrangements between the Aboriginal Pipeline Group and the First Nations of the North, coupled with arrangements with the Government of Canada. Make no mistake, the APG has altered irretrievably the manner in which northern projects are conceived, structured and financed.

This new Conservative Government will diligently and methodically pursue its responsibilities in relation to the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline. In the time since I became the Minister, I have held extensive discussions with all of the stakeholders involved in the project: the Government of the NWT and First Nations Leaders, Aboriginal Pipeline Group representatives, project proponents and explorers groups. I have also done some extensive work with my Cabinet colleagues, who also see the great potential of this project.

I have chosen to retain the essential structures and personnel who have been involved on behalf of the Government of Canada, in the interest of maintaining working relationships, and building upon previous success. I did not wish to dismantle much of the good work that has been achieved up to this point.

I wish to be clear however, that there is now a new Government in place in Ottawa, and that there is now new political leadership, and things have changed in terms of development in the north and the Mackenzie Valley Project in particular.

The new Government intends to move forward in a pro-active way. We intend to work respectfully with both Aboriginal communities and leaders, and other stakeholders. We intend to consult, but that consultation will be followed by decision making.

Our decisions will reflect the best interest of Canada, and the consensus of the majority of Aboriginal and public Government stakeholders. We do not intend to convert the process of consultation into a quest for unanimity.

Unanimity would be an excellent outcome but it is not always attainable, and we do not intend to allow the legitimate aspirations and prosperity of the majority of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal stakeholders to be frustrated by inaction.

I have spent much of my life working with First Nation communities, leaders and negotiators. Under my direction as Minister, we will negotiate respectfully, but in circumstances where agreement is not possible, and the public interest of Canada is being frustrated, we will move forward. In negotiations, as in life, we are all required to make choices and to be accountable for the consequences that flow from those choices.

Therefore, in the context of the North, whether it be the Mackenzie Valley Project, Summit discussions, devolution discussions, or other issues, we intend to work aggressively and diligently in constructive processes that serve the interest of northerners. As the Minister, I have no intentions to either support or fund procedures that are dysfunctional, non-constructive, or systematically in opposition to the interest of Canada or the interest of the majority of northerners.

As I previously stated, this government supports the Mackenzie Gas Project, but only if it can proceed in a sustainable and equitable way. The regulatory and consultative processes now underway will go a long way toward determining the future of the project. And this government has every confidence in the abilities of the various boards and agencies conducting environmental, economic and social reviews. The NWT Board Forum is meeting in Yellowknife this week, and I hope to have an opportunity to meet with its members tomorrow. The Forum, like the Leaders’ Circle, facilitates sound decision making and reflects the maturity of Northern governance regimes.

I believe that this maturity will inspire perhaps the greatest change of all in the North—the end of the boom and bust economy. Devolution, along with the partnerships and governance processes now in place, will usher in an era of economic stability and social and cultural sustainability—an era when the legacy of resource development projects includes strengthened communities, a wealth of educational opportunities, and a cadre of experienced Northern entrepreneurs who will be well-positioned to launch ventures of their own.

More than ever before, the North is a land of opportunity. To realize its full potential, though, will require dedicated, hard working partners and a vision focused on the future. On behalf of the Government of Canada, I look forward to continuing this productive collaboration with all of you.

Merci. Thank you. Mahsi Cho.

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