3 northern premiers issue document on future for Canada's territor

[fcgv]

WHITEHORSE, Yukon (CP) - Canada's three territorial premiers have jointly released a broad collaborative vision for the North at the Northern Premiers Forum held in Whitehorse.

In the document, the governments of Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut outline a future vision of the North with priorities focusing on sovereignty and sustainable communities, adapting to climate change, and circumpolar relations.

It invites other governments, as well as non-governmental organizations and the private sector, to offer their contributions to build a more prosperous, sustainable and secure North.

Those partners will work together on a wide range of actions to address the impacts of climate change including research, monitoring and data collection; vulnerability assessments on community infrastructure; developing new engineering practices, codes and standards

Yukon Premier Dennis Fentie says the North continues to undergo unprecedented economic, environmental and political transformation that impact all Canadians.

But, says Northwest Territories Premier Joseph Handley, for those opportunities to be fully taken advantage of, any plan and associated revenues must be transferred from the federal government to northern governments.

However adds, Northwest Territories Premier Paul Okalik, for Canada to assert its sovereignty in the North, communities there must be fostered through ongoing investments in infrastructure, economic diversification, health care and education.

Further, the premiers say the territories should be consulted on the appointment of circumpolar ambassador.

They say the Northern Vision document recognizes the vital importance of the issues of trans-boundary pollutants and climate change and the concurrent need for strong bilateral relations with Canada's circumpolar neighbours.

Copyright © 2007 Canadian Press

[scribblet]

You are supposed to provide a link.

[jbg]

They want it both ways; for Canada to spend a fortune "asserting its sovereignty" and to transfer significant sums to their governments to squander spend as they choose.

[B. Max]

They want it both ways; for Canada to spend a fortune "asserting its sovereignty" and to transfer significant sums to their governments to squander spend as they choose.

They are some of the biggest bunch of bums up there you ever saw.

[g_bambino]

They are some of the biggest bunch of bums up there you ever saw.

Maybe because the place is mostly desolate, there isn't much to do, and everything costs seven times what it does in the south. Some enhanced military bases up there could probably provide some activity and employment, and thus aid the local economies, but their problems seem bigger than what a few army installments could overturn.

[margrace]

They want it both ways; for Canada to spend a fortune "asserting its sovereignty" and to transfer significant sums to their governments to squander spend as they choose.

They are some of the biggest bunch of bums up there you ever saw.

Really? do you have first hand experience, Have you ever lived there and with what do you judge our European standards or the original habitants standards?