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Liberals promise new "northern strategy"

"It's pretty thin soup," opposition's northern affairs critic declares

JIM BELL

Prime Minister Paul Martin, pictured here with MP Nancy Karetak-Lindell, thinks that "a northern vision is an essential part of the Canadian vision," but offered few details on what that vision might be in the speech from the throne on Tuesday. (PHOTO BY SARA MINOGUE)

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When Prime Minister Paul Martin talked about a "northern vision" during his visit to Iqaluit this past August, he wasn't kidding.

In this week's speech from the throne, his Liberal government vowed to create what they call the "first ever comprehensive strategy for the North," as a part of a promise to do more on regional economic development.

"This northern strategy will foster sustainable economic and human development; protect the northern environment and Canada's sovereignty and security; and promote cooperation with the international circumpolar community," says the throne speech, read by Governor-General Adrienne Clarkson in the Senate chamber as the new Parliament opened for business this past Tuesday.

This echoes what Martin said to reporters gathered in Iqaluit on Aug. 12, during his five-day, 7,500-mile tour of the three territories this past summer.

"It is not a coincidence that I am up here. I have, over my life, spent a lot of time in the North. I think that a northern vision is an essential part of the Canadian vision," Martin said in Iqaluit.

The prime minister went on to say that his northern vision combines environmental protection, sustainable economic development, strengthening of Canadian sovereignty in a "multitude of ways," and improving the quality of life of northern people.

This week's announcement, however, doesn't use the word "vision," and it doesn't say when the northern strategy will be done.

But Nancy Karetak-Lindell, the MP for Nunavut, said that's normal for a throne speech, which is intended only to state the government's general direction.

And since the government's plan is to consult northern people, it wouldn't be right for the federal government to impose its own views right now, she said.

"Everybody knows that anything that comes right from Ottawa won't fly," Karetak-Lindell said.

She said part of the northern strategy process has already started, with the consultation work that she and Western Arctic MP Ethel Blondin-Andrew are doing on the $90-million northern economic development fund announced in the last federal budget. Many hope this will lead to an economic development agreement for Nunavut and the other territories.

She said the first $10 million of that money has already been earmarked for special projects in the three territories, even though the Treasury Board has yet to release it.

As for the northern strategy itself, Karetak-Lindell said she sees it as a "comprehensive" process that will bring together things like economic development, training, environmental protection and sovereignty.

"How do we address the development of mineral resources? How do we address Arctic sovereignty?" Karetak-Lindell said.

The Conservative party's critic for northern affairs, Jim Prentice, was more skeptical.

"It's pretty thin soup at this point," Prentice said.

Prentice, a former candidate for the leadership of the now-defunct Progressive Conservative party, said he's been an outspoken advocate for the creation of a northern vision for many years.

But he said the Liberal's northern strategy promise just doesn't have enough in it.

"We don't know how or when it's going to happen or how or when it will be developed," Prentice said.

Prentice was also skeptical of another throne speech section, which acknowledges the government's failure to deal with fetal alcohol syndrome and teen suicide within aboriginal communities.

He said the Liberal government has made past promises to deal with these issues in their 1993, 1997 and 2000 election campaigns, with no results.

"If anything, there's been substantial deterioration on the very issues they've mentioned, fetal alcohol syndrome and teen suicides and diabetes," Prentice said.

The president of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. Paul Kaludjak, welcomed the government's northern strategy announcement, however.

"We are pleased that the prime minister reiterated the commitment he previously made to Inuit, and to all northerners, concerning the creation of the northern strategy," Kaludjak said in a news release.

And he said he hopes it will lead to a "full-fledged economic development agreement" for the North, and help northerners created a vibrant economy.

"Canadian sovereignty in the Arctic is only as strong as the society we build there," Kaludjak said.

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