Northern Development Ministers Plan for Continued Growth in Canada’s North

Ministers representing Canada’s northern jurisdictions met in Happy Valley-Goose Bay this week for the Northern Development Ministers Forum (NDMF) to discuss priority initiatives that address distinct northern development opportunities and challenges.

Northern Directions: an Evaluation of Strategic Planning in Canada’s North was the theme of this year’s forum hosted by Newfoundland and Labrador’s Minister of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs and Minister Responsible for Labrador Affairs, the Honourable Nick McGrath. A report supporting the theme was tabled and results of the evaluation showed considerable similarities in strategic planning frameworks across Canada’s northern jurisdictions.

“Economic activity in the North is currently expanding at a rate that is unprecedented, with mining, forestry, oil and gas and hydroelectricity among the primary economic drivers,” said Minister McGrath. “It is extremely important that our strategic plans concentrate on outcomes, placing an emphasis on both social and economic development.”

Further presentations and discussions focused on priority projects endorsed during the 2010 forum held in Thunder Bay. Ministers agreed that more concrete actions and results should come from the forum’s priority projects and consequently, a Terms of Reference was developed for the NDMF with a more thorough consideration of roles, mandates and overall objectives particularly relating to Aboriginal issues. Ministers approved and authorized implementation of the Terms of Reference and revised Action Plan for future forums.

Consistent with an objective to increase awareness of northern issues and accomplishments, the agenda for this year’s NDMF included a tour for Ministers of the Iron Ore Company of Canada’s (IOC) iron ore mining operation near Labrador City, followed by a tour of Nalcor’s Churchill Falls Generating Station, one of the largest underground powerhouses in the world.

“I was very pleased to have had the opportunity to showcase these two major resource development accomplishments taking place in Labrador,” said Minister McGrath. “One of the greatest values of the forum is learning from each other so that we can continue to forge positive relationships and make headway on a prosperous future for Canada’s North.”

As well, a final report was presented on the Aboriginal Youth Entrepreneurial Programs and Initiatives project. The report concluded that while programs exist in the areas of education, training and job experience, and business financing, there is a need for further mentoring and business information which are important to Aboriginal youth entrepreneurial success.

“Jurisdictions across Canada face the common challenge of developing our northern regions in a manner that supports a growing economy, strong communities, and a better quality of life for residents,” said the Honourable Ken Cheveldayoff, Minister of First Nations and Métis Relations and Minister Responsible for Northern Affairs for Saskatchewan. “Through this forum, we share our successes and our lessons learned in sustainable northern development. We believe that a strong northern region contributes to the health of our nation as a whole.”

Saskatchewan is scheduled to host the next forum in the Fall of 2012.

The Northern Development Ministers Forum, established in 2001, provides federal, provincial and territorial ministers representing Canada’s North an opportunity to advance common interests and raise awareness of northern issues and accomplishments. Reports on NDMF projects are available on the Focus North website at www.focusnorth.ca.

Observations by Ministers

“The advancement of sustainable development in Canada’s northern regions is particularly reliant on our ability to work together as governments,” said Northwest Territories Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment Dave Ramsay. “These meetings provide an opportunity to focus, develop and strengthen our partnerships at the federal, territorial and provincial level.”

“The Manitoba Government has been pleased to be a member of this productive forum from the first gathering in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. My colleagues have worked together on Northern Development issues that complement individual government initiatives to address the challenges in Northern Communities,” said Manitoba Minister of Aboriginal and Northern Affairs Eric Robinson.

“The Northern Development Ministers Forum provided an excellent opportunity to share ideas about how to benefit from the tremendous growth that will happen in Northern Canada,” said Peter Taptuna, Minister of Economic Development and Transportation for the Government of Nunavut. “The discussion at the forum has helped me consider ways to ensure the people in my territory don’t get left behind when big projects start up.”

“Our Government is a strong supporter of the efforts of this forum,” said John Duncan, federal Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development. “It has given us the opportunity to expand our partnerships and cultivate new ones - partnerships that we will use to realize the true human and economic potential of our territories and our provinces’ northern regions.”

“Our Government realizes the importance of the North to our country. It is an integral part of who we are as Canadians. As global interest in the North increases, and as our Northern resources become more accessible, we have many new opportunities, and many new responsibilities,” said federal Minister Peter Penashue, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, and Regional Minister for Newfoundland and Labrador. “We must find new ways to develop our abundant northern resources responsibly. We must encourage sound economic growth and energy production for our expanding northern communities.”

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2012 02 08                               12:55 p.m.