The Honourable John Hickey, Minister of Labrador Affairs, and the Honourable Patty Pottle, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, say tourism and climate change were two issues of particular interest to Labrador at the two-day, Northern Development Ministers Forum that concluded this afternoon in Ottawa.

Ministers Hickey and Pottle joined federal, provincial and territorial ministers responsible for northern jurisdictions throughout Canada at the forum, which was established in 2001 to promote the diverse interests of northerners and the accomplishments, contributions and potential of the North. The theme of this year�s event was The Dynamic North.

Minister Hickey said he was pleased to engage his counterparts from the Northwest Territories (NWT) � who will host next year�s event � regarding tourism development.

"We have agreed to work together with the NWT on a project to document best practices on the development and support of the tourism industry in the north," said Minister Hickey, who led the Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs delegation.

"We anticipate this collaboration will provide a guide to expanding tourism throughout Northern Canada. This industry is key in developing northern economies into the future."

Minister Hickey said presentations on Climate Change in Canada�s Northern Regions were very informative. "Labrador will be impacted socially and economically by the climate change our environment is currently facing," said Minister Hickey. "Unfortunately, this is an issue that is not going away, so it is imperative we get a better understanding of effects of climate change."

Minister Pottle was pleased to take part in her first Northern Development Ministers Forum and says the experience was enlightening. "I was happy to sit at the table and absorb a lot of information," said Minister Pottle. "It was encouraging to know that other northern jurisdictions have the same challenges and the same bright future as we do in Labrador."

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2007 11 23                                                    5:35 p.m.