N.W.T.'s premier is calling on Canada's next prime minister to invest in the North
'We have big aspirations, but we need that partnership with the federal government,' Premier R.J. Simpson says
Northwest Territories Premier R.J. Simpson is calling on Canada's next Prime Minister to invest in the North.
Earlier this week, Simpson published an open letter in the online newspaper The Hub, arguing that investments in the N.W.T. will benefit all of Canada, saying the country "cannot afford to overlook the Northwest Territories." It was addressed to all federal leaders in Canada.
Premier Simpson spoke to Northbeat host Meghan Roberts about that letter Friday, and why he is hopeful that politicians in Ottawa are ready to invest in the territories.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
In your letter, you write: "Canada must choose: by 2030, will we be a northern power, or a bystander in our own backyard?" I'm wondering which of those two you think Canada is right now?
There's a lot of attention on the North right now from around the world, and finally from our own federal government as well, because of the pressure from the outside world. So it's clear that we need to do more as a country to invest in the North in terms of the infrastructure for day-to-day use, but also our military infrastructure.
That's been something that's been noted as I talk to people across the country, and when I was down in the United States, they noted that as well. Our allies in the United States say we need to do more on that front.
How would Canada then move to being a northern power in five years?
There's so much potential in the North. It's just going to take some focus by the federal government.
We are a huge territory [in Northwest Territories], but a small government and a small population. We have big aspirations, but we need that partnership with the federal government.
There's big opportunities for things like investments in things like the Mackenzie Valley Highway, Slave Geological Province road. And once we start making those investments, it not only asserts our sovereignty, it opens up economic corridors and access to resources that will benefit not just the North, but all of Canada.
Let's talk about some of those projects. What specifically do you want the federal government to invest in for Northwest Territories?
At a very high level, I want them to pay attention to us. That's the first thing. Ottawa needs to realize we're not a province. We have different needs and we have a different relationship with Ottawa.
When they design a program, when they roll out a funding pot, they need to have that consideration that the North is different. Not just us, everything north of 60 is different.
If we have that, that's a great starting point.
And then from there, there's opportunities for big investments in infrastructure, working with us on the regulatory regime to ensure we can do more resource extraction for the benefit of everyone. So lots of opportunities.
You've mentioned the need for federal investment in things like northern infrastructure and potential tax credits for northern mining. How would you justify to people, territorially and federally, why we should help private investors in the North with our taxpayer money?
When I look at the investments that were made by tax dollars in the North, they have resulted in employment for people. And so even if we are supporting a mining operation, that's eventually going to lead to benefits for Northerners. I think about the benefits to individuals in some of the small communities especially, where there isn't a lot of an economy. How do we support them to grow their economy?
And it's a smart thing to do for the federal government as well, because we've got to remember, the federal government gets part of our mining royalties as well. And when we have some of these big mines, there's people from across Canada working here. These investments might require a lot of money, but there's big-long term benefits for all of Canada.
There's also an element of reconciliation here. The North has been left out of investments that occurred across Canada. We haven't been given the opportunity to advance with the rest of Canada. So here's an opportunity to make that right.
You argue that Northern infrastructure enhances Canada's security, trade capacity and economic independence. But what would you say to people in southern Canada who might think: "There's not that many people. Why are we spending all of this money?"
Well, there wasn't that many people in Southern Canada when railroads were built and major investments like that were made. It's sort of that old adage, if you build it they will come. So once we get those pieces in place, then we can grow.
We have resources. They're the territorial resources, they're the resources of the Indigenous people whose land this is, but they benefit all of Canada. So ensuring we make those investments, so we can benefit all Canadians, is important.
All the territorial premiers have been working to capitalize on this energy, this focus globally in the North. How do you keep that energy if this global focus dies down and the news cycle starts to shift, as it inevitably does?
In this case, there is a lot of talk about Canada's NATO commitment of two per cent, talk about meeting that by 2030, by a number of the parties right now federally. Just that alone, I think, is going to help us keep that focus on this.
The need for critical minerals to develop new industries, to support existing industries — that's always going to be there. Because, as we see what's going on in the world, traditional supply chains can't necessarily be relied upon.
We are a country that's governed by law, we're predictable and we have high environmental standards. It's a place people want to do business. And so I think it's important we are capitalizing on that.
Governments in all three territories have long been asking for infrastructure funding. With this new focus on the north globally, are politicians in Ottawa now hearing that message in a different way?
I would say they are, and that's because of the focus the entire world is putting on the North. They are being forced to pay attention, and so it's up to us to make sure we hold on to their attention. We do that by consistent lobbying of the federal government, working with Indigenous governments to go and lobby jointly, which I think goes a long way.
Some of the comments I've heard are that people are talking 'about' the North, they're not necessarily talking 'to' the North, so that's a conversation we need to have as well.
You've also sent letters to the federal party leaders. Can you tell about those letters and the responses you've gotten from them?
We sent letters to federal leaders as well as to local candidates about their views on some of the issues facing the territory. How are they going go work with Indigenous governments? What are they going to do to help us address our infrastructure deficit?
We have received a couple responses, and we have actually posted them online so members of the public can have a look at those to help them inform their decision.