N.W.T. MP Rebecca Alty in cabinet should make 'big difference,' some northerners say

New members of Parliament for the Northwest Territories and the Nunavik region of Quebec have been named to Prime Minister Mark Carney's cabinet, and some northerners say that a minister with lived experience in the North will be a major asset for advancing land claims and improving infrastructure gaps in the territories.

N.W.T. MP Rebecca Alty is now the minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, while Nunavik MP Mandy Gull-Masty is the new minister of Indigenous Services.

Sahtu Dene Council Grand Chief Wilbert Kochon in the N.W.T. said he sees the appointments as a sign that Carney wants to have good relationships with Indigenous people in the North and hopefully finish self-government negotiations. He also said it will be nice to work with Alty, the former mayor of Yellowknife, in her new role.

"We know her pretty well so I think we'll do alright," Kochon said. 

The last N.W.T. MP to be appointed to cabinet was Ethel Blondin-Andrew. The riding was called Western Arctic at the time. She served as secretary of state from 1993 to 1997 and minister of state from 2003 to 2006.

Alty is the first N.W.T. MP to be appointed as a full cabinet minister with a portfolio. 

David Wasylciw, an N.W.T. political commentator and founder of OpenNWT — an open data site for territorial government information — said it's an exciting moment for the Northwest Territories. 

"I think having an N.W.T. MP at the cabinet table in Ottawa is going to make a big difference," he said. 

Wasylciw said having someone who understands the N.W.T.'s approach to land claims, self-government agreements and infrastructure deficits, and who has already worked within that system, will improve the way the federal government understands and operates in the North. 

He said it could mean Alty spends less time in her constituency, but it's because she'll be busy advocating.  

"It's always nice to have a minister home, but having her in Ottawa, at those tables, that makes a big difference," he said. 

Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok similarly said he finds the announcement encouraging and expects that as MPs from the North, Alty and Gull-Masty will want to see more northern investment as cabinet ministers.  

Dene National Chief George Mackenzie said he wants to see Alty engage more with Indigenous governments. He said while he doesn't know Alty, he's heard positive things about her and looks forward to getting to know her so she can support the Dene Nation and other northern Indigenous groups.

Outgoing Yukon Premier Ranj Pillai said he thinks it's exciting to see representation from across the country and that it's a great first step for the new government.

He said he'll be eager to see what actual dollars get invested in the North. 

"It's one thing to to say it's important, it's another thing to actually show that. And when you're in government, it's really about making sure the investments are there," he said. 

Pillai announced his resignation on May 7, but is staying on as premier until the Yukon Liberal Party elects a new leader. He said for as long as he holds the premier's seat, it's his job to critique federal ministers.  

N.W.T. Premier R.J. Simpson said the appointment of a dedicated minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs, along with representation across other portfolios, is a recognition of the North's role in Canada's future. 

"It shows that the federal government is alive to the attention that is being paid to the North and to the Arctic. And I hope it actually speaks to their desire to see some of these land claims settled."

While campaigning, Alty spoke about the need to have more frequent negotiations to advance land claims. Simpson says he hopes Alty can get the support she needs to ensure they do make real progress.

Nunavut MP Hunter Tootoo was the last MP from the three territories to hold a position in cabinet. Tootoo was the minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard in Justin Trudeau's government from 2015-16. His predecessor, Leona Aglukkaq, was minister of the Environment from 2013-15 under Stephen Harper. 

The new federal cabinet includes 28 ministers and 10 secretaries of state — people who have specific roles, but aren't necessarily connected to a particular department.

Rebecca Chartrand, MP for Churchill–Keewatinook Aski in Manitoba, is the new minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs and minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency.