Time to improve outcomes, ensure northern communities’ needs are met

Canada is a proud Arctic nation, and its vast northern region is a defining part of who we are as a country and the role we play on the international stage. It is the homeland to more than 120,000 people, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous. As a northerner myself, I know that interdependence, tremendous resilience, and remarkable achievement in the face of persistent challenges and change are hallmarks of the region and its residents. Canada's North is blanketed by modern land claim settlements and self-government agreements. There has been steady progress on the devolution of federal jurisdictions to Yukon and Northwest Territories and the creation of a new territory, Nunavut. People of the North share serious and similar challenges. They constantly struggle with the high cost of living, food insecurity in remote regions, socio-economic issues, and changing climate, all of which undermine the quality of life of northerners. To ensure a prosperous future, northern communities need infrastructure investments, innovative technologies, proven renewable energy options, and co-managed resource development. Northerners are no strangers to overcoming challenges, and our government is working hard with them to address these pressing issues. The priorities of the North are the priorities of our government: reconciliation, a clean environment, a strong economy, and making sure that our communities have the support they need for good health and well-being for all citizens. Canada is also advancing international Arctic co-operation with a view to addressing the key challenges and opportunities affecting the people, the economy, and the environment in Canada’s North. Of all the areas globally that are experiencing the stress of climate change, the Arctic is seeing some of the most dramatic effects. This was a sentiment shared by all Arctic regions represented at the recent Conference of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region that I attended in Finland. We know that the environment and the economy go together. To manage the harsh and often unpredictable impacts of climate change, Canada needs to foster resilient, integrated approaches to environmental protection and socio-economic development. Our government has committed more than $220-million over five years to help address the impacts of climate change in the North. To date, $52-million has gone to support 350 projects in northern and Indigenous communities for things like monitoring marine life, assessing the impacts of coastal erosion and glacial melt, and offsetting diesel fuel with wind and solar power alternatives. Making sure there is a price on pollution across Canada, which our government did last week, is also an important step in the fight against climate change. Canada has also become a world leader in tackling the issue of contaminants that are polluting the Arctic ecosystem. Together with scientists, Indigenous peoples, local residents, and others, we are supporting research to monitor and reduce contaminants in country or traditional foods. We know that a nutritious diet is essential to good physical and mental health—yet we also know that access to affordable, nutritious food is a challenge for many families in northern isolated communities. Our government is responding to this challenge. We are working with Indigenous organizations and other northerners to update and improve the Nutrition North program, which subsidizes the cost of nutritious, perishable food in isolated northern communities. We are also exploring options to improve access to local country or traditional foods and improve community-driven efforts to build sustainable local food production. It’s time to improve outcomes and make sure that the needs of northern communities are met. To embrace opportunities and confront challenges, our government is co-developing a new Arctic Policy Framework alongside Indigenous, territorial, and provincial partners to replace the outdated Northern Strategy and the Statement on Canada's Arctic Foreign Policy. The new framework will be a long-term vision for the North to 2030 and beyond that encapsulates the distinctive needs of each region, which will ensure that the North’s full potential is realized. This means a specific focus on economic development and job creation in the North. The framework will be informed by the priorities of our partners and will include actions to achieve shared goals. As an Arctic nation, we need to work together on long-term opportunities to support a strong, sustainable economy in the North, while continuing to build healthier communities and protect our rich natural environment. Our government remains strong, proud, and determined when it comes to Canada’s North. Yvonne Jones is the parliamentary secretary to the minister of intergovernmental and northern affairs and internal trade, and the MP for Labrador, N.L. The Hill Times