The Prime MinisterSA国际影视传媒檚 Office announced a new slate of cabinet ministers on Oct. 26, and NWT MP Michael McLeodSA国际影视传媒檚 name was absent once again.

SA国际影视传媒淚t isnSA国际影视传媒檛 something I chase,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚 didnSA国际影视传媒檛 put my name forward to be the MP so that I could be a minister.

SA国际影视传媒淚 would welcome the opportunity and I am available SA国际影视传媒� and the prime minister knows that SA国际影视传媒� however, there is lots of work to be done where I am.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 good with being a regular MP and getting investments for the Northwest Territories. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 really what it is all about,SA国际影视传媒� said McLeod.

A former GNWT minister and past mayor of Fort Providence, McLeod has been a steadfast Northern member of the Trudeau government since it was first elected to office in 2015.

He has also outlasted his colleagues in the neighbouring territories, among them Hunter Tootoo in Nunavut, who served only a single term and who resigned from cabinet after several months as minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard in 2015-16

Larry Bagnell from the Yukon, who chose not to run in OctoberSA国际影视传媒檚 federal election, served as parliamentary secretary to the minister of Economic Development and Official Languages (Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency).

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 not really concerned per se. I am disappointed that nobody from the North has been tapped to sit at the cabinet table,SA国际影视传媒� McLeod said of the new crop of ministers.

Overall, though, he said heSA国际影视传媒檚 happy to be working with familiar faces again SA国际影视传媒� ministers returning to portfolios with whom he has built working relationships.

Chrystia Freeland, for example, is returning as Finance minister, and McLeod said Marc Miller overseeing Crown and Indigenous Relations is an SA国际影视传媒渆xcitingSA国际影视传媒� decision by the government.

Dominic LeBlanc, another senior MP who McLeod said is familiar with the North, will be in the role of minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 quite pleased with how it turned out, and I had expected that weSA国际影视传媒檇 see a bit of a shuffle and weSA国际影视传媒檇 see some new members being appointed and a few changes,SA国际影视传媒� McLeod said. SA国际影视传媒淏ut I think this is more of a major overhaul than a lot of us were really expecting to see.SA国际影视传媒�

Dan Vandal, a Winnipeg MP who took the Northern Affairs portfolio during the last session, will be returning to that role with added responsibilities of minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada and minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency.

SA国际影视传媒淒an Vandal has been excellent as a minister for Northern Affairs,SA国际影视传媒� McLeod said. SA国际影视传媒淗eSA国际影视传媒檚 communicated well with different levels of governments and organizations in the Northwest Territories as well as Nunavut and Yukon.SA国际影视传媒�

Several cabinet ministers came to the NWT prior to the pandemic, but since then travel restrictions have presented difficulties, said McLeod. The aim is to get Prime Minister Trudeau back as soon as itSA国际影视传媒檚 safe to do so.

SA国际影视传媒淲e also want the prime minister to come to the Northwest Territories,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檝e tried a couple of times where he wanted to come but the pandemic has really made it difficult to arrange any travel.SA国际影视传媒�

Parliamentarians are to resume session on Nov. 22.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e not sure if itSA国际影视传媒檚 going to be a hybrid session or itSA国际影视传媒檚 going to be required attendance in-person at this point, but we are to know soon,SA国际影视传媒� McLeod said.

Dealing with Covid-19 will remain a priority, he said, but the economy is also needing further attention, McLeod acknowledged.

SA国际影视传媒淎ll of us agree that the pandemic has to be something that we continue to focus on and the economy is something that I think everybody in the country wants to see grow and bounce back,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Closer to home, housing, climate change, reconciliation and getting $10 daily daycare remain continued challenges, he said.

SA国际影视传媒淗ome ownership for us in the Northwest Territories is something that we heard loud and clear,SA国际影视传媒� he said. From the time I got elected 2015 to this past election, housing has been an issue.

SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 a lot of work to be done.SA国际影视传媒�