The Premier of the Northwest Territories has given her seal of approval to the new federal budget, with some reservations about a lack of investments in key areas of Northern interest.

In a media briefing just hours after the budget was tabled in the House of Commons on April 7, Premier Caroline Cochrane said that although she and her team were still studying the details of the 300-page budget, she was SA国际影视传媒減leased with the overall focus for this budget. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 clear that our federal engagement efforts and collaborative approach to working with the federal government has paid off SA国际影视传媒� within this budget are the fruits of our labour.SA国际影视传媒�

Even before it was tabled, housing was touted as being a major theme of the budget. The budget does include $60 million over two years to support affordable housing and related infrastructure in the territory. Cochrane acknowledged that this number is SA国际影视传媒渁 drop in the bucketSA国际影视传媒� given the scale of the NWTSA国际影视传媒檚 housing crisis. However, she also pointed out that the budget includes $565 million in new funding over five years for First Nations self-governing and modern treaty holders communities, which could be spent on housing.

With the tourism in the NWT gearing up for a comeback, Cochrane praised the $20 million over two years Indigenous Tourism Fund. She said the $29.6 million to co-develop an Indigenous-determined climate leadership agenda is a sign the federal government respects the NWTSA国际影视传媒檚 SA国际影视传媒渘othing about us, without usSA国际影视传媒� philosophy.

Other areas Cochrane praised included the 30 per cent critical mineral exploration tax credit, new tax cuts for small businesses, and new financial incentives for doctors and nurses who choose to work in Northern communities: SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檝e been noticing that since the pandemic, and since people realize the importance of family, weSA国际影视传媒檝e been losing public health professionals,SA国际影视传媒� she said, SA国际影视传媒淪o ISA国际影视传媒檓 hoping this will help address the need to get more health professionals in our communities.SA国际影视传媒�

With RussiaSA国际影视传媒檚 invasion of Ukraine sparking concerns about Arctic security and sovereignty, Cochrane also praised the $8 billion in new defence spending. However, it wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 immediately clear how much of this new spending would benefit the North.

Cochrane and the other Northern Premiers recently met jointly with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Defence Minister Anita Anand to discuss Arctic security and sovereignty. When asked what concrete commitments, financial or otherwise, came out of that meeting, she said there were strong hints from the Prime Minister that new funding would be coming in this area. SA国际影视传媒淸Trudeau] recognizes that you canSA国际影视传媒檛 talk Arctic sovereignty and Northern security without talking money. So there was an implication that there will be more money flowing to the north, all three territories, as he addresses these issues.SA国际影视传媒�

She also said the budget was lacking on key Northern interests such as broadband, transportation and energy SA国际影视传媒� areas she raised as being key to Arctic sovereignty in her meeting with her federal colleagues.

Arctic Encounter Symposium throws SA国际影视传媒渙pportunity gapsSA国际影视传媒� into relief

Cochrane joined the briefing by video conference from Anchorage, Alaska following the first day of the Arctic Encounter Symposium.

When asked what lessons she drew from that first day, she said she noted that the SA国际影视传媒渙pportunity gapsSA国际影视传媒� that were present between the NWT and its southern neighbours were present all across the North, including in Alaska and Nunavut.

SA国际影视传媒淎ll nations are talking about the need to actually make sure that the opportunity gaps are addressed, that the things that people in the South take for granted, such as Internet, broadband, such as roads into communities, that they are addressed, because itSA国际影视传媒檚 not okay anymore.SA国际影视传媒�