The premier of the Northwest Territories says she stressed the importance of improving the NWTSA国际影视传媒檚 infrastructure and reducing inequalities between the North and the south in a recent meeting with her federal colleagues on Arctic security.

Premier Caroline Cochrane and her Northern colleagues SA国际影视传媒� Yukon Premier Sandy Silver and Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok SA国际影视传媒� met jointly with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Minister of Defence Anita Anand on Monday to discuss Arctic sovereignty. The three premiers advocated for the meeting following RussiaSA国际影视传媒檚 invasion of Ukraine and the fears it ignited about security in CanadaSA国际影视传媒檚 Arctic.

In a statement attributed to Cochrane, the premier said she stressed to Trudeau and Anand SA国际影视传媒渢he need for broadband, and other needs like infrastructure and energy. Northern security is not just about robust military presence SA国际影视传媒� itSA国际影视传媒檚 also about building strong, resilient communities through significant investment in critical infrastructure like roads, telecommunications and energy.SA国际影视传媒�

She said improving security in the Arctic would also mean SA国际影视传媒�(eliminating) the gaps between Northern and southern Canadians.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淲hile Canada is responsible for Arctic security, when it comes to investing in the North and improving Arctic sovereignty, decisions about the North must be made by Northerners. After all, Northerners have the biggest stake in a strong and sustainable Arctic Canada,SA国际影视传媒� Cochrane stated.

The NWT premier did not reveal whether any concrete commitments were made during the meeting.

In March, Cochrane told the Legislative Assembly that earlier that month she had SA国际影视传媒渁ttended a confidential briefing with officials at the highest level of military, security and intelligence branches of the federal government.SA国际影视传媒� She also said she met with Anand and Minister of Northern Affairs Dan Vandal to discuss Arctic security.

SA国际影视传媒淭he current invasion of Ukraine by Russia is a stark reminder of the importance of Arctic sovereignty,SA国际影视传媒� Cochrane told the assembly. SA国际影视传媒淲e share a unique border with Russia: the Arctic Ocean. As the Arctic takes a more predominant role on the international stage, we want to ensure that the needs of Northerners remain a priority for Canada.SA国际影视传媒�

In advance of the tabling of the federal budget on Thursday, Trudeau said SA国际影视传媒渨ith NORAD modernization on the table, with increased investments in defence, the Arctic is an area weSA国际影视传媒檙e going to look at closely.SA国际影视传媒�

Anand also strongly hinted that more military spending was coming, telling CBCSA国际影视传媒檚 Power and Politics in March that she was SA国际影视传媒渂ringing forward aggressive options which would see (Canada), potentially, exceeding the two per cent level, hitting the two per cent level, and below the two per cent level,SA国际影视传媒� referring to the target of spending two per cent of CanadaSA国际影视传媒檚 GDP on NATO. That figure is currently 1.39 per cent.

A spokesperson for the federal Department of Defence acknowledged a request for comment but did not respond in time for publication.