SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 time to make the Northwest Territories a bigger priority.SA国际影视传媒�

A universal child care deal under her belt, Premier Caroline Cochrane updated reporters on her trip to Ottawa with a virtual news conference Dec. 16. It was almost exactly 24 hours after she was rubbing shoulders with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on national television as they announced the Northwest Territories had become the latest jurisdiction to sign on to a federal child care deal.

But she had other things on her agenda, including getting the NWT into the federal conversation more often. She said the territorySA国际影视传媒檚 economy continues to struggle while Canada rebounds from the impacts of the pandemic.

SA国际影视传媒淭his was a case even before the pandemic was declared over 20 months ago,SA国际影视传媒� said Cochrane. SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 economic and social challenges that impact the NWT and residents in waves that our neighbors south of the 60th parallel take for granted.SA国际影视传媒�

This list includes basic infrastructure, affordable and reliable housing and the cost of living, especially outside the regional hubs.

SA国际影视传媒淭he high cost of living, housing, and energy mean living in the north is not affordable,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淎s a result, residents in the territory, the majority Indigenous, suffer from higher rates of hunger, food insecurity, fewer childcare options, homelessness and inadequate housing.SA国际影视传媒�

Cochrane and the prime minister talked about making federal funding more flexible.

SA国际影视传媒淲e talked about how the Northwest Territories needs the fiscal flexibility to use federal funding in ways that best represents the diversity of our residents, communities and Indigenous governments,SA国际影视传媒� said Cochrane, adding she left Trudeau with an open invitation to visit the NWT. SA国际影视传媒淚 was encouraged by our discussion.SA国际影视传媒�

She said the Mackenzie Valley Highway project was addressed.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 connecting people, communities, to other communities, to opportunities,SA国际影视传媒� said Cochrane, adding the plan continues to be to follow CanadaSA国际影视传媒檚 Arctic and Northern Policy Framework, released in late 2019.

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SA国际影视传媒淲e view this as the road map to closing the gap and weSA国际影视传媒檒l continue to work with Canada and our partnerSA国际影视传媒檚 Indigenous governments to ensure that the framework becomes a reality and provides positive, long lasting benefits to Northerners,SA国际影视传媒� said Cochrane.