GNWT finance minister Caroline Wawzonek took part in the hosted by the federal government in Ottawa on Dec. 16 and 17. 

Bill Morneau, finance minister was in attendance as was Mona Fortier, minister of middle class prosperity.

Wawzonek told reporters late in the day Dec. 17 that it was the first opportunity the new NWT administration had to discuss its SA国际影视传媒渇iscal priorities and development prioritiesSA国际影视传媒� with the feds since elected in October. 

[Wawzonek's address to reporters can be seen at ]

She said that the GNWT was not looking for any firm funding commitments from the federal conference but indicated some topics that she said are important to the NWT. 

SA国际影视传媒淲e are looking at an opportunity where we say if we donSA国际影视传媒檛 invest in, for example, basic transportation, we canSA国际影视传媒檛 actually access opportunities for economy or economic growth because some of the mineral resources are in places that you canSA国际影视传媒檛 even get to when communities arenSA国际影视传媒檛 linked,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

SA国际影视传媒淲e do not have the last mile of Internet connectivity. Our housing stock is not just in need of being somewhat improved, we are actually quite far behind.SA国际影视传媒� 

Wawzonek said with SA国际影视传媒渃reativeSA国际影视传媒� and SA国际影视传媒渇lexibleSA国际影视传媒� means of federal investment, the NWT SA国际影视传媒渃an contribute to the nationSA国际影视传媒檚 whole economy in a meaningful waySA国际影视传媒� or what she called SA国际影视传媒渘ation-building.SA国际影视传媒�

The NWT finance minister also took a question on whether she raised SA国际影视传媒渢he fiscal cost of climate changeSA国际影视传媒� and replied that other provinces had raised it and it was an important part of ensuring proper federal investment in northern infrastructure.  

Prior to the conference, Wawzonek stated in an email to News/North the GNWT was looking to develop relationships with other finance ministers across the country, particularly for economic growth, and to SA国际影视传媒渕aximize opportunities for the Northwest Territories to access areas of federal funding.SA国际影视传媒�

Wawzonek stated the GNWT Department of Finance is unaware of any dates scheduled for federal cabinet ministers or the prime minister to visit Yellowknife or the Northwest Territories. 

A list of questions were submitted to the federal finance minister to get a reaction on the NWT's priorities, however they could not respond by press time.