It is Jan. 15 as I write this column, less than a week away from the inauguration of U.S. president-elect Donald Trump.

The whole world is in escalating political turmoil because of TrumpSA国际影视传媒檚 unhinged, imperialistic, sabre-rattling dreams of conquest of other countries, including Canada. Where once we worried about covert interference in Canadian internal affairs by Russia and China, we now have overt interference by the U.S. in Canadian affairs by Trump and Elon Musk. All this while the world watches the massive environmental disaster raging in California, burning in the drought and hurricane-force winds, letting us know Mother Nature has put the world on notice.

The threats against Canada about the use of economic force and becoming the 51st state have yet to bring Canadians together like when Canada is in the World Cup Hockey Final. The premier of Ontario has been the most vocal national leader defending Canada. Then you have the premier of Alberta scurrying off to Florida in an act of very public obeisance to Trump, accepting all his grievances about Canada, then hurrying home to threaten the rest of Canada about leaving AlbertaSA国际影视传媒檚 oil and gas alone should there be any type of tariff dispute. She would probably wear her Team Canada jersey backwards.

What does all this mean to us in the circumpolar world, other than our worried, morbid fascination with what we see taking place before our eyes? There are political issues like a prorogued Parliament and federal election; a new U.S. president; the threatened takeover of Greenland by the U.S.; the U.S. disputing ownership of the Northwest Passage; Arctic sovereignty; environmental issues, such as an ice-free Arctic and drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska; and aggressive interests of other countries, such as Russia and China.

This is all dark and threatening. But there is a political window of opportunity before the NWT if we are strategic, nimble and have the vision to take advantage of it. The politics at the federal level in Canada and in the U.S. are in flux and disarray, but, in the NWT, they are not. The 20th Assembly is in its second year, with approximately 1,000 days left in its term. There is a Northern leaders table and a list of big projects that would be of interest to Canada. These projects are either built and under-utilized or are shovel-ready, or could be very quickly, to assist in CanadaSA国际影视传媒檚 Arctic Sovereignty strategy. This should work in our favour with Canada.

One of the most under-utilized opportunities we have is the Mackenzie Valley Fibre Link (MVFL). It was finished in 2017. It will play a key role in the development of Inuvik as a crucial Arctic hub in the coming months and years. The GNWT needs to seriously up its game about the MVFL. To do this requires a change in the mindset where, according to the Finance minister, SA国际影视传媒渢he governmentSA国际影视传媒檚 job is to provide the MVFL 'highway,' not provide the last mile of infrastructure.SA国际影视传媒� This view is shortsighted. A leadership mindset would be focused on ensuring the MVFL reaches its full potential. This benefits everyone along the route.

How do we get there? We take back control of the MVFL from Northwestel, who has a cushy management contract with the GNWT. The NWT has been very poorly served by this contract and the lack of political oversight over the years. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 why we are in the situation we are now in.

In this stressful political time, Canada and the North must be game ready. We need to build on the assets and tools we already have. We must shore up our Canadian sovereignty and assist in our security.

The 17th Assembly had the vision to build the MVFL knowing it could give our communities world-class digital connections, and would enable Inuvik to take advantage of its geographically-gifted position in regards to satellites and remote sensing. Now the 20th Assembly has to step up.

We have the most cutting-edge fibre optic capability SA国际影视传媒� built and paid for by the people of the NWT. LetSA国际影视传媒檚 use this to help ourselves and make sure CanadaSA国际影视传媒檚 interests in the Arctic are protected.