The North Similarities, Differences and Challenges
Briefing by Northern Federal Councils Whitehorse, Yukon September 22, 2009 Canada’s North is made up of three territories with different strengths, circumstances and priorities...
The three territories are at different stages of political and economic development
The three have very different internal dynamics
2 An Enormous Region…
3 An enormous region with vast potential...
40% of the country’s land mass, with very small population (≈100,000) As one of the last untapped resource areas world markets are looking North Arctic Sovereignty is a government priority
4 The private sector has made large investments in development...
KEY Minesand MajorMineral Deposits Pb-Zn-Ag 0 (Lead,Zinc,Silver) North of 60 Cu (Copper) Au (Gold) Scale In the past decade, the private sector Diamond Tungsten Be,REE (Beryllium,RareEarth Elements) has invested $2.6 billion in northern Uranium Capital Cit ies Ellesmere Towns, Settlements ActiveMine Isl and SuspendedMine Arctic mineral development Ocean Deposit Polaris Mine Banks Resolute Island Nanisivik M ine Inuvik Vi ctoria Darnl ey Bay Island Brewery Creek NO RT HW ES T Ca mbridge Bay Keno TERRITORIE S Kugluktuk Minto Hill Norman YU KO N Wells HopeBay Faro Jericho Iqaluit White horse Mact ung Izok Lupin N UN AV UT Kudz Lake Mine Ze Cantung Kayah Ekati Diavik Meadowbank Sa Prairie Con& KennadyLake Kiggavik Dena Creek Giant Mine BakerLak e Hes SnapLake Yel lowknife Meliadine Qué bec Thor Rankin Inlet Lake HudsonBay
S. Rozak L& WMD00/11/20
The oil and gas sector is also the focus of intense activity
5 A Federal Priority...
With the Federal Government’s Northern Strategy the territories are higher on Canada’s agenda than in decades. The Northern strategy encompasses four pillars: Promoting social and economic development Exercising arctic sovereignty Protecting the environment Devolving governance
6 One North, three very different realities...
While most often lumped together under the generic “the north” the three territories are as geographically distant as they are diverse
7 One North, three very different realities...
There are few if any direct flights across the North Whitehorse to Yellowknife 1927km Whitehorse to Vancouver 2697km Yellowknife to Iqaluit 2260km Yellowknife to Edmonton 1524km t Iqaluit to Whitehorse 3305km gh rni ve Iqaluit to Ottawa 2608km t -o igh r fl 6h luit qa – I se Wh t igh r fl 4h uit W qal hse – I – ife Ykn kn ife 3 Y .5 h r fl ight Iq ght alu r fli it – .5 h Otta 2 wa Van 3 – Yk hr f hse nife – ligh W Edm t 1.5 h our flight
8 One North…Three Territories
YUKON
9 Yukon Population 33, 928 25% Aboriginal 10% immigrants 3.7% French as mother tongue Median age is 38.4
Canada’s most highly educated population 3rd highest crime rate in Canada 3rd highest consumers of alcohol & tobacco
10 Yukon Land and Infrastructure Infrastructure relatively well developed 5% of Canada’s land mass 70% in Whitehorse 17 communities 2 hospitals
11 Yukon
Public Service 80% of the YG’s budget comes from Federal Govt.
23 Federal Depts./Agencies with local presence
INAC, DFO, EC, Service Canada, Parks are largest
12 Yukon
Public Service Devolution transfer agreement in 2003 Currently: 610 Federal employees 4201 Territorial employees
13 Yukon
Political Environment and Governance Only territory with party politics 11 of 14 First Nations self governing Complex political model emerging
14 Yukon
Economic Conditions Government, tourism and mining Most diversified northern economy Alaska Highway pipeline Large Environmental issues
15 Yukon
Key Current and Future Issues / Factors Implementation of self-government agreements Federal action to address abandoned mine sites
16 Yukon
Key Regional Federal Files Environment Canada: Mine reclamation Alaska Gas Pipeline DFO: Salmon Fisheries Alaska/Yukon agreements INAC: Land Claim implementation CAN-NOR DOJ: LSCFN Case / Duty to Consult issue
17 Yukon Federal Council
Priorities 09/10 Public Service Renewal via: Building a positive Federal Culture Employee Development
18 Yukon Federal Council
Building a Positive Federal Culture - activities Greening Government NPSW, GCWCC Regular Federal Activities Employee Development - activities Partnership with the school to support local training Provision of funds to support local training
19 One North…Three Territories
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
Population 43,000 people 49% Aboriginal 45% in Yellowknife 75% in six tax- based communities Median age 31.2
21 Northwest Territories
Political situation consensus government one self-governing First Nation (Tłįcho) other Aboriginal groups actively pursuing self-determination devolution in progress
22 Northwest Territories Key interests devolution AIP Mackenzie Valley pipeline project proposed Mackenzie Valley Highway progress on outstanding claims implementation of existing agreements
23 Northwest Territories Economy non-renewable resources diamonds oil and gas proposed Mackenzie Valley pipeline project government
24 Northwest Territories Infrastructure 16 of 33 communities on all-weather roads 40% of NWT highways are winter roads 42% of all-season roads are paved 1 territorial hospital 2 regional hospitals
25 Northwest Territories Federal presence 23 departments/agencies 19 have offices in the NWT 1,100 federal employees in the NWT 800 located in Yellowknife Many positions require specialized skills
26 Northwest Territories Labour market employment rate third highest in Canada employment rate for university grads 92.6% competition for grads from mines, oil and gas, Aboriginal organizations
27 Northwest Territories Other challenges to staffing Cost of living NWT has annual negative net migration more often than not
28 Northwest Territories NWT Federal Council Priorities provision of local training recruitment and retention Isolated Post Allowances Crown housing relocation advocate for northern interests
29 One North…Three Territories
NUNAVUT
30 Nunavut Population
31,762 (April 1, 2009) Median age of 22.1 years Youngest and one of the fastest growing populations in the country Inuit represent about 84 percent of the population.
31 Nunavut Population Distribution
26 communities air or sealift access only highest cost of living in Canada
32 Nunavut Labour Force Data (3 month average ending July 2009)
Labour Force 11,400 Employed 9,800 Employment Rate 52.8% Unemployed 16,000 Unemployment Rate 14.1%
33 Nunavut Political Structure
Newest territory, created April 1, 1999 Consensus public government All residents of Nunavut can run for office and be elected to Legislative Assembly
34 Nunavut Political Structure (con’t)
Core government functions in place but challenges in staffing, capacity and policy development Organizations representing claims beneficiaries have significant role
35 Nunavut Economic Conditions
Economy based largely on government and traditional harvesting Most underdeveloped territory
36 Nunavut Economic Conditions (con’t)
significant potential two new gold mines, scheduled to begin production by 2010 oil and gas resources new commercial turbot, shrimp, and char fisheries established three national parks and five territorial parks
37 Nunavut Key territorial and Inuit Interests
Implementation of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Support for Inuit training and employment Devolution and resource revenue-sharing, including offshore jurisdiction Funding for marine infrastructure
38 Nunavut
Key territorial and Inuit Interests (con’t)
Support for Nunavut’s 10 year Housing Action Plan High health care costs
39 Nunavut Federal Presence
The Nunavut Federal Council has 24 member departments Approximately 263 employees The majority of federal government employees work in Iqaluit
40 Nunavut Inuit Employment
Government has an obligation under Article 23 of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement to have a representative workforce across all levels of government operations in Nunavut Inuit are expected to fill 85% of all jobs in government by 2020 Considerable challenge
41 Nunavut Inuit Employment (con’t)
Government of Canada has had an Umbrella Inuit Employment Plan in place since 2002
42 Nunavut
Nunavut Federal Council Priorities
Developing Council…. Strategic Partnering…. Advocate for Nunavut….
43 Nunavut NFC Key Activities Developing Council
Coordinating training and development activities Develop orientation package for new Council members Support to National Managers Community and Rural Secretariat
44 Nunavut NFC Key Activities Strategic Partnering
Renewal of Federal Umbrella Inuit Employment Plan Development of Federal Council Website. Co ordination of the GCWC campaign in Nunavut Establishment of Regional Communication Committee Development of Orientation package for new federal employees in Nunavut
45 Nunavut NFC Key Activities Advocating for Nunavut
Focusing National priorities, through a northern lens Interceding on behalf of member departments to highlight northern issues
46 Everywhere in the north though, communities are small and isolated...
47 Everywhere in the north though, communities are small and isolated...
Public Administration in the north is earmarked by an ability to both live and work with the public in very close quarters, responding quickly and in a practical way to challenges that often stem from living in an isolated and harsh environment.
48 Uniquely Isolated ...
Recruiting and retaining staff to work in the northern working environment is complicated by the incremental degradation of and difficulties surrounding IPGHD. Changes in accessibility of medical travel benefits, relocation allowances and other related benefits all impact the ability to hire and keep desirable staff
49 Uniquely Isolated ...
The benefits of the IPGHD go beyond ameliorating differences in the cost of living across the country They must also be based on the provision of competitive salary packages for the region
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50 51