Canadian Chamber ratifies four NWT-related policies
October 7th, 2009
Members of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce have sent a clear message that infrastructure development and reforming the resource development regulatory regime in the NWT should be critical federal priorities that would deliver true national benefits.
“We recognize the role the North is going to play in our nation’s future economic development,” said Canadian Chamber President and Chief Executive Officer Perrin Beatty. “The North has always held a romantic place in our hearts as Canadians. Increasingly we are realizing the economic opportunities that exist in the NWT and our other northern territories.”
Representing the interests of more than 175,000 businesses from coast-to-coast-to-coast, 258 accredited voting delegates attending the organization’s Annual General Meeting in Victoria, Oct. 3-6, overwhelmingly ratified four NWT-related policies that will help shape its lobby efforts in Ottawa for up to three years. The new policies, developed by the NWT Chamber Board of Directors, call on the federal government to:
- Ensure the Mackenzie Gas Project is not placed at a competitive disadvantage to other large scale energy projects by utilizing direct investment, tax breaks and/or loan guarantees; funding adjacent infrastructure, and; supporting workforce development to maximize First Nations involvement in the project;
- Fund the completion of an all-weather north-south Trans Canada Highway through the Mackenzie Valley from Wrigley to Tuktoyaktuk immediately as a means of strengthening Canada’s Arctic sovereignty, fuelling economic development in the North and enhancing the economics of the Mackenzie Gas Project;
- Invest in strategic NWT hydroelectric projects including expansion of the Taltson hydroelectric facility and construction of a 700-km transmission line to the Slave Geologic Province; advancement of mini-hydro generation facilities in Lutsel K’e and Whati, and; development of a north-south electrical transmission grid connection to Alberta facilitating the sale of clean, Northern hydro power to larger southern markets, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, extend NWT mine life, increase Northern mine development and mineral exploration activity, create new economic development opportunities and enhance Canada’s Arctic sovereignty, and;
- Reform the resource development regulatory regime in the NWT based on the 13 priorities put forward by the Indian and Northern Affairs Minister’s own special representative and endorsed by the NWT Chamber of Commerce and other territorial organizations, including the Northern Aboriginal Business Association.
“This is an exciting time for our Board to see our policy development process, which began in April, result in four very clear calls to action at the national level,” said NWT Chamber President Ann Marie Tout.
“In particular, thanks are due to the Norman Wells, Hay River and Edmonton chambers, which formally sponsored the resolutions facilitating their inclusion on the Canadian Chamber AGM agenda, and to the Whitehorse, Baffin Regional, Labrador North and Alberta chambers of commerce for their support both in advance of and during the day-long policy debate process in Victoria.”
The four policy resolutions were formally presented to delegates for consideration by NWT Chamber Executive Director John Curran on behalf of the sponsoring community chambers.
“During the debates, it was quite clear that the ideas of enhancing Canada’s Arctic sovereignty, the need for nation-building investments in Northern infrastructure, creating sustainable economic development opportunities, maximizing First Nation participation at all levels of the economy, and developing clean energy sources were high priorities for all delegates,” said Curran.
“Having the Canadian Chamber committed to championing these policies, armed with the full power of the Canada’s chamber network, sends a strong message to Ottawa – these are now officially national priorities of more than 175,000 businesses and 300 community chambers of commerce across the country.”
In association with the network of community chambers of commerce in Fort Simpson, Behchoko, Norman Wells, Fort Smith, Hay River and Yellowknife as well as the Northern Aboriginal Business Association, the NWT Chamber of Commerce represents the interests of more than 865 members. For more than 35 years, it has been the only pan-territorial voice of businesses across all sectors of the Northern economy.
