Northern Development Ministers’ Forum

Canada
“This Forum is an important vehicle for intergovernmental collaboration to take advantage of emerging opportunities in the North,” said John Duncan, Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada.  “With the establishment of the Canadian Northern Development Agency (CanNor), we now have a federal agency headquartered in and devoted exclusively to North of 60º.  I am pleased to have the opportunity to also work with provinces south of 60º that are addressing similar issues in the near-North and welcome the focus on young Aboriginal entrepreneurs at this year’s Forum.”

“There is a growing entrepreneurial leadership emerging in the Aboriginal community that recognizes economic development as the means towards self-reliance and greater independence,” said MP Greg Rickford, who attended the Forum on behalf of Minister Duncan.  “The Forum is an excellent opportunity for governments to share ideas and discuss common issues, challenges and approaches to developing the economic potential of Canada’s North and near-North as well as to achieve strategic direction pertaining to Northern development.” 

Newfoundland and Labrador
“The Northern Development Ministers Forum is an important gathering of ministers and government officials to learn and gain valuable information for our own jurisdictions. It was an honour to make a presentation to this year’s delegation on Northern Infrastructure, which provided clear indications of infrastructure priorities in northern Canada,” said Minister Hickey. “Newfoundland and Labrador will be hosting NDMF 2011 and it was my pleasure to invite all members to the beautiful region of Lake Melville and in particular, the towns of Happy Valley-Goose Bay and North West River, and the Sheshatshiu reserve, for next year’s Forum.”

Northwest Territories
 “This Forum provides an important opportunity for collaboration and sharing of information across Canada’s North” said the Honourable Bob McLeod, Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment for the Northwest Territories.  “Today’s global economy presents unique challenges and opportunities for Canada, and now more than ever we must work together to ensure a strong future.”

 Nunavut
“The 2010 Northern Development Ministers Forum has allowed Nunavut to share its experiences and inform the rest of Canada about the territory’s great need for infrastructure,” said Nunavut’s Minister of Economic Development and Transportation Peter Taptuna. “I hope what the provinces and territories have learned  from each other during our meeting will provide the unity and a better understanding among us of the urgent need for new and better infrastructure in our northern territories. With this information we will persuade the Federal Government to invest in northern infrastructure and prepare the North for climate change. These investments will not only boost the nation’s economy, but will demonstrate Canadian sovereignty in the North.”

Quebec

“I am pleased to promote, along with my northern colleagues and partners, the interests of northern populations. With this Forum, we are laying the foundations of a prosperous economic future for people who live in aboriginal and non aboriginal communities in the North,” said Pierre Corbeil, Québec's Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and the Minister responsible for the Abitibi-Témiscamingue and the Nord-du-Québec regions. “Together, we must find the right balance that will enable us to support the development of the North’s economic potential while protecting the environment. It is also by supporting the education and skills training of First Nations and the Inuit that these key stakeholders will be able to actively participate in the development of future projects in their region. This approach guides our actions in the development of the Plan Nord.”