Question Period Note: Northern Affairs Accomplishments 2020-2021

• Our Government has worked with key partners to make progress on co-developed priorities for the North.
• In partnership with territorial, Indigenous and provincial partners, over $850 million in targeted COVID relief and recovery measures for Arctic and Northern communities has been identified to-date.
• We will continue to work with key partners to ensure Northerners’ needs are met, and will work with Arctic and Northern Policy Framework partners to schedule a second Leadership Committee meeting to discuss Budget 2022 priorities and finalize regional governance structures.

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If pressed on Nutrition North
• Nutrition North Canada helps to make perishable and nutritious foods more affordable and accessible to residents of eligible isolated northern communities that lack year-round road, rail or marine access.
• Nutrition North Canada has increased subsidy rates and expanded its list of subsidized food and essential items to include cleaning and personal hygiene products.
• Northerners are now also benefiting from the program’s new Harvesters Support Grant which is increasing access to traditional foods and supporting hunting, harvesting and food sharing activities.
• In its first year alone, over 5,500 harvesters, over 150 hunts, and over 120 food sharing initiatives were supported by the Harvesters Support Grant.

If pressed on Nunavut Devolution
• On August 15, 2019, the Government of Canada, the Government of Nunavut and Nunavut Tunngavik Inc signed an Agreement-in-Principle on the devolution of Crown Lands, resources, and rights in respect of waters in Nunavut. The next step is the negotiation of a Final Devolution Agreement.
• The parties resumed negotiations on a Final Devolution Agreement targeted for completion in 2022.
o This work is progressing well.
o The details of negotiations will remain confidential until a Final Agreement has been reached.

If pressed on Arctic and Northern Policy Framework
• We launched the Arctic and Northern Policy Framework with territorial, Indigenous and provincial partners in September 2019, and are now focused on co-development of governance mechanisms to achieve Framework goals and objectives.
• The intent of the Framework is to guide federal and partner priorities and investments through to 2030 and beyond.
• The Government of Canada has made significant investments in areas that reflect both Framework priorities and the direct advocacy of Framework partners. The Government remains committed to continuing its collaboration with all partners in support of northern economies and the social and political self-determination that underpins long-lasting regional development.

If pressed on Northern Contaminated Sites Program
• The Government has renewed the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan and has made significant investments in the new Northern Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program
• Both programs are intended to ensure lands and waters are healthy for future generations and will help to secure jobs for Northerners and Indigenous partners
• We will continue to collaborate with communities, Indigenous partners, the Territories and interested stakeholders to protect Canadians and the environment.

If Pressed on climate change or reducing reliance on diesel
• The Government is making investments across northern and Indigenous communities that are helping to address climate change and reduce reliance on diesel through its clean energy, and climate change adaptation and monitoring programs.
• These programs demonstrate that targeted, accessible programs offer successes at the community-level that support reconciliation and promote self-determination through climate action.

If pressed on Northern Housing and Infrastructure
• Our government recognizes the importance of safe, adequate and affordable housing and the unprecedented challenges that Northerners are facing in responding to their housing needs.
• Through Budget 2021, we are providing $50 million to the Governments of Nunavut and the Northwest Territories to address their critical housing needs, as well as an additional $18 million through Indigenous Community Infrastructure Fund for Indigenous communities in the Northwest Territories that have historically not received housing and infrastructure investment.
• Furthermore, Budget 2021 provides $517.8 million for Inuit land claim organizations to support infrastructure in Inuit Nunangat, as well as $517.7 million to Indigenous Self-Government and Modern Treaty Partners’ to support action plans specific to infrastructure priorities, needs and circumstances.
• These are a significant step in addressing the critical housing needs of Canada’s north. We recognize more needs to be done and we will continue to work with Northerners to address this gap.