Western Arctic leader seeks commitment from Harper's latest visit

Leaders in the Mackenzie Delta region of the Northwest Territories say they hope Prime Minister Stephen Harper will do more than stage a pre-election photo opportunity when he visits the N.W.T. and the Yukon next week.

Harper is scheduled to arrive in Inuvik, N.W.T., on Aug. 26, then visit Tuktoyaktuk, N.W.T., and Dawson City, Yukon, during his three-day visit. He is expected to make two announcements related to northern infrastructure.

"I hope there is something concrete committed by the Prime Minister's Office," Duane Smith, president of the Inuit Circumpolar Council of Canada, told CBC News on Tuesday.

Smith said he hopes Harper's announcements will leave a lasting legacy, such as the building of a new Arctic research facility.

Smith said he also wants Harper to make "a commitment to develop a more consistent dialogue with the people of the region, so that our views are integrated into the development within the region."

Next week's tour of the western Arctic will be Harper's fourth trip north of 60 in his current term as prime minister.

Frequent visits illustrates PM's interest in North: expert

Last year, he travelled to Nunavut to announce that a military deep-sea port and a training facility will be built in Nanisivik and Resolute Bay, respectively.

In that same trip, Harper announced the government would expand Nahanni National Park in the N.W.T., protecting a further 5,400 square kilometres from development.

He also visited Nunavut and the N.W.T. in 2006, in part to attend the opening of Tahera Corp.'s Jericho diamond mine in western Nunavut.

Most recently, Harper attended the opening ceremonies of the 20th Arctic Winter Games in Yellowknife in March.

"I cannot remember a single prime minister that made it up to the North every single year of their term," said Rob Huebert, an Arctic sovereignty expert at the University of Calgary.

"I think this is sort of illustrating, from a political perspective, that his government is interested in the North."

Given Harper has started talking this week about a possible fall election, Huebert said the upcoming trip north will give Harper a chance to stage some pre-election photo opportunities.

Municipal leaders in the Mackenzie Delta have been vying for a chance to see the prime minister.

In Tuktoyaktuk, Mayor Mervin Gruben said he wants to show Harper the massive erosion that he says is threatening roads and buildings in the community.

And in Aklavik, N.W.T., Ehdiitat Gwich'in Council president Charles Furlong recently issued a news release claiming the Gwich'in had not been properly consulted ahead of the prime minister's visit.