The three-day Arctic Gateway Summit kicked off Nov. 8 at the University of Winnipeg, with the signing of an agreement between Manitoba and Nunavut to improve cooperation on a series of issues, including health services, economic development, transportation and tourism initiatives.
Through the new master agreement, the framework is in place for co-operation between the two governments on a number of issues, notably including the commencement of initial consultations for a cost-benefit study on a Manitoba-Nunavut all-weather road.
Other areas of co-operation include opportunities for enhanced services and improved patient care through collaboration between the Department of Health and Social Services and the Churchill Regional Health Authority, efforts on renewable energy including sharing best practices and technology, promoting economic growth through cooperation, consultation, joint tourism development and marketing projects, and exchange opportunities in a variety of areas related to educational, cultural, and athletic activities.
"This agreement reflects the spirit of co-operation that reflects the aims of this summit," said Premier Greg Selinger. "The summit brings together transportation and economic leaders, indigenous peoples and Northern communities, and key stakeholders in the international community to increase international trade, build sustainable communities and develop economic opportunities in partnership with Northern communities and indigenous peoples."
"Manitoba and Nunavut have a long history of co-operating and working together towards the shared goals of our jurisdictions," said Nunavut Premier Eva Aariak. "The signing of this agreement acknowledges our joint priorities and launches an action plan to support the achievement of our vision for Northern Canada."
The idea of an all-weather road between Manitoba and Nunavut has its roots in the past, most notably a two-year study which was completed in December 2007, looking at the feasibility of different routes linking the two. The route selection study included two rounds of public consultation, and ultimately determined the preferred route to be the "Eastern Alternative," which would connect the Nunavut communities of Rankin Inlet, Whale Cove and Arviat with Churchill and ultimately with the existing all-weather roads in Gillam and beyond.
According to that study, the new road would be approximately 1,100 kilometres long and cost $1.2 billion to construct. At the time, there was also demand an additional all-weather road be built east-to-west, to connect Churchill to Brochet, Lac Brochet, and Tadoule Lake, but the project appears to have moved on without that portion.
Though officially signed at the Arctic Gateway Summit, much of the groundwork for the agreement was done during a meeting between Selinger and Aariak in early September, a meeting held in accordance with the Manitoba-Nunavut Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation and Development, an agreement signed in 2000, which calls upon the two premiers to meet at least once every two years to advance areas of mutual interest.
The Arctic Gateway Summit, part of Manitoba's Northern development strategy, brought over 200 Northern stakeholders to Winnipeg to discuss the future of the Arctic and its impacts on the North.
"This Arctic Summit brings together leaders from the business, academic, and not-for-profit sectors, as well as aboriginal and Northern communities," said Lloyd Axworthy, University of Winnipeg's president and vice-chancellor. "Our goal during these few days will be to bring together individuals with interests in the future of the Arctic into a forum where we can inspire serious public discussion. Our objective is also to generate ideas and to sharpen our sense of what is possible for an Arctic gateway and what is needed in the North."
Another major Arctic summit is slated for next spring, when Iqaluit hosts the Hudson Bay Arctic Summit.
