N.W.T.'s premier is calling on Canada's next prime minister to invest in the North

Northwest Territories Premier R.J. Simpson is calling on Canada's next Prime Minister to invest in the North.

Earlier this week, Simpson published an open letter in the online newspaper The Hub, arguing that investments in the N.W.T. will benefit all of Canada, saying the country "cannot afford to overlook the Northwest Territories." It was addressed to all federal leaders in Canada.

Premier Simpson spoke to Northbeat host Meghan Roberts about that letter Friday, and why he is hopeful that politicians in Ottawa are ready to invest in the territories.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

In your letter, you write: "Canada must choose: by 2030, will we be a northern power, or a bystander in our own backyard?" I'm wondering which of those two you think Canada is right now?

There's a lot of attention on the North right now from around the world, and finally from our own federal government as well, because of the pressure from the outside world. So it's clear that we need to do more as a country to invest in the North in terms of the infrastructure for day-to-day use, but also our military infrastructure. 

That's been something that's been noted as I talk to people across the country, and when I was down in the United States, they noted that as well. Our allies in the United States say we need to do more on that front.

How would Canada then move to being a northern power in five years?

There's so much potential in the North. It's just going to take some focus by the federal government.

We are a huge territory [in Northwest Territories], but a small government and a small population. We have big aspirations, but we need that partnership with the federal government. 

There's big opportunities for things like investments in things like the Mackenzie Valley Highway, Slave Geological Province road. And once we start making those investments, it not only asserts our sovereignty, it opens up economic corridors and access to resources that will benefit not just the North, but all of Canada.

Let's talk about some of those projects. What specifically do you want the federal government to invest in for Northwest Territories?

At a very high level, I want them to pay attention to us. That's the first thing. Ottawa needs to realize we're not a province. We have different needs and we have a different relationship with Ottawa.

When they design a program, when they roll out a funding pot, they need to have that consideration that the North is different. Not just us, everything north of 60 is different.