Thank you, Chris.
Another important aspect of northern development, which I believe you'll hear from all of the industrial representatives, is infrastructure. Nunavut and the entire north is infrastructure challenged, from the aging and inefficient community power plants, to limited broadband, unpaved and too-short airstrips, and industrial sites where companies must expend private investment capital to develop the basic services that are available in other parts of the country.
In the long term the success and failure to develop strategic infrastructure in the Arctic of Canada may ultimately affect Canada's influence in the circumpolar region. Given the enormity of the task, Canada must utilize the benefits of public-private collaboration using the private developments that occur in the north as an opportunity for Canada to derive long-term and strategic infrastructure.
Going forward, we suggest the government develop a comprehensive northern infrastructure strategy to lay out a detailed long-term vision for infrastructure in the north, and anticipate the needs and priorities and projects that should be considered for partnering with Canada.
We recognize this will require considerable consultation with first nations, but we encourage you to develop an infrastructure strategy so that projects can be identified as they develop. We don't suggest that industry is looking for Canada to build its infrastructure, but the government should look at creative incentives through regulation, taxes, or royalties, to create an environment conducive for companies to leave a legacy of strategic infrastructure in the north.
One example that might be applicable is the P3 program for large-scale infrastructure projects, such as hydroelectric, sea ports, roads, and broadband. Increasing P3 funding could make many projects more feasible and build a positive resource legacy in the north. This could include longer paved airstrips that are capable of accommodating both strategic- and tactical-lift aircraft, and providing alternative and more sources of energy for the north, which may also help in the long term with greenhouse gas emissions.
In conclusion, we hope we've presented a few practical and high-priority items for Canada's northern development to help improve the mining investment climate in the north. On the regulatory front, we urge you to continue to improve the timelines in the assessment and regulatory process in the role of the northern projects office, and allocate resources to the co-management board's further increasing workloads.
On the Inuit and first nations front, we urge you to complete the implementation of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement and the other land claims, including the passage of the Nunavut Planning and Project Assessment Act; support first nations and Inuit training initiatives that will help us find the labour force we'll need for all of our projects in the north; and resolve the double-bonding issue that Chris mentioned.
We urge you to think creatively to find ways to develop infrastructure that will benefit Canadians and northerners in the long term and develop a strategy for that. Canada can make the north a more competitive place to do business by working closely with the Inuit and northern first nations and their governments, the governments of the territories, and industry. In a more competitive environment a broader range of economic, environmental, and social opportunities is possible, and ultimately the result will be a higher standard of living for northerners.
Responsible economic growth based on environmental stewardship and healthy communities is essential for Canada to realize its Arctic vision.
Thank you for this opportunity.