April 24, 2015
Hudson Bay Neighbours Regional Roundtable Meeting Boosts Further Partnerships
– – –Working Collaboratively with Inuit Partners will Encourage Regional Development: Minister Robinson
More than 100 delegates at the Hudson Bay Neighbours Regional Roundtable meeting concluded a three-day summit this week renewing their commitment to increased partnerships between Manitoba and the Kivalliq region of Nunavut. Manitoba Deputy Premier and Aboriginal and Northern Affairs Minister Eric Robinson and Nunavut Deputy Premier Monica Ell co-chaired the conference.
“This meeting follows up on key issues raised over the past two years,” Minister Robinson said. “Delegates were updated on progress made on the working groups studying energy options for the Kivalliq region, winter roads and health.”
He also noted that each working group was co-chaired by representatives from Manitoba and Nunavut.
Premier Greg Selinger opened the meeting on Wednesday and recognized some of the progress made on the 2010 Memorandum of Understanding between Nunavut and Manitoba, which will be renewed later this year.
The roundtable meeting included delegates from all of the Kivlalliq hamlets, the hamlet of Sanikiluaq, the mayors of Churchill and Gillam, the chiefs of Sayisi Dene and Fox Lake First Nations, David Ningeongan, president of Kivalliq Inuit Association, along with Nunavut ministers Ell, George Kuksuk, and Paul Okalik, and Kivalliq MLAs Steve Mapsalak, Alexander Sammurtok and Allan Rumboldt.
Minister Robinson led the Manitoba delegation and other Manitoba ministers spoke about the importance of the roundtable including Minister of Health Sharon Blady and Agriculture, Food and Rural Development Minister Ron Kostyshyn. The ministers committed to raise the proposed energy options project in discussions with the federal ministers to work together with them on next steps to proceed on this nation-building project.
“These projects could help build both regions and provide greater diversity of business opportunities in northern Manitoba and Kivalliq hamlets and continue together as an economic region,” said Mayor Mike Spence, Town of Churchill.
Some of the speakers and presentations included David Ningeongan, president of the Kivalliq Inuit Association; the Manitoba Inuit Association; John Hickes, chief negotiator, NTI; Jeff McEachern of OmniTRAX; Stephen Borys of the Winnipeg Art Gallery; Jim Ferguson of Green Manitoba; Adam Fiser of the Conference Board of Canada Centre for the North; Sakku Investments; Hudson Bay Consortium; Aki Energy; and World Trade Centre, as well as discussions on climate risks for transportation and resupply challenges in the North.
Delegates also attended the Winnipeg Art Gallery, the Canadian Human Rights Museum and the Manitoba Archives during the event. Minster Robinson said at the conclusion of the conference, delegates committed to hold a followup meeting at Nunavut in September. He noted among the topics to be discussed at the next meeting will be recycling and waste management.
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