Executive Summary

Concluding comments

“We are now at our last frontier. It is a frontier that all of us have read about, but few of us have seen. Profound issues, touching our deepest concerns as a nation, await us here.” - Mr. Justice Thomas R. Berger3

Throughout the review of TFF, the Panel learned a great deal about the territories and about issues important to northerners and their governments. We heard about the hopes and dreams of the territories to achieve self-sufficiency and to reduce their dependence on federal transfers. We heard about the potential for economic development and the sense that the territories are on the verge of major change. And, we heard that the North is essential to Canadian sovereignty and security.

At the same time, we heard serious concerns about outcomes in education and health, about social conditions and housing, aging infrastructure, high costs, and the challenges of addressing those concerns in the unique context of the territories.

The Panel members sincerely hope that our recommendations will help enable the territories and northerners to achieve their “great promise.”

Although many of these issues extend beyond the mandate of the Panel, we cannot conclude our work without urging the territories, the federal government, and Aboriginal and Inuit people to:

• Reach agreements on devolution and resource-revenue sharing

• Address significant challenges in the territories ranging from housing and infrastructure, to health care, education, and social issues

• Take urgent action to address serious problems in Nunavut

• Continue to seek innovative, effective, and affordable solutions for providing public services and meeting the needs of people in the territories

As the framework for the joint federal-territorial Northern Strategy indicates, “The North is a place of great promise. For many years northerners have spoken about the importance for all Canadians to share in a vision for the future that enables northerners to become full participants in the federation.”⁴

As Panel members, we sincerely hope that our recommendations will help enable the territories and northerners to achieve their “great promise.”

3. Government of Canada, Mr. Justice Thomas R. Berger. (1977). Northern Frontier, Northern Homeland, The Report of the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline Inquiry: Volume One, p.  vii.
4. Government of Canada (2004). Nation-Building, Framework for a Northern Strategy, p.  1.

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