Background

The Federal Government launched the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency or CanNor in August 2009. Consultations with territories and aboriginal groups across the north had been held. CanNor head office will be in Iqaluit and district offices will be located in NWT and Yukon. The President of the new Agency is Nicole Jauvin with accountability to the Minister of INAC. The launch is considered Phase I of this initiative during which the Agency will be established, staffed and organized.

During consultative discussions INAC officials informed YFN’s that a Phase II would occur where strategic and operational matters would be addressed. To ensure that Yukon could achieve maximum impact on how this Federal initiative proceeds given the pan-northern mandate, Yukon Government and Yukon First Nations formed a joint working group to develop a Yukon Implementation Framework for the Agency. This Framework was signed off by the Grand Chief and the Premier and sent to the Prime Minister’s office on August 12, 2009 (as attached).

CanNor is an initiative of Canada and the Minister retains responsibility for its implementation. Canada did not request input in this Framework format, however, they indicated general openness to input and submissions from Yukon and YFN’s.  The Agency is pan-northern but the Framework focuses on the Yukon only. The Yukon Government has held discussions with the other territories regarding the mandate and purpose of the Agency but there has been no direct involvement by YFN’s in such discussions.  

The Yukon Implementation Framework

The proposed Framework was put together by taking input from both Yukon and YFN’s and working out a proposed collaborative approach that might be acceptable to all three levels of Government.

Some key elements of the proposed approach are:

• Yukon focus to address the unique circumstances and opportunities of the Yukon, so the Framework applies only to Yukon specific matters and programs
• Trilateral governance and collaborative approach based on recognition of Government to Government basis for Canada, Yukon and YFN’s and participation on two key decision making committees by the three levels of Government
• Economic development objectives and principles that address the interests of Yukon and YFN’s
• Honoring of the Final and Self-Government Agreements so no derogation of rights and opportunity to develop the economic opportunities of the Agreements

The Framework proposes that Phase II of developing the Agency include forming two Committees, the Yukon Oversight Committee and the Operational Implementation Committee.

Yukon Oversight Committee

• Comprised of senior officials of the Agency, Yukon Government and YFN’s
• Responsible for measuring progress of the Agency on its Investment Plan
• Reports to the Yukon Forum and the IGF

Operational Implementation Committee

• Comprised of operational officials from the Agency, Yukon and YFN’s
• Project and implementation focused
• Reports to the Yukon Oversight Committee

Key Messages for the IGF

Successful implementation of the Agency in the Yukon should include:

• Consideration by the Minister of the proposed Yukon Implementation Framework
• Setting up trilateral governance with inclusion of Canada, Yukon and YFN’s in key Committees with accountability to the IGF
• Local control of Yukon specific planning and programming in the Yukon
• Honoring Final and Self-Government Agreements and moving forward on economic aspects of the Agreements