Yellowknife — The leader of the Northwest Territories says he will ask Canada's premiers to back a call for increased powers for his northern territory at their annual meeting next week.
Premier Stephen Kakfwi wants Ottawa to devolve control of the area's resources, primarily diamonds and gas, back to his government and ensure the region gets a fair share of the industries' revenues.
The territory's current arrangement with Ottawa is not in the country's best interest, he said.
"It is also a barrier to our sustainable growth and the ability of the N.W.T. to achieve its potential of becoming a proud, self-reliant and net-contributing partner in Canada," he said in a news release.
Development of area diamond mines and natural gas deposits will contribute $89-billion to the Canadian economy, said Mr. Kakfwi.
It will also create 384,000 jobs, most of which will go outside of the region, and contribute $33-billion in revenue to governments.
But the territory currently has no control over the development of these deposits, nor does it receive any royalties, said Mr. Kakfwi.
"'A system that denies a jurisdiction any control over its resources and leaves behind less than four per cent of the revenues those resources generate is clearly unfair," he said.
The majority of tax revenue generated by economic growth in the region also goes back to the federal government, he said.
Mr. Kakfwi wrote the premiers asking for their support on this issue when they gather in Charlottetown next week for their annual meeting.
The initiative was endorsed by western premiers when they met in June.
