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The great paradox of the North – Policy Options

February 3, 2025

Canadians have a complex relationship with the North. While the territory is a strong symbol of our identity, and we react strongly to threats to its sovereignty, this vast region is often forgotten and chronically underfunded.

The empowerment of northern institutions and communities has been slow and incomplete. Local northern authorities are still dependent on the federal government. Nunavut was the last territory to sign a devolution agreement on January 18 2024. It will not be implemented until 2027.

With this paradox in mind, we surveyed 2,081 Canadian citizens to better understand their perceptions of the North, which includes the Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Our objective was to measure their support for empowering this vast area. The survey was carried out in collaboration with SOM from July 30 to August 13, 2024. It revealed that Canadians generally support greater autonomy for the North, but consider the self-determination of Indigenous Peoples in the Arctic to be a secondary issue.

Read More: https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/february-2025/great-paradox-north/

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