Alberta, N.W.T. agree to work more closely
Deal to co-operate on energy, trade and transportation
Alberta and the Northwest Territories have signed a fiveyear agreement building on years of understanding.
The deal includes co-operation on energy, trade, transportation, health and social services, and highlights the importance of environmental leadership in northern development.
From the outside, your average memorandum of understanding can seem a little wishy-washy, but Alberta Premier Rachel Notley said the new agreement is all about getting the two jurisdictions to work more closely.
“It basically creates a guiding document, and ensures various folks who answer to each of us understand it’s a priority to work together on a number of different fronts,” Notley said.
Curriculum development, electronic health records, sharing best practices in the oil and gas sector, environmental regulations — all have benefited from previous understandings between Alberta and the N.W.T., Notley said.
“These kinds of things only happen when you have a systematic approach and a government-wide commitment to making sure you get the work done,” she said.
Notley and Northwest Territories Premier Bob McLeod inked the deal Thursday inside Alberta’s legislature building.
It supports various bilateral agreements and working groups already in place between Alberta and the N.W.T.
Those agreements allow the two jurisdictions to share education resources and diploma exams, support labour mobility and reduce barriers to employment through credential assessment, and collaborate on energy issues and market access.
McLeod cited the Mackenzie River basin agreement on water as a shining example of how MOUs have worked in a practical sense.
“We have a bilateral agreement with Alberta (about the Mackenzie) which I must say is ... probably one of the best in the world,” he said.
Alberta and the N.W.T will revisit the MOU each year to see how it’s working out, and if it needs to be rejigged. Alberta shares its northern border with the N.W.T.