The Canadian Northern Corridor Roundtable Program: Results and Lessons Learned

Key Messsages: • Canada needs a long-term strategic and integrated infrastructure vision for mid- and northern Canada that focuses on long-term policy priorities of communities. • Infrastructure policy development for mid- and northern Canada must focus on collaborative approaches that foster...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Katharina Koch, Emily Galley, Evgeniia (Jen) Sidorova, G. Kent Fellows, Robert Mansell
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of Calgary 2023-08-01
Series:The School of Public Policy Publications
Online Access:https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/sppp/article/view/77066
_version_ 1827856340416987136
author Katharina Koch
Emily Galley
Evgeniia (Jen) Sidorova
G. Kent Fellows
Robert Mansell
author_facet Katharina Koch
Emily Galley
Evgeniia (Jen) Sidorova
G. Kent Fellows
Robert Mansell
author_sort Katharina Koch
collection DOAJ
description Key Messsages: • Canada needs a long-term strategic and integrated infrastructure vision for mid- and northern Canada that focuses on long-term policy priorities of communities. • Infrastructure policy development for mid- and northern Canada must focus on collaborative approaches that foster cooperation and coordination rather than competition between community rights- and stakeholders. • Streamlining of regulatory frameworks is required to improve efficiency, integration and coordination in the planning and approval of hard and soft infrastructure development. • Decision-makers are encouraged to adopt a holistic infrastructure approach which includes not only physical infrastructure assets but also digital and soft infrastructure supporting social goals and outcomes, such as education and healthcare. • A focus on local community capacity-building should be incorporated into any type of northern infrastructure development strategy to help support communities to address their own challenges and to foster cooperation between both public and private rights- and stakeholders. • While federal support is important, any national infrastructure vision for mid- and northern Canada must incorporate the priorities of local Indigenous and municipal rights- and stakeholders. This approach avoids a top-down infrastructure approach and recognizes the role these communities have in in addressing the challenges related to climate change and supply chain constraints that we are facing today. • A majority of communities in mid- and northern Canada consist of Indigenous populations, including First Nations, Métis and Inuit. A connective infrastructure approach can be a tool of reconciliation but only if it supports Indigenous self-governance, participation, inclusion and facilitates Indigenous-owned initiatives. • While infrastructure needs vary across mid- and northern Canada, the digital divide across Canada is a common challenge. To sustain prosperity and mitigating challenges, communities need reliable and affordable high-speed internet access. • Recent disruptions in global and Canadian supply chains underlines the need for strategic and targeted infrastructure optionality, ensuring reliable transportation and access to goods and services. • Infrastructure development, focused on transportation and access to services such as healthcare, is essential to safeguard the high living standards we are enjoying today for future generations. For all Canadians to benefit, infrastructure development must adhere to the principles of equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility.
first_indexed 2024-03-12T12:24:21Z
format Article
id doaj.art-0f0d592274b04079843aae6aa4101d02
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2560-8312
2560-8320
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-12T12:24:21Z
publishDate 2023-08-01
publisher University of Calgary
record_format Article
series The School of Public Policy Publications
spelling doaj.art-0f0d592274b04079843aae6aa4101d022023-08-30T04:08:05ZengUniversity of CalgaryThe School of Public Policy Publications2560-83122560-83202023-08-0116110.11575/sppp.v16i1.77066The Canadian Northern Corridor Roundtable Program: Results and Lessons LearnedKatharina Koch0Emily Galley1Evgeniia (Jen) Sidorova2G. Kent Fellows3Robert Mansell4The School of Public Policy, University of CalgaryThe School of Public Policy, University of CalgaryThe School of Public Policy, University of CalgaryThe School of Public Policy, University of CalgaryThe School of Public Policy, University of Calgary Key Messsages: • Canada needs a long-term strategic and integrated infrastructure vision for mid- and northern Canada that focuses on long-term policy priorities of communities. • Infrastructure policy development for mid- and northern Canada must focus on collaborative approaches that foster cooperation and coordination rather than competition between community rights- and stakeholders. • Streamlining of regulatory frameworks is required to improve efficiency, integration and coordination in the planning and approval of hard and soft infrastructure development. • Decision-makers are encouraged to adopt a holistic infrastructure approach which includes not only physical infrastructure assets but also digital and soft infrastructure supporting social goals and outcomes, such as education and healthcare. • A focus on local community capacity-building should be incorporated into any type of northern infrastructure development strategy to help support communities to address their own challenges and to foster cooperation between both public and private rights- and stakeholders. • While federal support is important, any national infrastructure vision for mid- and northern Canada must incorporate the priorities of local Indigenous and municipal rights- and stakeholders. This approach avoids a top-down infrastructure approach and recognizes the role these communities have in in addressing the challenges related to climate change and supply chain constraints that we are facing today. • A majority of communities in mid- and northern Canada consist of Indigenous populations, including First Nations, Métis and Inuit. A connective infrastructure approach can be a tool of reconciliation but only if it supports Indigenous self-governance, participation, inclusion and facilitates Indigenous-owned initiatives. • While infrastructure needs vary across mid- and northern Canada, the digital divide across Canada is a common challenge. To sustain prosperity and mitigating challenges, communities need reliable and affordable high-speed internet access. • Recent disruptions in global and Canadian supply chains underlines the need for strategic and targeted infrastructure optionality, ensuring reliable transportation and access to goods and services. • Infrastructure development, focused on transportation and access to services such as healthcare, is essential to safeguard the high living standards we are enjoying today for future generations. For all Canadians to benefit, infrastructure development must adhere to the principles of equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility. https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/sppp/article/view/77066
spellingShingle Katharina Koch
Emily Galley
Evgeniia (Jen) Sidorova
G. Kent Fellows
Robert Mansell
The Canadian Northern Corridor Roundtable Program: Results and Lessons Learned
The School of Public Policy Publications
title The Canadian Northern Corridor Roundtable Program: Results and Lessons Learned
title_full The Canadian Northern Corridor Roundtable Program: Results and Lessons Learned
title_fullStr The Canadian Northern Corridor Roundtable Program: Results and Lessons Learned
title_full_unstemmed The Canadian Northern Corridor Roundtable Program: Results and Lessons Learned
title_short The Canadian Northern Corridor Roundtable Program: Results and Lessons Learned
title_sort canadian northern corridor roundtable program results and lessons learned
url https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/sppp/article/view/77066
work_keys_str_mv AT katharinakoch thecanadiannortherncorridorroundtableprogramresultsandlessonslearned
AT emilygalley thecanadiannortherncorridorroundtableprogramresultsandlessonslearned
AT evgeniiajensidorova thecanadiannortherncorridorroundtableprogramresultsandlessonslearned
AT gkentfellows thecanadiannortherncorridorroundtableprogramresultsandlessonslearned
AT robertmansell thecanadiannortherncorridorroundtableprogramresultsandlessonslearned
AT katharinakoch canadiannortherncorridorroundtableprogramresultsandlessonslearned
AT emilygalley canadiannortherncorridorroundtableprogramresultsandlessonslearned
AT evgeniiajensidorova canadiannortherncorridorroundtableprogramresultsandlessonslearned
AT gkentfellows canadiannortherncorridorroundtableprogramresultsandlessonslearned
AT robertmansell canadiannortherncorridorroundtableprogramresultsandlessonslearned