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Blair says defence of the North is Canada's greatest responsibility, and building infrastructure and having a persistent, reliable presence in the Arctic region is crucial to national security and community prosperity.

But to achieve that, the government must gain trust from communities, and work in a more collaborative and respectful way.

That includes bringing community leaders into conversations about why certain things need to be done, rather than dictating to communities about what they should be doing better, he says.

The conference is set to hear about Indigenous procurement, participation in the Armed Forces and what reconciliation looks like in those areas.

This report by °µÍø½ûÇø was first published Nov. 28, 2024.