Indigenous Infrastructure

From: J Birch Sent: Saturday, May 9, 2020 12:11:52 AM To: justin.trudeau@parl.gc.ca <justin.trudeau@parl.gc.ca>; Chrystia.Freeland@parl.gc.ca <Chrystia.Freeland@parl.gc.ca>; dujarric@un.org <dujarric@un.org>; GlobalOttawa@globalnews.ca <GlobalOttawa@globalnews.ca>; tips@GlobalTVBC.com <tips@GlobalTVBC.com>; news@skynews.com <news@skynews.com>; david.penberthy@news.com.au <david.penberthy@news.com.au>; media@gatesfoundation.org <media@gatesfoundation.org>; nytnews@nytimes.com <nytnews@nytimes.com>; jedmiston@nationalpost.com <jedmiston@nationalpost.com>; Sky.Today <Sky.Today@sky.uk>; media@sputniknews.com <media@sputniknews.com>; dir_enq@cso.gov.hk <dir_enq@cso.gov.hk>; Secretary@HHS.gov <Secretary@HHS.gov>; contact.nbcnews@nbcuni.com <contact.nbcnews@nbcuni.com>; dan@jpost.com <dan@jpost.com>; accredit@gov.ru <accredit@gov.ru>; premier@gov.yk.ca <premier@gov.yk.ca>; premier@gov.nt.ca <premier@gov.nt.ca>; jsavikataaq@gov.nu.ca <jsavikataaq@gov.nu.ca> Subject: Indigenous Infrastructure (Opinion)

Hey Everyone, I was reading a story about how northern and more remote communities are finding difficulties with supply shortages as well as lack of medical and pandemic infrastructure. I was thinking that we should work together to upgrade our remote communities and interconnect them to ensure more logistical and travel support. Some more remote places are only reachable via plane and due to the Pandemic the trading and shipping infrastructure has slowed. To combat this I was thinking that we chart the northern communities and create hub cities that can become main hubs for shipments in the area. Supplies are delivered there via plane in larger planes and then sent to remote communities via truck or even dogsled in winter if need be. This will allow us to map a temporary network while those hub cities work on installing more roads and other infrastructure improvements to easily connect new shipping lanes to act as a backup in times of crisis.

This will allow remote and indigenous communities to create jobs while improving their infrastructure and by proxy the northern infrastructure as a whole. Indigenous leaders can consult on the best hub cities in relation to reserves and other towns to ensure these hub cities reach the most locations in that area. I would also start adding medical centres and hospitals to every area as well as more local agriculture that can be traded amongst reserves and local towns. Additionally, given the climate changes that we will experience we might be seeing the reverse of "Snowbirds" where people vacation northward to escape the temperatures so we might want to formulate a northern infrastructure geared towards tourism. For the short term it will create jobs, improve local communities and might possibly open up new economic options for the north in relation to tourism. Stay Safe, Stay Sanitized and Stay Supportive, John Ames Birch @johneames2