IQALUIT - The three northern premiers say a military presence is a prerequisite for ensuring continued sovereignty of the Arctic regions of Canada.
But Yukon Premier Dennis Fentie says ice-breakers and soldiers on the ground is just one step, and what's also needed is federal investment in much-needed infrastructure in the North.
The northern premiers concluded a two-day meeting Saturday and also made a renewed a call for more action on climate change, which they say is being felt most acutely in the North.
Nunavut Premier Eva Aariak says the premiers agree that Canada and other countries need to implement effective measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming.
Fentie says climate change has a significant impact on the North, melting Arctic ice, causing glaciers to recede, melting permafrost and harming wildlife.
The premiers concluded the meeting by signing a renewed co-operation accord that includes a plan to ensure that the North is well represented to the rest of the world during the 2010 Winter Olympics in British Columbia.
