The Yukon wants to share the benefits of the 2007 Canada Winter Games with its fellow territories.

Over the weekend, Yukon Premier Dennis Fentie met with his territorial counterparts, Joe Handley of the Northwest Territories and Paul Okalik of Nunavut, in Whitehorse.

As part of the meeting, the trio met with the host society of the 2007 Canada Winter Games, to be held in Whitehorse.

The premiers can use the opportunity to give more exposure in southern Canada to the territories, as well as the athletes and culture of the three territories.

'Our athletes and our uniqueness in the North will be showcased,' said Fentie.

'It also allows us to increase our marketing and sponsorship potential by doing this collectively.'

The three territories could pool marketing money to buy advertising in southern Canada in conjunction with the Games.

'It will also allow us to broaden, increase I should say, our options when it comes to marketing the North and increasing our availability and options for soliciting sponsorship to the Games,' said Fentie.

Fentie's counterparts also see great potential for working together even though the Games won't be in their territories.

'We see that as a wonderful advertising opportunity for Nunavut. As a young and small territory in this country, we have a difficult time trying to get some space for advertising,' said Okalik. 'It's a good way, a convenient way of advertising for our territory for tourism, our thriving arts and crafts industries.'

'It's important for us as a northern jurisdiction,' said Handley. 'We're pretty proud to have the Games happening in the North.

'In leading up to the games, it's also possible to have some events that could happen in the Northwest Territories, for example, whether it's cultural or athletic following athletes, for example, as they prepare for the Games,' Handley continued.

One way of working together, said Fentie, would be co-hosting the opening and closing ceremonies.

For example, the Yukon and the N.W.T. could co-host the opening ceremonies, while the Yukon and Nunavut could co-host the closing event.

Fentie said involving people like NHLer Jordin Tootoo of Nunavut would help in the lead up to the Games.

The Canada Winter Games will be held North of 60 for the first time when they hit Whitehorse in 2007.

The ministers responsible for sport and culture from the three territories will work together on getting the most from the Canada Winter Games.

For the Yukon, those ministers are Elaine Taylor (culture) and Glenn Hart (sport).

Besides the Canada Winter Games, the three also talked about a number of other issues.

Fentie said the three premiers agreed to work on one stance on a variety of issues including health care, Arctic sovereignty, climate change, ballistic missile defence and infrastructure development.

For health care, the trio agreed to work together on one vision, focusing on prevention, among other items. The three also want long-term funding from Ottawa to deal with the higher costs of living and working in the North.

The territories also want Ottawa to pay for the health care of all aboriginals as it is supposed to and not pass it onto the territories.

Okalik said health care for aboriginals is the responsibility of Ottawa.

'We do not get the necessary money to back that up,' he said.

For example, the Nunavut premier said 85 per cent of his territory's population is aboriginal but if any are sent south for medical treatment, Ottawa gives Nunavut $250 for the flight even though it could cost $2,000 to $3,000.

As well, the three territories want to ensure they get the most money possible from the development of natural resources on their soil.

Another major topic of discussion was the ballistic missile defence plan on which Canada and the U.S. may work together.

The three said the North will be a major venue for this defence system if it happens.

'On BMD (ballistic missile defense), we view it as a potential opportunity maybe but we'd like to know the details of what it entails. If we can benefit from it, great. If there's drawbacks to it, we'd like to know. Our goal is to be more involved with what is happening.'

'We need to get get involved,' Fentie said today. 'As it stands today, we're (the Yukon) not OK with it because we're not involved in it.'

Overall, the premiers indicated they got along well on a number of issues.

'It was an easy meeting,' said Okalik. 'We agreed quite easily.'