The three northern premiers have tabled a newly-developed northern vision meant to aid them in negotiations with Ottawa regarding devolution and Arctic sovereignty.

The document, entitled A Northern Vision: A Stronger North and a Better Canada, outlines a framework for the North with a focus on sovereignty, sustainable communities, climate change and circumpolar relations.

'It details the way the three territorial governments will continue working together to accomplish shared goals by encouraging collaboration with other governments,' said Yukon Premier Dennis Fentie.

Northwest Territories Premier Joe Handley and Nunavut Premier Paul Okalik joined Fentie in Whitehorse on Saturday for the Northern Premiers' Forum.

The work on the framework document began in November 2006 and was solely developed by the territories.

It is building on Prime Minister Stephen Harper's statements in the North last summer, said Handley.

Harper stated 'the North's time has come,' said Handley, and the federal government is working on its own vision for the territories.

'The prime minister asked for our solution to work together for the future. This is our response,' said Okalik.

The most effective and sustainable plan for the territories must be based on the transfer of responsibility for northern resources and their revenues from Ottawa to northerners, said Handley.

'It's time to stop talking about devolution and resource revenue-sharing and get the job done,' he said.

The Northwest Territories has seen approximately $225 million from its resources flow to the federal government, said Handley.

It is time to conclude the process, he said, and ensure the N.W.T. is the primary beneficiaries of its resource revenues.

The North contains the resources that are going to fuel the country's economy into the future, he added. It is important for the federal government and the provinces to continue to build partnerships with the territories, he said.

'What is good for the North is good for Canada. It's intended to serve as an invitation to the federal, provincial and aboriginal governments as well as NGOs and the private sector to partner with the territory.'

Working to conclude devolution agreements with the N.W.T. and Nunavut will also prove to be an effective means of maintaining Canada's sovereignty in the Arctic, said Okalik.

Northern waters are classified as internal waters and through devolution could be controlled by the territories, just as other waters are regulated by provinces, he said.

It would give local control to regions inhabited for thousands of years and a stronger argument in the international and national community for Canada's jurisdiction over the Northwest Passage, said Okalik.

'We hope that with this document we can push our national government to recognize that. (Arctic sovereignty) can be strengthened with strengthening the control of our resources for northerners. Devolution is one area where we can have a real impact for the time being.'

Sovereignty in the North is about much more than icebreakers, said Fentie.

'For us, sovereignty is about people. It's about ensuring the North is healthy and sustainable and has healthy, sustainable communities with self-reliant people,' he said.

Continuing to address infrastructure, education, health care, education and training are also valid ways to address sovereignty, he said.

Handley agreed, stating infrastructure projects and funding are key to ensuring northerners continue to populate remote communities.

'It's not just an armed forces exercise. There's also a human side of it,' he said. 'We have to continue to inhabit those areas of Canada.'

Fentie also pointed to climate change as a key priority for the Yukon and the North, in general.

'We support fully Canada's efforts to reduce emissions, but we need in conjunction with that efforts in research and development,' he said.

The federal government must work with the territories in addressing adaptation, he added.

'Even though we're all northerners we all have our respective, and unique, challenges,' said Okalik. 'We left the document as broad as we can so we can work with it. We have diverse priorities in all three territories.'

The federal government has been convinced that 'one size doesn't fit all' when dealing with the territories, said Handley.

Now is the time to ensure the Conservative government lives up to its commitments to make the North more prosperous and to move away from the paternalistic attitude of the past, Handley added.

'Canada's North is experiencing unprecedented change in a number of areas, mainly economic, environmental and political,' said Fentie. 'This vision is to help promote our input into the federal government's work.'

The Yukon will be supporting the other two territories in their efforts at concluding the devolution of federal powers to them, said Fentie. But should either negotiate a better resources agreement, the territory would immediately engage with the federal government to get the same deal, he said.

The Northern Vision document was developed through a review of the findings collected by the federal government's Northern Strategy consultations. It will act as a reference framework for future territorial policy and direction.

The 16-page document was launched in conjunction with a new website at a press conference at the Yukon's legislature on Saturday morning.