By Marta Bristow, Research Associate, Conference Board of Canada

The residents of Fort Liard, a remote community in the Northwest Territories, endured a two-week closure this past spring of the only highway linking them to the rest of the territory. Highway 7, also known as Liard Trail, had deteriorated so badly, several sections north of town were impassable.

The highway has been plagued with severe maintenance challenges in recent years. Shortcomings in the highway's original design and…

By Heidi Martin, Research Associate, Conference Board of Canada

The North is a vast region, dotted with diverse communities.  Economic conditions vary from place to place, but many Northern communities are experiencing the paradox of high unemployment rates while employers in those communities struggle to recruit.  In many regions in the North, this reflects a lack of labour force capacity among the local population.  Some communities, especially in Western Canada, are struggling to find…

The Centre for the North's Canada's North Beyond 2011 was a success! We invite you to read about conference impressions from the World Wildlife Fund's delegate by clicking here.

You can learn more about the conference highlights by clicking here. 

"Canada's North looms large in our national imagination, but not in the daily lives of most Canadians. What happens in the North, however, matters to all of us. How our far-flung northern communities develop will have a real impact on the economic future of our country, and all of us need a better understanding of the forces at work."

Read the rest of the Centre for the North's editorial in the Toronto Star by clicking here.

By Dr. Siomonn Pulla, Senior Research Associate, Centre For the North

Strong global demand for commodities -including gold, silver, copper, zinc, and diamonds-provides a unique opportunity for Canada's North to stimulate development and expand  infrastructure. Northern communities are poised to benefit greatly from major resource projects-which by their nature are large, location-specific, capital intensive and of finite duration.  Success, however, must be measured by more than simply the…