Canada's three northernmost premiers meet Friday in Iqaluit to discuss climate change, infrastructure and energy issues.

It's the ninth time the northern leaders have met to discuss common issues but the first time they've gathered since the federal government released its northern strategy in late July.

Northwest Territories Premier Floyd Roland said the trio from N.W.T., Nunavut and Yukon need to analyze the northern strategy in more detail to find common ground and ways to work together.

"We'll need to touch base on how that's going to work in all our territories and see how we can continue to try and influence that file," he said. "When you have a common theme across the territories, and you work together on that message, you have a little bit more force."

Nunavut Premier Eva Aariak said the group expects to cover much ground in a short time. "We have a full agenda," she said. "We have the northern vision that we will be immersed in, we have climate change and climate-change adaptation issues, and H1N1."

The premiers expect their collective voices will be heard in Ottawa where northern issues such as Arctic sovereignty and climate change are front and centre.

France St-Hilaire, vice-president with the Montreal-based Institute for Research in Public Policy, said the premiers won't have to scream to be heard.

The federal government's northern strategy gives territorial leaders a new opportunity to speak with a common voice.

"That is also a stated goal of the federal government to ensure that northerners have a greater say," St-Hilaire said.

The premiers expect to discuss infrastructure and renewable energy and take steps toward a pan-territorial position on climate change.

Their input will be given to Ottawa prior to international discussions on green-house gas emissions in Copenhagen later this year.