A military camp in Resolute, Nunavut, set up as part of the Canadian military's Operation Nanook. The month-long operation wraps up later this week in various Nunavut communities. (Peter Sheldon/CBC)Northern politicians are split on Canada's new Arctic policy statement, with some hoping it will mean positive changes for northerners but others remaining skeptical.

Issuing the statement on Friday, Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon said Canada will work to resolve Arctic boundary disputes with the United States and Denmark, boost northern research, as well as promote "vibrant northern communities and healthy, productive ecosystems."

While the policy statement mentions devolution — giving the territories more province-like powers over their governments and resources — Nunavut Premier Eva Aariak said devolution agreements with the federal government have stalled.

"They still have yet to put in place a negotiator," Aariak told CBC News.

Cannon mentioned plans to promote economic and social development for people in the North. He cited the government's existing Northern Strategy, which was released last year.

Overall, Aariak said she welcomes the new Arctic policy, which calls for a "rules-based" Arctic region with clearly defined boundaries and more co-operation among northern countries.

Sovereignty 'non-negotiable' priority: Harper

Canadian Rangers take part in Operation Nunalivut, the Canadian Forces' winter Arctic sovereignty exercise, in 2007. (Patricia Bell/CBC)But Yukon Liberal MP Larry Bagnell noted that hours after Cannon released the policy statement, Prime Minister Stephen Harper told reporters in Charlottetown that protecting Canada's sovereignty in the Arctic is a "non-negotiable" priority.

"Now, they've tried to come up with a new strategy that says they are going to [be] willing to negotiate with other countries, which we've been pushing them to do in the Beaufort [Sea] for over a year," Bagnell said from Dawson City, Yukon.

"I don't think there is anything new in the announcement."

Harper said the new policy does not signal a change in Canada's approach to the Arctic but rather elaborates on the government's "broad approach," which the prime minister said includes working with other countries "where appropriate."

Western Arctic NDP MP Dennis Bevington said he agrees that the federal government should co-operate with other countries and settle boundary disputes, but he also wants northern residents and aboriginal peoples to play a larger role in such processes.

Bevington said he wants Canada to co-operate more with the Arctic Council, an intergovernmental organization that brings together governments and indigenous representatives from Canada, Denmark, the U.S., Norway, Russia, Finland and Sweden.

"There's work being done at that level on shipping, on fishing, on environmental concerns — a whole range of activities," Bevington said. "So, I think the Arctic Council is very important."

Reinstate Arctic ambassador: MP

Bevington said he would also like to see Canada reinstate its circumpolar affairs ambassador, who briefed the government on Arctic issues. The position was created by the Liberals in 1994, but the Conservative government eliminated it in 2006.

Yukon Green Party candidate John Streicker agreed that Canada has to work more with other nations in order to help the Arctic move forward.

"The reality for the Arctic is that it's a series of neighbours that are connected, and we're going to need to work together in order to deal with the rapidly changing environment and the opening up of the North," he said in an interview.

"The only way to do that is to start talking with our neighbours instead of continuing to say that we're going to be so protectionist."

Harper is touring all three territories this week as part of an Arctic sovereignty tour he has done for the last few summers. He is in Churchill, Man., on Monday and is scheduled to travel to Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, for an announcement on Tuesday.

The prime minister's tour coincides with Operation Nanook, the Canadian military's annual summer exercise in the Arctic. This year, the month-long operation runs until the end of this week in various Nunavut communities.

More benefits in northern communities

Resolute is one of several Nunavut communities hosting military troops as part of Operation Nanook this month. (Peter Sheldon/CBC)Such operations have brought visitors and economic boosts each year to remote communities like Pond Inlet and Resolute, where troops have taken part in military exercises.

Pond Inlet Mayor Jaykolassie Killiktee told CBC News that it's good to see money spent in his community, as well as additional training for local Canadian Rangers.

But Resolute Mayor Ludy Pudluk and others say they would like to see more tangible benefits of such operations, like federal assistance with High Arctic residents' costs of living and travel.

"If the military is here, you have more people from the south who are looking up to us and who are seeing what we can do and what the potential of the communities are," said Nunavut MLA Ron Elliott, who represents the territory's High Arctic communities.

"If we can get some attention here, maybe perhaps people in the south will have a better understanding of what people in the North have to live through on a daily basis."