One issue in the North that all major federal parties agree on

It's not something that happens often in an election campaign, but read through the platforms of the four major parties running candidates in the North and there is something in there that might surprise you: an issue all of them agree on.

In their platforms, the Liberal, Conservative,NDP and Green partiesallsay they will support and, in some cases,expand the Indigenous Guardians program.

Introduced in the 2017-2018 federal budget, the pilot Indigenous Guardians program provided$5.7 million to 28 Indigenous communitiesacross thecountry to help manage, protect and monitor ecologically sensitive areas. The guardians have been doing things likemapping permafrost, monitoring harvesting activities and promoting language conservation.

The major parties have recognized other northern issues, including the North'shousing crisis,climate changeandinfrastructure needs, but the Indigenous Guardians program appears to be the only North-specific issue that's gotten similar traction, and commitments, from all four parties.

What the four major parties are saying

The Conservative Party of Canada saysitwill work "with Indigenous communities including by expanding the creation of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) managed and stewarded by Indigenous Guardians."

The Liberals introduced the program back in 2017. In its platform, the party says it will "work with First Nations, Inuit, and Mtis partners to support new Indigenous Guardians programs and establish new Indigenous Guardians networks."

The NDP is also committing to expanding the program, saying it will "support Indigenous-led nature conservation and land-use and climate planning, including by growing the Indigenous Guardians program," while theGreen Party says it will "support Indigenous-led protected and conservation areas and fund stewardship of these lands and waters by Indigenous Guardians."

There's not a lot of detail in the platformsabouthow much money the parties will commit to this program, or what expanding itwill look like.

CBChas reached out to the parties for clarification. So far only the Conservative Partyhasresponded, saying in an email that itwould consult with communities and that "the scope of the program and what those expansions may look like will be developed as a part of those consultations."

The Indigenous Guardians program

According to Steven Nitah of the Indigenous Leadership Initiative (ILI), the program has grown to encompass upwards of 80 different projects since it was first created, including a permafrost mapping project in conjunction withthe Liidlii Kue First Nation in Fort Simpson, and a project with the Ni Hat'ni Dene who monitor and protect Thaidene Nene National Park Reserve. Nitah says there are many others waiting to get off the ground.

The funding has grown too.The last federal budgetcommitted to as much as $173 million dollars for new and existing projects.

"These are programs that are a good investment for the tax base," said Nitah. "[They are] creating employment in very difficult places to create employment ...in rural areas of the country, in northern parts of the provinces and all the territories."

Nitahsaid thestrength of theprogram is that it's an investment in the community, not a social handout. A study commissioned by the ILIfound that, in the Northwest Territories, every dollar invested in these projects provides a $2.50 return on investment, and with steady, predictable funding, that return could grow to as much as $3.70.

Nitah saidthe ILIhas crunched some numbers and found that "to have 200 programs in the country or more we need $600 million annually."

A step toward reconciliation

Indigenous reconciliation has been a recurring themethis election, and was the focus of one segmentin the only English-language leaders' debate. Nitah said supporting and expanding the Indigenous Guardians program is one step in theprocess of reconciliation that can be taken right now.

"It's about building relationships and rebuilding relationships," said Nitah.

"It's about designing what type of relationships people have within the territories of Indigenous nations across the country. So to me, that's the opportunity that exists, and we also have an opportunity to create and maintain a stable economy aroundthese programs and around the awesome responsibility that we, as Canadians, have."