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"The best way to ensure the sovereignty of the North is to support the communities of the North," said Layton.

He vowed an NDP government would increase the northern living allowance to $9,000 from $6,000 a year.

The party would also focus new spending on northern infrastructure, like a new deepwater port in Iqaluit.

The Nunavut NDP candidate Paul Irngaut said true sovereignty is not maintained by ships and military bases.

Layton did, however, promise to increase military air patrols of the north, buy additional icebreakers for the coast guard and purchase new search-and-rescue aircraft to station in the North.

The party would also increase the number of RCMP, environment and fisheries officers operating in the territories.

Liberals have held the riding since Nunavut split from the Northwest Territories in 1999, but Liberal MP Nancy Karetak-Lindell is not running for another term.

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