Stephen Harper heading North next week

Prime Minister Stephen Harper will be in Whitehorse August 21 for a Conservative Association Meeting, and there is speculation his northern tour will also include stops in the Northwest Territories.

There's no official confirmation from the Prime Minister's office, but CBC has heard that hell be on a northern tour sometime next week withNunavut MP and Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq.

One place he may be visiting is Fort Smith, N.W.T. That's where Nunavut-born artist, Lucy Tulugarjuk, says she was invited to perform, although she declined for political reasons.

Francois Paulette is an elder with the Smith's Landing First Nation.

He has an idea of what he'd like the Prime Minister to talk about.

"The protection of this river. The Slave River. What it means is that this river is now open for anyone to come in here. They don't have to really have regulations, industry, to come in here and do what they want to do. And he did this without consultation."

Fort Smith Mayor Brad Brake said he hadn't heard Harper is coming to town.

He did say however the town is expecting a visit from Aglukkaq.

Dennis Bevington is the NDP MP for Western Arctic.

He says there are issues Harper should hear about if he's coming to town.

He should hear about the impacts downstream of the oilsands, Bevington says. I think that's absolutely critical for this region. His big push is to increase the size of the oilsands and the people that live north of those on the river system pay the consequences."

If Harper does visit the N.W.T. next week, it would be his 9th annual Northern Tour.

There is some speculation this year's visit could involve an announcement about northern agriculture.