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The federal government has released its long-awaited policy on developing the Canadian Arctic in a changing environmental and political world.

But after three years of work on the lengthy document, some are left asking, “Where’s the caribou?”

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The document proposes eight priorities. Health, infrastructure and economic development are at the top.

It mentions a shopping list of northern asks: from roads to resources to housing to high-speed internet.

The framework offers no timetables, funding guidelines or plans for what comes first.

“In terms of an actual plan, there’s very little here,” said international law professor and Arctic expert Michael Byers.

“It’s basically saying trust us, re-elect us, and we’ll figure out how to do it next time,” added Rob Huebert, a political scientist at the University of Calgary.

Northwest Territories Premier Bob McLeod was less than generous in his praise.