Yellowknife, N.W. T. - Western Arctic MP Dennis Bevington has been given a promotion of sorts from the NDP.

Bevington has been officially named by leader Thomas Mulcair to the party's shadow cabinet as the critic responsible for Northern Development.

The position was a deputy critic responsibility before, in addition to Aboriginal Affairs, but it has since been promoted to a full critic's portfolio by Mulcair.

Before, Bevington would split his role with MP Jean Crowder, but he said it's nice to see the North become its own portfolio within the party.

"In the past Jean and I had worked that out pretty well anyhow that we keep things separate and the responsibilities separate," said Bevington. "I think it is nice that it's acknowledged."

Bevington said he played a small role in making sure the North stayed on the party's radar.

"With the kinds of issues that are coming in front of Parliament facing the North, I just simply want to be there as Northern Development person for the NDP," he said.

Those issues include amendments to the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act, something Bevington said people in the North don't want to see.

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