Appendix II

SPEAKING NOTES FOR THE MEETING OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE
OF PARLIAMENTARIANS OF THE ARCTIC REGION, ILULISSAT GREENLAND,

27 MAY 2009:  AGENDA ITEM 10 – STATUS OF THE WORK OF SCPAR

Canada has always been an Arctic Nation and power.  The Arctic is central to our identity and our future.  However, with the rapid changes occurring there and international interest increasing in the Arctic, from both Arctic and non-Arctic countries, Canada’s Parliament and government are increasingly seized with the challenges of our North.

Just recently two parliamentary committees released reports with recommendations for Arctic policy; regarding the use of the Coast Guard to protect Canada’s interests,^([1]) and the need for involvement of the people of the North in decision-making.^([2])  Other parliamentary Committees are actively pursuing issues related to Canada’s North, including the House of Commons Standing Committee on National Defence.

Each of these Committees has a mandate to study specific aspects of Canadian policy.  The government, however, which has also placed the Arctic on its list of priorities, has developed a Northern Strategy that integrates many policy areas and rests on four pillars:

-        protecting environmental heritage;

-        promoting economic and social development;

-        exercising sovereignty; and

-        improving and devolving governance.

I know that James Bezan, who was at the last meeting of this committee, gave a detailed description of this Strategy, so I won’t repeat everything he said, but I would like to stress some important aspects.

As you know from your own experiences, and as this Committee has often discussed, there a great many difficulties faced by the peoples of Canada’s North, 50% of whom are Inuit, First Nations or Métis.  Canada’s Northern Strategy is focussed on addressing these difficulties and improving the economic and social welfare of northerners.  Canada, in particular its northern population, is putting a great deal of effort into improving living standards in the North.  Canada therefore deeply regrets the recent adoption of a ban on seal products by the European Union, which will make life worse, rather than better, for our northern communities.

Many remote northern communities depend on the hunt for a significant part of their income.  The Inuit and other indigenous peoples hunt the seal for all the resources it provides, including the skin, which they can sell to supplement their limited incomes.  A ban, even with exemptions for Inuit and other indigenous peoples, will destroy any market for seal products and will significantly impact all communities, including the Inuit, which have long-term cultural and economic ties to the hunting of seals.  Canada is strongly opposed to the ban and has pledged that it will fight it at the World Trade Organisation.  Meanwhile, communities around the circumpolar North, not just in Canada, will suffer.

On a more positive note, Canada is pleased with the outcome of the April Arctic Council Ministerial meeting.  The implementation of the Ministerial recommendations in the Tromsø Declaration, many stemming from the valuable assessments of the Council, will help greatly to address many of the challenges in the Arctic. (I note in particular the Arctic Marine Shipping Assessment and subsequent recommendations to make aspects of the IMO Guidelines mandatory, something that the Conference of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region has also called for^([3])).  Engagement at the Arctic Council is a cornerstone of Canada’s foreign policy.

In addition, at the Arctic Council meeting, Canada announced that it will be opening a Canadian International Centre for the Arctic region in Oslo, Norway.  The Centre will enhance Canada’s ability to promote Canadian interests, influence key partners and better understand emerging issues.

Regarding what might be termed sovereignty issues, Canada recognizes that, among the generally agreed upon jurisdictions of the Arctic, there are still some small points of contention.  Canada is, however, satisfied that there is an international process in place for dealing with these issues, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.  As stated in the Ilulissat

Declaration, Canada “remains committed to this legal framework and to the orderly settlement of any possible overlapping claims.”  The application of UNLCOS is very much of interest to Canadian parliamentarians and, given the media attention, the Canadian public.  I therefore very much look forward to the next meeting of this Committee in Helsinki, Finland, where a workshop on this subject will be held.

 

([1])         The Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans, Rising to the Arctic Challenge:  Report on the Canadian Coast Guard, May 2009.

([2])         Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources, With Respect, Canada’s North, May 2009.

([3])         See Fairbanks Statement, paragraph 10:  Ask governments in the Arctic Region, the Arctic Council and the institutions of the European Union:  Regarding development of an Arctic maritime policy for safety at sea, to:

10. Take an active role in updating the “Guidelines for Ships Operating in Ice-covered Waters” within the International Maritime Organisation, and making these guidelines mandatory.