INTRODUCTION

A Canadian delegation of two Members of Parliament, Mr. Scott Simms and Mr. Larry Maguire, attended the 12th Conference of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region (CPAR)[1] and the meeting of the Standing Committee of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region (the Standing Committee)[2] held in Ulan-Ude, Russia, from 14 to 16 June 2016.

The delegation also included Mr. Thai Nguyen, from the Parliamentary Information and Research Service of the Library of Parliament, as adviser, and Ms. Guyanne Desforges, Association Secretary. Mr. Manuel Mulas, from the Embassy of Canada in Russia, also accompanied the delegation.

The biennial CPAR and the Standing Committee[3] act as a parliamentary forum for issues relevant to the work of the Arctic Council[4]. The forum comprises delegations from the eight Arctic states (Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, the United States) and the European Parliament. CPAR and the Standing Committee also include Permanent Participants representing indigenous peoples, as well as observers.

MEETING SUMMARY

A. ROUNDTABLE ON INDIGENOUS PEOPLES IN THE ARCTIC

On 14 June 2016, prior to the official opening of the Conference, a roundtable on the issue of indigenous peoples was conducted. In Russia, there are 41 groups of indigenous peoples numbering 270 thousand people and living in 60% of the territory from Murmansk to Kamchatka.

The presentations included the following themes:

• Indigenous peoples human rights protection by Mr. Grigory Ledkov, President of the Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East (RAIPON).

  Mr. Ledkov is also a deputy of the State Duma (the lower house of the Federal Assembly of Russia). He is the Chair of the Duma Working Group on Nationality Issues which develops legislation regarding the protection of indigenous peoples' rights. Mr. Ledkov is also the Head of the Permanent Delegation of the State Duma to the Nordic Council.

  RAIPON participates in international structures such as the Arctic Council as a permanent participant, the United Nations Economic and Social Council with a special consultative status and the Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum of the United Nations Environment Program as an observer.

• The Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights in Russian legislation by Ms. Yulia Yakel, Head of the Legal Centre of RAIPON.
• Experience of the Commissioner for Human Rights of Indigenous Peoples of the North in the Krasnoyarsk Territory by Mr. Semen Palchin, Commissioner.
• Experience of the Commissioner for Human Rights of Indigenous Peoples of the North in the Republic of Sakha by Mr. Konstantin Robbek, Commissioner.
• Interactions between the Commissioner for Human Rights of Indigenous Peoples in the Kamchatka Territory and government authorities and non-governmental organizations by Mr. Oleg Zaporotsky, Commissioner.

Delegates noted improvements in the protection of indigenous peoples’ rights in Russia with the creation of the Commissioner offices. However, there were also concerns expressed regarding the financial and human resources available for those offices. Discrepancies between federal and regional legislation regarding indigenous peoples’ environmental, social, economic, cultural and educational issues need to be addressed.

B. MEETING OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE AND CPAR OBSERVERS

On 15 June 2016, members of the Standing Committee met with observers delegations. Ms. Yoko Kamikawa, Head of the Japanese delegation, indicated that environmental changes happening in the Arctic have global repercussions. Japan is, therefore, interested in expanding scientific cooperation with Arctic nations. Establishing collaborative research and observation stations in the Arctic is, in fact, part of Japan’s Arctic Policy.

Ms. Kamikawa mentioned collaboration with the following research sites as part of Japan’s plan to promote closer international scientific cooperation:

• the International Arctic Research Center in Alaska;
• the Canadian High Arctic Research Station in Nunavut;
• Russia’s Spasskaya Pad Scientific Forest Station and Cape Baranov station;
• Norway’s Ny-Ålesund Station and the University Centre in Svalbard; and
• Greenland’s Institute of Natural Resources in Nuuk.

Mr. James Grey, MP from the United Kingdom (UK), presented to the Standing Committee highlights of the House of Lords Select Committee on the Arctic’s 2015 report entitled “Responding to a changing Arctic.”[5] The report emphasizes that “all states with Arctic interests, including the UK, should work to insulate Arctic co-operation from non-Arctic disputes” and “UK scientists and researchers make an important contribution to global understanding of the changing Arctic.”

Mr. Patrick Tay, MP from Singapore, informed the Standing Committee about the effects of climate change in the Arctic on low-lying islands such as Singapore. Singapore, as an observer at the Arctic Council, has developed close cooperation with the indigenous Permanent Participants. It has also established scholarships in law and maritime technologies for Arctic indigenous students.

The West Nordic Council and the Nordic Council both stressed the importance of parliamentarians’ and indigenous peoples’ voices at the Arctic Council. They also called for greater mobility for students and scientists in the Arctic Region.

C. OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE 12th CONFERENCE

On 15 June 2016, at the official opening of the Conference, Mr. Vladimir Barbin, Russia’s Ambassador for the Arctic, indicated that 15% of Russia’s GDP and 20% of its exports originate from its Arctic region. He emphasized that cooperation in the Arctic is crucial for the development of Russia’s Northern Sea Route, environmental and navigation protection, and management of biological resources.

Mr. Barbin highlighted various agreements between Russia, Norway and the United States as well as the 2008 Ilulissat Declaration[6] by the Arctic coastal states. He also mentioned the 2015 Iqaluit Declaration[7] that reaffirmed the commitment from the Arctic Council to maintain peace, stability and constructive cooperation in the Arctic. Furthermore, Mr. Barbin indicated that the main objective of Russia’s Chairmanship of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council from 2015 to 2017 is to sustainably develop the Barents region and building modern infrastructure.

Mr. Eirik Sivertsen, Chair of the Standing Committee and Head of the Norwegian delegation, indicated that effects of climate change and social issues originating from the development of natural resources in the Arctic have created disparities between communities and peoples. Cooperation regarding capacity building is vital in order to ensure that economic development be beneficial to local residents.

Mr. Sivertsen emphasized that peoples living in the Arctic should be active participants in decision-making processes affecting the region. He mentioned that students’ exchanges represent good opportunities for innovative development in the Arctic. Mr. Sivertsen also stressed that corporate social responsibility is linked to sustainable development and indicated that the United Nations Global Compact[8] and the Arctic Investment Protocol[9] are important initiatives in providing guidelines for businesses activities in the Arctic.

According to Mr. Sivertsen, the increased number of applications for observer status at the Arctic Council is welcomed but the leading role of Arctic states and indigenous Permanent Participants should not be diminished. He mentioned that there are three areas requiring enhanced cooperation: strengthening the role of Arctic populations in decision-making, socioeconomic and educational gaps, and climate change.

D. SESSION 1: PEOPLE IN A DEVELOPING ARCTIC

Mr. Ledkov, President of RAIPON, in his presentation, touched upon several challenges faced by Russian indigenous communities: loss of pasture and aquatic areas due to industrial development, high level of unemployment, and rising infant mortality.

Mr. Ledkov mentioned that RAIPON is working in collaboration with the Association of World Reindeer Herders to introduce amendments to Russian legislation requiring preliminary consultations with local indigenous peoples in advance of industrial development projects.

Mr. Scott Simms, Head of the Canadian delegation, gave a presentation illustrating how development and change in the Canadian Arctic are affecting local residents. The presentation centred on four themes: easier access to the Arctic, digital access, economic development, and climate change.

Mr. Simms indicated that increased access to the Arctic creates new economic opportunities but also introduces social and environmental disruptions. The lack of digital access in many communities generates disparities not only between the North and the South but also between northern populations. Mr. Simms concurred that the Arctic has a huge economic potential but social and environmental costs are often being bored by local residents. Finally, his presentation stressed that climate change is already affecting Arctic communities and is only expected to accelerate.

The Norwegian delegation, in its comments following the Russian and Canadian presentations, indicated the importance of considering the human dimension in addition to the environmental one when discussing development in the Arctic. It emphasized the need for increased people to people contact beyond state borders by giving the example of the visa-free zone along the Norway-Russia border.

The Norwegian delegation also expressed its strong support for Recommendation 35 in the Conference Statement. That recommendation calls on the Arctic Council and Arctic states and parliaments to “include more voices from the peoples living in the Arctic, such as regional organizations, into the work of the Arctic Council to make sure that they can influence the direction of the Arctic cooperation.”

E. SESSION 2: ARCTIC COOPERATION IN LIGHT OF COP21 IN PARIS

Mr. Larry Maguire, a Canadian member of the Standing Committee, co-chaired this session on climate change with Mr. Sjudur Skaale, from Denmark. In introducing the theme, Mr. Maguire updated delegates on Canada’s initiatives regarding the use of renewable energy in the Arctic. He mentioned the Vancouver Declaration, signed in March 2016, committing the Canadian government to “advance efforts to eliminate the dependence on diesel in indigenous, remote, and Northern communities – and use renewable, clean energy as a replacement.”

Ms. Sara Karlsson, Head of the Swedish delegation, gave a presentation highlighting the need for closer collaboration with indigenous peoples regarding climate change adaptation work in light of criticisms from Inuit and Saami peoples. She mentioned that the Arctic Resilience Report, to be released in 2017, calls for enhanced adaptive capacity and participatory processes for the peoples in the Arctic.

According to Ms. Karlsson, the majority of fossil fuels need to be kept in the ground in order for the world to achieve the COP21 agreement’s objectives. She also indicated that offshore drilling still represents a great risk for the Arctic environment due to the relative lack of measures and infrastructure to properly handle potential oil spills.

The Norwegian delegation pointed out that there have been past examples of global cooperation successes with direct implications for the Arctic such as the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. It also mentioned that ocean acidification is an emerging issue that will require Arctic cooperation.

A delegate from Greenland deplored that the COP21 agreement did not include a specific indigenous consideration and recommended that Arctic states should adopt a common position on climate change issues.

Ms. Yoko Kamikawa, from Japan, proposed that the financial sector should take a greater environmental responsibility regarding investments in the Arctic. She indicated her support for green financing requiring pollution risks to be taken into account when investing in industrial projects.

A delegate from the Nordic Council referred to fish stocks migration patterns changes mentioned in Mr. Simms’ presentation and indicated that the current division-type management of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) is not suitable for keeping track of migration patterns changes.

Mr. Simms added that, for Canada, the precautionary principle is imperative when discussing fisheries management. He indicated that the Canadian government recently undertook a scientists’ recruitment campaign to allow Fisheries and Oceans Canada to make more informed decisions about oceans management. Mr. Simms also mentioned the need for closer international cooperation to reduce illegal fishing and to enforce fisheries regulations.

F. CANADA-RUSSIA BILATERAL MEETING

On 15 June 2016, a bilateral meeting between the Canadian and Russian delegations was conducted. The two delegations reiterated the importance of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) for the Arctic Ocean and the respect of international law regarding navigation and the delimitation of the continental shelf.

Mr. Mikhail Slipenchuk, member of the Standing Committee and Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Natural Resources, Environment and Ecology, mentioned the fruitful exchange he had with Mr. Larry Bagnell at the 24th Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF), held in Vancouver in January 2016. He indicated that Russia and Canada share many challenges: large geography, survival of small towns and rural traditional ways of life, and northern infrastructure deficiencies. Mr. Slipenchuk also promoted the establishment of an Arctic Development Bank to fund investments in the region akin to the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

Mr. Simms pointed out the building of small airports and runways, and Arctic greenhouses as areas where Canada has developed a good expertise. He indicated that these areas could represent good opportunities for Canada-Russia Arctic cooperation since there is a need for infrastructure building both in the Canadian Arctic and in Siberia. Mr. Simms also mentioned that, given the lack of resources based in the Arctic, it is crucial for Arctic states to cooperate in search and rescue operations.

G. CANADA-JAPAN BILATERAL MEETING

Subsequent to meeting the Russian delegation, the Canadian delegation met with its Japanese counterparts. Ms. Kamikawa provided a summary of Japan’s Arctic Policy based on science and technology cooperation. She promoted the establishment of joint research stations in the Arctic and Japan’s Arctic Challenge for Sustainability Project which aims to strengthen international cooperation in Arctic science through young researchers’ exchanges.

Mr. Simms and Mr. Maguire welcomed the contribution of Japan in Arctic research and indicated that the upcoming opening of the Canadian High Arctic Research Station in 2017 would be a great opportunity for enhanced Canadian-Japanese Arctic science cooperation. Mr. Simms also indicated the importance of science and the participation of indigenous peoples in contributing to decision-making processes in the Arctic.

H. SESSION 3: NEW OPPORTUNITIES IN THE ARCTIC REGION

Ms. Katri Kulmuni, Head of Finland’s delegation, indicated in her presentation that tourism and mining activities are on the rise in northern Finland. Industrial projects create new economic opportunities for the region but have impacts on the local environment which is already affected by climate change. On the other hand, climate change can carry opportunities such as a greater agricultural potential.

Ms. Kamikawa noted Japan’s support for guidelines encouraging corporate social and environmental responsibility such as the Arctic Investment Protocol. She also reiterated Japan’s desire to participate in joint Arctic science research projects such as the Japan-Russia young researchers’ exchanges and the Japan-Canada Arctic Research Workshop.

Regarding new opportunities in the Arctic, delegates from Norway mentioned fish farming and renewable energy. Norwegian parliamentarians expressed their support for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and Goal 14, in particular, calling for the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans, seas and marine resources.[10] They also emphasized the need for greater cooperation in oceans management.

The Danish delegation informed Conference participants about the United States-Nordic Leaders’ Summit Joint Statement in May 2016 reaffirming the “commitment to safeguarding the Arctic environment while providing enhanced opportunities for sustainable development for all inhabitants of the Arctic, including indigenous peoples.”[11] Denmark expressed its support for the Arctic Investment Protocol and noted that the Joint Statement calls on Arctic states to “work towards the highest global standards, best international practice, and a precautionary approach, when considering new and existing commercial activities in the Arctic, including oil and gas operations.”

Referring to opportunities brought by tourism in Finland’s presentation, Danish delegates pointed out that tourism can also have negative social effects on small Arctic communities, especially when it is developing too rapidly. Therefore, the highest global standards, best international practices, and a precautionary approach also need to be applied to tourism.

In his closing remarks, Mr. Sivertsen, Chair of the Standing Committee, indicated that investments in infrastructure such as roads, airports and telecommunications, are greatly needed in the Arctic to ensure socio-economic well-being for local residents. Mr. Slipenchuk, from Russia, concurred by mentioning that enhanced search and rescue, navigation safety, and ports infrastructure are required to ensure the development of the Northern Sea Route along the Russian northern coast.

I. ADOPTION OF THE CONFERENCE STATEMENT

After three meetings, the Drafting Committee[12]unanimously adopted the 2016 Conference Statement. The final draft was then presented to all delegates and adopted without further amendments by the Conference on 16 June 2016.[13]

J. FUTURE MEETINGS

The next meeting of the Standing Committee is scheduled for 14 and 15 November 2016 in Ottawa. The 13th CPAR will be held in Finland in 2018.

Mr. Scott Simms, President
Canada-Europe Parliamentary Association