(Delivered February 26, 2013)
Good afternoon. I am pleased to speak with you today to share the views of the Government of the Northwest Territories on Canada’s Arctic Foreign Policy.
Context
I should first start by stating that the Government of the Northwest Territories supports Canada’s Arctic Foreign Policy, as the international dimension of Canada’s Northern Strategy. Our government’s priorities are well aligned with and complement the pillars of the Northern Strategy, and by extension Canada’s Arctic Foreign Policy. While much of what I will be speaking to today is based on our domestic experiences, I speak from the perspective of a government familiar with the challenges being faced throughout the circumpolar world. We are addressing the impacts of climate change, recognize the importance of sustainable communities and are continually working to strengthen infrastructure. We are addressing these challenges alongside our Arctic neighbours. Through national and international collaboration and shared innovations, all circumpolar nations can collectively bring greater prosperity to the people of the Arctic.
The Arctic Council
Canada’s upcoming Chairmanship to the Arctic Council presents a unique and exciting opportunity to advance its Arctic Foreign Policy. This is an important time for Northerners, as economic growth and climate change are playing a huge role in the future of the Arctic. It is an opportunity to engage on Northern priorities on both the national and international stage. It also presents an opportunity to showcase the immense potential of Canada’s Northern communities to the rest of the circumpolar world. We are working with the Government of Canada to identify communities that could host Arctic Council meetings throughout the Northwest Territories. We are committed to supporting and engaging with Canada during its Chairmanship and have communicated this to Minister Aglukkaq, Minister for the Arctic Council.
Recently Minister Aglukkaq introduced Canada’s Chairmanship theme of development for people in the North, and three sub-themes of responsible resource development, safe shipping, and sustainable circumpolar communities. Canada’s theme and sub-themes are consistent with our territorial priorities, and we look forward to supporting Canada in advancing and achieving our many common goals, in turn bringing tangible benefits to the Northwest Territories, and to Canada as a whole.
Exercising Canadian Sovereignty
As stated in the Arctic Foreign Policy, exercising Arctic sovereignty is the first and most important pillar for Canada. While residents of the Northwest Territories may not play a direct role in resolving boundary issues or defining Canada’s continental shelf, Northerners help exercise Canadian Sovereignty on a day-to-day basis, through their presence and daily activities. While the population of the Northwest Territories is sparse and spread across 1.3 million square kilometres, their footprint is substantial through travel, hunting and trapping, and mineral exploration, often acting as the eyes and ears of the North.
Our government shows its support in exercising Canadian Arctic sovereignty by fostering healthy and sustainable communities, where residents can continue to live and thrive. We recognize that the development of and investment in sustainable community infrastructure is essential to sustainable communities, which in turn are a critical component in achieving Canada’s sovereignty objectives.
The Government of the Northwest Territories is also very supportive of advancing the overarching interests of public safety in the Arctic. We were particularly encouraged by the announcement that one of Canada’s priorities during its Chairmanship of the Arctic Council is safe shipping. As the decreasing ice cover leads to increases in shipping, tourism and economic development in the Arctic Ocean, safe shipping governance and practices become increasingly important. The work of the Arctic Council will not only help to increase public safety, but also promotes responsible stewardship by reducing the environmental implications of a shipping disaster.
We were also encouraged by the Agreement on Cooperation in Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue in the Arctic, signed at the Ministerial Meeting in Nuuk on May 12th, 2011. Arctic search and rescue plays an important role in exercising Arctic sovereignty, yet Canada Search and Rescue faces the daunting task of covering an area of 15.5 million square kilometres, with a vast portion of that above the 60th parallel. Presently, when an emergency arises, help must come from as far away as Winnipeg and Trenton. With the recent signing of the agreement, Canada can look to its circumpolar neighbours for assistance in the face of an Arctic crisis and they will, in turn, look to us in international Arctic emergencies.
As shipping, mining and tourism increase in the Arctic, industry will increasingly look to government for assurances of safety in the face of a potential emergency. It is in Canada’s best interest to be able to provide residents and industry with confidence that help can come quickly if needed.
Promoting Economic and Social Development
Promoting economic and social development, the second pillar of the Arctic Foreign Policy, is perhaps the pillar most closely tied to the work of the Government of the Northwest Territories. Domestically, we are constantly working to build stronger and healthier communities.
Like many of our territorial and circumpolar neighbours, the growth and prosperity of our economy will be based on our natural resource endowment. The Government of the Northwest Territories recognizes the importance of strategic investments in infrastructure to help achieve greater economic and social development. We are investing in knowledge infrastructure, including geophysical and mapping services to support our mineral exploration and development industry. We are investing in fixed transportation infrastructure such as the Deh Cho Bridge, providing year round land access between Yellowknife and the south. The GNWT also supports the development of modern communications infrastructure such as the Mackenzie Valley fibre optic link. This will provide increased connectivity to the communities of the Beaufort-Delta and along the Mackenzie Valley, and enhance program and service delivery in areas such as tele-health, on-line learning, and increased scientific research and weather forecasting.
The construction of the Mackenzie Valley Highway to Tuktoyaktuk is another example of a strategic investment in infrastructure that will strengthen and diversify the economy. As the first year-round highway to the Arctic Ocean in Canada, the highway will create employment opportunities, reduce private resource development investment costs, and enable future natural resource exploration, development and production. It will also improve environmental integrity and community access and mobility, while reinforcing Canadian sovereignty objectives.
To build our future, we are developing strategic policy guidance through a Mineral Development Strategy and a sustainable Economic Opportunities Strategy. These strategies will lead to action plans that ensure we are positioned to guide and manage economic investment and growth in an environmentally sustainable way to build capacity in our communities and self-sufficiency in our people.
Protecting the Arctic Environment
Historically, residents of the Northwest Territories have a close connection to the land. It plays an important role in the cultural identity of many Northwest Territories residents. It is one reason why Northerners are passionate when it comes to the third pillar of the Arctic Foreign Policy, protecting the Arctic environment.
Responsible stewardship is an important priority of the territorial government, as the Arctic’s delicate eco-system is feeling the impacts of environmental change. Temperatures are warming rapidly, coastal communities are facing increased coastal erosion and the season for winter roads is shortening and becoming less predictable. Additionally, thawing permafrost is compromising transportation, buildings and other infrastructure, and northern eco-systems are changing rapidly, which in turn is affecting traditional food security for many residents and communities.
Our government is continually working to contribute to and support international efforts to address and adapt to climate change in the Arctic, as well as enhance efforts on pressing environmental issues. We promote an ecosystem-based management approach and are actively exploring means of reducing our environmental footprint, through projects such as hydro-initiatives, which displace the consumption of fuel, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and increase community sustainability.
In spite of our efforts, we recognize that some of the impacts on the Arctic are beyond our control. We are encouraged by the work of Canada and the members of the Arctic Council to protect the Arctic environment, such as collaboration towards safer shipping practices in Arctic waters and addressing Short-Lived Climate Forcers, such as black carbon.
Improving and Devolving Governance
Regarding the Arctic Foreign Policy’s fourth pillar, improving and devolving governance, the Government of the Northwest Territories is committed to negotiating a Devolution Agreement with respect to land and water that will provide significant benefits to residents. Devolution will mean increased resource revenues in the North, providing opportunities to invest in strategic infrastructure priorities that will promote sustainable development of our economy, and create local jobs and business opportunities.
The Government of the Northwest Territories is an active participant in the Canadian Arctic Council Advisory Committee. We are encouraged by Minister Aglukkaq’s willingness to engage with the three territories, providing opportunities to be heard as a sub-national government seeking a voice in an international forum. We greatly appreciate this opportunity and will continue to seek a more formalized role during Canada’s Chairmanship.
We also support Canada’s statement in the Arctic Foreign Policy that they will continue to support Permanent Participant organizations in Canada. We welcome the opportunity for our youth to be involved in domestic and international circumpolar dialogue, such as the attendance of youth representatives at the Arctic Council Ministerial meetings.
Conclusion
The Government of the Northwest Territories shares many similarities and challenges with our circumpolar neighbours, from sustainable communities and infrastructure to climate change. As a territory, we are interested in sharing our innovations with the circumpolar world, and learning from the innovations of others. It is through this collaboration and our experiences living and working in the North that the Government of the Northwest Territories and its residents can help contribute to and advance Canada’s efforts around its Arctic Foreign Policy.
I appreciate the opportunity to speak with the Standing Committee today.
Thank you.