Foreign Affairs Committee on March 5th, 2013

[Dennis Bevington, NDP, Western Arctic, NT]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Welcome, Duane. It's a pleasure to have you in front of this committee and to have your knowledge and understanding of the Arctic Council for us to temper our discussions here.

I want to go back to the participant funding, because I really do think that's one issue we need to clarify here.

In 2011, the Arctic Council ministers said that there needed to be a financial ability on the part of the observers to contribute to the work of the permanent participants. Has that been the case in the past with the observers that are now in place?

[Duane Smith]

No, it hasn't. That's part of the discussions and deliberations that are taking place in regard to the revised criteria for observers and the Arctic states themselves. As I said, there is no actual understanding or commitment of the Arctic states to provide financial support for permanent participant involvement either.

[Dennis Bevington, NDP, Western Arctic, NT]

So there's some work to be done there.

We talk about this Arctic Council agenda as though it's something that can shift gears dramatically. What's your experience with the Arctic Council? Are these issues things that come up in one year and continue, or is there sort of an ongoing process that we go through with these many very complicated issues that deal with the great changes that are taking place in the Arctic?

[Duane Smith]

As I said earlier, there has been quite an increase in the activities within the working groups of the Arctic Council. Those are the tasks undertaken within the working groups and approved by the Arctic Council itself. Also, there are increased attention, awareness, and activities not only by the Arctic states within the circumpolar Arctic itself but by others conducting research within the Arctic. There is collaboration with China, Korea, Poland, and India. These countries are all conducting research in the circumpolar Arctic to whatever degree possible.

When the Arctic Council was created, it had a mandate. To me, it's a body in its teenage years, if I could put it that way, regarding how it conducts its business and activities. As it gets more grounded, and it has a permanent secretariat now, it's going to become much more active. It's not only because of that. It's also because of the increased attention, awareness, and need for better understanding and more research that is required within the Arctic so that we can make informed decisions in the best interests not only of the residents but moving forward.

[Dennis Bevington, NDP, Western Arctic, NT]

I agree with that. When the Arctic Council was set up 18 or 19 years ago there was no discussion about the opening of the Arctic ice. The fact that we were going to have an ice-free Arctic in the next few decades wasn't on the table then.

Do you sense that the greatest concerns throughout the Arctic, by most of the Arctic nations and by the permanent participants, have to do with questions on pollution and the change in the Arctic ice conditions? These things really need to be subject to international agreements.

[Duane Smith]

They're all part and parcel, these things. It's not just one issue or one subject; they're all cumulative. The Arctic Council is trying to raise that awareness. There's ocean acidification as well, and that's a key issue. There's going to be a big report from the Arctic Council reflecting the need for the world to act on this matter. But, yes, I couldn't agree more with the need for a more proactive approach on all of these matters.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Mr. Van Kesteren.

[Dave Van Kesteren, Conservative, Chatham-Kent—Essex, ON]

Thank you, Chair, and thank you, Mr. Smith, for appearing before us today.

I want to shift gears. In some of the previous discussions we talked about the enormous potential that the north has to offer. Specifically, I think right now there's some great work happening in Baffin Island, near Iqaluit or on the other side of the island, with the iron ore and the opportunities that exist for native peoples. I'm wondering what's the buzz in Iqaluit at this time. What's the talk among the young people as they see potential for employment, for some great training? Could you tell the committee about that?

[Duane Smith]

It's not only that one project. There are other activities, like mining, within the other parts of Canada's Arctic. Keep in mind that it's 40% of Canada's land mass. In my backyard there's one island that's the size of France.

Yes, there is a need. The vast majority of the population is under 22. There's a need for improved education and more employment. People want to work. They welcome development, and there is support for it. But people also want development to proceed so that it minimizes the negative impacts on the communities themselves. Development affects the social fabric of the community as well as the cultural practices. There is concern about all-year shipping and how it might affect the ice conditions that the people rely on for transportation during the winter months to get their nutrition.

So there's a balance that people are struggling with. But the important thing is to improve the educational standards within the Arctic and to improve the graduation rates. That improves the quality of life, not only for northerners but also for Canada as a whole. Employment is just one part of it.

[Dave Van Kesteren, Conservative, Chatham-Kent—Essex, ON]

We had a former witness involved in iron ore mining, Tom Paddon. We heard some really exciting prospects; the opportunities are just tremendous. How has the mining company been in its dialogues with first nations people? How are the communications at this point? Are these things being addressed?

[Duane Smith]

I can't speak for first nations. The first nations will have to speak through an associate.

I know Mr. Paddon. He sits on the ArcticNet board along with me. Tom has lived and worked in the Arctic for many years. I think he has a better understanding than other companies on the approach that's required to get the support of the various Inuit communities. He's worked in northern Quebec, etc. There are other iron mining activities within that region also. I think he knows better than other mining companies regarding how to approach and work with Inuit communities.

I refer to the processes that are required within the respective Inuit land claims in those regions. The processes already lay out how consultation, economic opportunities, etc., among the mining companies, oil and gas, etc., will be developed within those Inuit regions.

[Dave Van Kesteren, Conservative, Chatham-Kent—Essex, ON]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Thank you very much.

That's all the time we have. We don't have any witnesses for the next hour. We have some committee business.

There's another round for the Conservatives. Does anyone have any follow-up questions before we wrap up?

Did you have a quick question, Ms. Brown?

Is that okay, Mr. Smith? Could we ask a couple of follow-up questions?

[Duane Smith]

That's fine, sir.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Great.

Ms. Brown, you may ask your question and then we'll move to Mr. Bevington and wrap up there.

[Lois Brown, Conservative, Newmarket—Aurora, ON]

I have a quick question, Mr. Smith. My apologies that I didn't hear all your presentation. I was coming from another meeting. It was on the other side of the river, so I was late.

In response to one of the questions, you did talk about coming to Ottawa next week. You are convening a round table. I wonder if you could tell us with whom and the objective of that meeting. Is that something you could share with us?

[Duane Smith]

As I mentioned, along with other experts from the respective regions of Alaska, Greenland, Canada, and Chukotka, I'm bringing Inuit expertise together in Ottawa to have a dialogue regarding the Arctic: changing climate conditions, the ice conditions, and how sustainable communities are trying to adapt, to gain a better understanding of how each of these regions and communities are trying to deal with such matters.

It's to learn from each other first and then to take that knowledge and information home to see if it will be applicable within our own backyards. It's also to document this as part of our requirements of this project within the Arctic Council. Moving forward in this workshop is the first step that will be undertaken.

[Lois Brown, Conservative, Newmarket—Aurora, ON]

If I may respectfully ask, if anything comes out of that meeting that you would like to share with our committee, I'm sure we would like to see that.

[Duane Smith]

Thank you for that opportunity. I have also sent a report, “The Sea Ice is Our Highway”, to the staff there so they can provide a copy of that to you. That is the first part of this project. What I'm undertaking now is a broader approach.

The first report was conducted strictly within Canada. The next part is the broader circumpolar Arctic, where other Inuit live as well.

[Lois Brown, Conservative, Newmarket—Aurora, ON]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Thank you, Ms. Brown.

We'll finish up with Mr. Bevington, for a quick question.

[Dennis Bevington, NDP, Western Arctic, NT]

You would likely be the only one we've had in front of the committee so far who would be able to talk about what happened with the Russian participants from the position of the permanent participants. Perhaps you could give us a better insight into what happens with national politics when the Russians come onto the Arctic Council.

[Duane Smith]

You're referring to the Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North, commonly known as RAIPON. Their constitution apparently conflicted with Russia's and they were required to make an amendment to their constitution to comply with the country's constitution. In that case they were suspended from any activities until the assembly could hold an emergency meeting to consider making that amendment.

The Russian representative is supposed to be providing the Arctic Council with an update in a couple of weeks when we have our next Arctic senior officials' meetings on that status.

[Dennis Bevington, NDP, Western Arctic, NT]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Thank you.

Mr. Smith, thank you very much for taking the time to be with us this morning.

We are going to suspend the meeting for a few minutes to get out of video conference and then we're going to go in camera to discuss some future committee business.

Mr. Smith, once again, thank you very much, and have a great rest of the day.