Foreign Affairs Committee on Feb. 26th, 2013

[Prof. Ted McDorman]

Fortunately, that is a question I can answer—apparently in a short time.

I don't want to suggest that the law of the sea convention deals with all the issues in the Arctic. In my prepared comments I said that it is a major piece of the international legal structure and framework, but there are of course other conventions. There are Arctic-specific conventions in the areas you talk about—vessel-source pollution, those sort of things. There are the conventions that are done through the International Maritime Organization, including the work being done within that organization on the Polar Code.

[Ève Péclet, NDP, La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC]

Canada is going to be taking the chair, and there have already been negotiations for a pollution and oil spill treaty and another one for maritime transport. Do you think Canada should push forward these already-negotiated treaties for the international community, so as to have them as a legal background?

For now, there is nothing covering the Arctic specifically. Do you think Canada, as the chair, should push forward these negotiations?

[Prof. Ted McDorman]

My only comment is that my understanding, as indicated earlier, is that there is a draft text of the agreement on Arctic Ocean oil pollution preparedness and response. So if it is not prepared, adopted, or whatever, I suspect without knowing so that this will be on Canada's Arctic Council agenda. There may be other things that I'm just not aware of which will be Arctic-specific.

But I would say that there is certainly room for Arctic-specific treaties, much as there are specific treaties that deal with the Mediterranean, the North Sea, the South China Sea. There are specific agreements that are regional in orientation; there's no reason that this model can't apply to the Arctic.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Thank you very much. That's all the time we have.

I just have one quick question for you, Mr. McDorman.

There has been discussion and we've heard witnesses from non-Arctic states suggest that we should grant some observer status in the Arctic Council. What's your opinion on issues such as that?

[Prof. Ted McDorman]

Mr. Chair, that's way above my pay grade. That is strictly a policy decision. As a lowly professor from the University of Victoria, which is about as far away from the Arctic as you can get—although the University of Victoria did have the first and only law program set up in Akitsiraq, so that we have some claim to fame—I'm going to respectfully smile.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Okay. I thought I'd try.

Thank you very much, gentlemen, for taking the time to be here.

We're going to suspend so that we can set up for the next part of our next meeting.

Thank you very much.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

We're going to get started.

Madame Laverdière, do you have a quick point?

[Hélène Laverdière, NDP, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Yes, a quick point, thank you, Mr. Chair.

It would be extremely interesting for this committee to hear from Minister Aglukkaq, and so I think we should invite her to come and talk to the committee as soon as possible. Therefore, I would ask if you could maybe check with her department, her people, and let us know by next Thursday when she would be available to come to the committee.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

For her to come possibly after the break week...?

[Hélène Laverdière, NDP, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

That's a possibility. If you could check and let us know....

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

We'll ask the question, sure.

[Hélène Laverdière, NDP, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Thank you very much.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Thank you very much.

To our ladies and gentlemen who have joined us from Whitehorse and Yellowknife, thank you for taking the time to be with us today.

We've got, I believe, from the Government of Nunavut, William MacKay, director of intergovernmental relations.

Joining us via video conference from Yellowknife and the Government of the Northwest Territories is Andy Bevan, acting deputy minister, Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations. Mr. Bevan, thank you very much for being here.

We've also got via video conference from Whitehorse and the Government of Yukon, Terry Hayden, acting deputy minister of economic development.

I would just ask you, when you begin your presentations, to introduce the colleagues with you as well.

Why don't we start here in the room with William MacKay?

Sir, welcome, and thank you for being here. We'll turn it over to you for your opening comments.

[William MacKay, Director, Intergovernmental Relations, Government of Nunavut]

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you to the members of the committee.

As the chair mentioned, my name is Bill MacKay. I'm the director of intergovernmental relations for the Government of Nunavut. I'm appearing in response to an invitation to Premier Eva Aariak to appear in front of this committee to address Nunavut's interests and views on Canada's Arctic foreign policy. Although Premier Aariak sends her regrets, she would like to assure the committee that she's been following the study of Canada's Arctic foreign policy closely, and looks forward to the committee's report.

I'd like to take a few minutes this afternoon to outline Nunavut's role in shaping Canada's Arctic foreign policy and to explain to the committee the expectations Nunavut has for the part it might play in Canada's foreign policy in the future. In particular, I would like to address how the territories might play a role in Canada's chairmanship of the Arctic Council, which is coming up in 2013.

Nunavut's active participation in Arctic foreign affairs dates back to 1999, when the territory was created, but the role that territories should play in the circumpolar world was most effectively elucidated in the strategic document entitled A Northern Vision, which was released jointly by the three northern premiers in 2007.

My colleagues will probably discuss this as well, but just to give you an overall view of this, A Northern Vision included three themes that were important to the people who live in Canada's three territories: first, that sovereignty has a human dimension; second, that climate change is having an impact on the north; and finally and most importantly, in circumpolar relations it is key for Canada to speak with a northern voice. When Canada speaks internationally, it's important that it's speaking for the people who actually live in the north.

In 2010 Canada released its statement on Arctic foreign policy, and that resonates well with those themes. As you've heard from other witnesses to this committee, Canada's Arctic foreign policy statement is intended to project our national interests across all four pillars of the federal government's northern strategy, which I'm sure you've heard of from other witnesses as well.

Today I'd like to focus on Nunavut's interests in three key areas of this statement: exercising Canadian sovereignty, promoting economic and social development in a sustainable manner, and improving and devolving governance.

Mr. Chair, this committee has heard much about the role that international law might have in determining Canada's legal rights in the Arctic Ocean. We heard from Professor McDorman earlier today, and there have been several witnesses who have outlined what Canada's legal rights are over the Arctic Ocean.

I'm here to tell you that the Government of Nunavut strongly supports Canada's assertion that the waters within the baselines and closing the archipelago are part of Canada; as outlined in the Nunavut Act, they are in fact part of Nunavut. However, our focus in circumpolar foreign policy is very much centred on the other two key areas that I mentioned—promoting economic and social development, as well as improving and devolving governance.

This is reflected in our engagement with Canada on its plans for chairmanship of the Arctic Council. It is important to remember that Arctic governance is about more than legal rights over the Arctic Ocean. It is about ensuring that the people in the Arctic have a strong role in decision-making. This is why the Government of Nunavut has been committed to, for example, the implementation of land claims, in particular the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement, and to devolving jurisdiction over land and resource management to territorial governments.

Indeed, it is our assertion that devolving responsibility over governance to the people in the north is a sovereign act in itself that can support Canada's legal claims in the Arctic.

We have also been closely involved in a number of Arctic Council initiatives to ensure that Canada continues to encourage a greater understanding of the human dimension of the Arctic to improve the lives of northerners with our Arctic Council partners.

The work that the council's been doing to address the challenges faced by Arctic communities as a result of increased shipping in the Arctic is also of great interest to Nunavut, given our geographic reality. In particular, we are very interested in any international cooperation that can occur with respect to search and rescue and oil-spill prevention and response.

However, our concern, which was addressed in more detail by my colleague earlier, is that the infrastructure has to be in place to implement these agreements—the agreement on oil-spill pollution response and the agreement on search and rescue. Consequently, our work with the Arctic Council is also focused on the infrastructure piece that they're developing.

Finally, I'd like to highlight the importance to the Government of Nunavut of the Arctic Council's work on climate change. This will also have important consequences for Nunavut.

These are some of the things the Government of Nunavut has been focused on in the Arctic Council recently. We hope to play a more active role in the Arctic Council as Canada takes the chair from 2013 to 2015.

As this committee heard from the federal government earlier on, in October 2012 the theme of the northern chairmanship was announced to be development for the people of the north.

In preparation for Canada's chairmanship of the Arctic Council, the northern premiers have been working together to participate more directly with the federal government in shaping Canada's approach to Arctic Council priorities. The Government of Nunavut has identified our initial thoughts on priorities that relate to the Canadian chairmanship theme and sub-theme, and these are oil-spill prevention and preparedness, which we've mentioned before; Arctic shipping and implementation of the Arctic marine shipping assessment, which you've heard about from other witnesses as well; and finally, a focus on suicide prevention among Arctic people. This priority is very important to Nunavut as our suicide rate is much higher than that of the rest of the country. Suicide is a problem across the circumpolar north, so we are committed to having this be one of the important initiatives of the Canadian chairmanship of the Arctic Council.

The Arctic Council remains the leading intergovernmental forum to discuss and advance the sustainable development of the Arctic. Therefore, the Government of Nunavut is committed to engaging the Government of Canada to ensure that discussions remain relevant to the people of the Arctic.

We look forward to the opportunity the Canadian chairmanship of the Arctic Council presents for Canada to showcase the Arctic to Canadians, our circumpolar neighbours, and the global community. We also look forward to working with our member of Parliament and the minister responsible for the Arctic Council, Leona Aglukkaq, to ensure that Canada continues to speak with a northern voice in its circumpolar relations.

We see this chairmanship as a great opportunity for Nunavummiut to have their voices heard internationally.

Mr. Chair, those are my opening remarks, and after my colleagues have spoken, I'd be happy to take questions from committee members.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Thank you, Mr. MacKay.

We're going to turn it over to the Government of the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Bevan, welcome. We look forward to hearing your testimony.

[Andy Bevan, Acting Deputy Minister, Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations, Government of the Northwest Territories]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Good afternoon, committee members.

My name is Andy Bevan. I am the acting deputy minister of the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations. To my right is Jennifer Dallman-Sanders, our acting director of intergovernmental relations for the same department.

I would just like to start, Mr. Chair, by passing on Premier McLeod's regrets. He would have liked the opportunity to present to the committee today. Unfortunately his legislative assembly commitments did not permit this.

Mr. Chair and committee members, 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. I should start by first 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. The GNWT is addressing the impacts of climate change, recognizes the importance of sustainable communities, and is continually working to invest in infrastructure. The GNWT is addressing these challenges alongside our Arctic neighbours. The GNWT believes that, through national and international collaboration and shared innovations, all circumpolar nations can collectively bring greater prosperity to the people of the Arctic.

Canada's upcoming chairpersonship of 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 significant roles in the future of the Arctic. It is an opportunity to engage on northern priorities on both the national and international stage and to showcase the immense potential of Canada's north. We are committed to supporting and engaging with Canada during its chairpersonship and have communicated this to Minister Aglukkaq, Minister for the Arctic Council.

With the reality of an ice-free Arctic in the future, issues such as increased northern shipping, Arctic fishing, and interest in offshore development will become important in shaping the Northwest Territories' and Canada's economy. The Arctic Council is a venue to promote collaboration on these and other emerging circumpolar issues.

Recently, Minister Aglukkaq introduced Canada's chairmanship theme of development for people in the north, and the 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 the GNWT looks forward to supporting Canada in advancing and achieving our common goals, in turn bringing tangible benefits to the Northwest Territories and to Canada as a whole.

As stated in the Arctic foreign policy, exercising Arctic sovereignty is the first and most important pillar for Canada. 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, our footprint is substantial through travel, hunting, trapping, and mineral exploration; we are often acting as the eyes and ears of the North.

The GNWT shows its support in exercising Canadian Arctic sovereignty by investing in healthy and sustainable communities, where residents continue to live and thrive. The GNWT recognizes 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. 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 promote responsible stewardship by reducing the environmental implications of a maritime incident.

The GNWT was also encouraged by the Agreement on Cooperation in Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue in the Arctic, signed at the ministerial meeting in Nuuk in 2011. Arctic search and rescue plays an important role in exercising Arctic sovereignty, yet Canadian 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, in turn, and they will look to us in international Arctic emergencies.

As shipping, mining, and tourism increase in the Arctic, industry and residents alike will increasingly look to governments for safety assurances in the face of a potential emergency. It is important that governments create an environment of confidence to attract industry's best and to assure northerners that Canada is able to provide help quickly if needed.

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, the GNWT is 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. The GNWT is investing in knowledge infrastructure, including geophysical and mapping services to support our mineral exploration and development industry.

The GNWT is also 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 proposed Mackenzie Valley fibre optic link. This will enhance program and service delivery in northern communities in areas such as telehealth and online learning, and increase 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 community access and mobility thereby reinforcing Canadian sovereignty objectives.

To build the territory's future, the GNWT is currently 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.

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 and 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 ecosystem is already 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 ecosystems are changing rapidly, which in turn is affecting traditional food security for many of our residents and communities.

The GNWT is continually working to contribute and support international efforts to address and adapt to climate change in the Arctic, as well as enhance efforts on pressing environmental issues. We use an eco-based management approach and are actively exploring means of reducing our environmental footprint by increasing our use of renewable energy, which displaces the consumption of fuel, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and increases community sustainability.

In spite of our efforts, the GNWT recognizes that some of the impacts on the Arctic are beyond our control. The GNWT is encouraged by the work of Canada and the members of the Arctic Council to protect the Arctic environment, such as collaboration toward safer shipping practices in Arctic waters and addressing short-lived climate forcers, such as black carbon.

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. The GNWT is encouraged by Minister Aglukkaq's willingness to engage with the three territories, providing opportunities to be heard as a subnational government seeking a voice in an international forum.

Mr. Chair, to shift the lens outward once again I would like to return to the impending new reality in the north of an ice-free Arctic.

Arctic shipping, and fishing activities, and increased interest in offshore development will continue to change the economy of the Northwest Territories in Canada. The GNWT is aware of the changing environment and we look forward to working with Canada through its Arctic foreign policy to ensure that we manage and maximize the benefits of the changing north for all northerners and Canadians.

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 others about their innovations. 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 advance Canada's efforts around its Arctic foreign policy.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Honourable members, I have appreciate the opportunity to speak with the committee today. Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Thank you, Mr. Bevan.

We're going to move over to Whitehorse in the Yukon.

We have Terry Hayden, the acting deputy minister for economic development.

Mr. Hayden, welcome. We look forward to your testimony.

[Terry Hayden, Acting Deputy Minister, Economic Development, Government of Yukon]

Thank you.

Good afternoon. It's with great pleasure that I take this opportunity to speak to you, the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development. Thanks for allowing me this time. Good afternoon also to my fellow representatives from the north.

As you mentioned, I am Terry Hayden, the acting deputy minister of the Department of Economic Development. I'm appearing this afternoon on behalf of the Honourable Currie Dixon, Minister of Economic Development. With me today is Mr. Stephen Rose, the director of policy, planning and research for the Department of Economic Development.

The Government of Yukon believes that developing our northern regional economies is an effective way for Canada to promote its Arctic foreign policy abroad. Canada’s north has entered a new era. We are experiencing massive social, political, environmental, and economic change, and with that change comes the opportunity for benefits that reach beyond our northern borders. We are increasingly making decisions that will shape the evolution of the territories in years ahead and create benefits that we can share with all Canadians.

We are mature, responsible governments and believe that our northern institutions—federal, territorial, aboriginal, and municipal—work in partnerships with one another. We see a north where these governments have the fiscal capacity to govern and respond effectively to those we serve.

I would like to begin with Yukon’s economic strengths and challenges and Yukon’s position with respect to the Government of Canada’s Arctic foreign policy.

Yukon’s economy remains strong with a commitment by the Government of Yukon to stimulate and diversify the private sector economy. In addition to natural resource development, Yukon is focused on a number of strategic industries including film and sound, research and development, information and communication technologies, tourism, arts and culture, agriculture, forestry, manufacturing, oil and gas, and of course small business development.

To that end it is important that investment is made in infrastructure to create and support immediate stimulus and long-term economic growth. Some of these investments should include building sustainable infrastructure for Yukon communities including water and sewer systems, enhancing our major highways to support the economic future of Yukon’s natural resources, and examining the potential for a secondary fibre optic link to the south for enhanced connectivity.

To support Yukon’s natural resource development, the Yukon government supports a number of incentive programs. These programs, combined with current geoscience databases and a single regulatory process, have made Yukon a worldwide competitor in investment for the mining sector.

Yukon understands that financing and equity investment from major private sector initiatives will have to come from outside partners, whether from B.C., Alberta, the U.S., the EU, or Asia. Yukon has a strategy of improving the investment climate for responsible development and for pursuing investment attraction from a variety of areas. We already have some substantial capital investment from Chinese companies, and we continue to build our relationship with the Asian region. Yukon’s reputation is growing internationally, and we continue to spread the message that Yukon and Canada's north is open for business.

The Government of Yukon places great importance on partnerships with Yukon first nations. We are committed to strengthening and sustaining positive relationships with all Yukon first nations governments, their citizens, and the communities they represent. We believe that it is vital to engage first nations in the development of the north. To date, eleven of the Yukon’s fourteen first nations have self-governing agreements in place, and some have already taken advantage of investment opportunities in the various industry sectors in Yukon.

Community participation is critical to ensure that sustainable development can occur with supportive local involvement. Capacity development is a priority for many first nations, and the Government of Yukon continues to work with first nation governments and their respective agents in key areas of capacity development to further participation in the economy.

The Yukon was very pleased when the Government of Canada recognized that Canada’s north is a fundamental part of our nation, part of our heritage, our future, and our identity as a country. To Yukon this means that Canada sees and understands the enormous economic potential in Canada’s north and is committed to investing further in the resources and the people of the north. Yukon believes that while the economic development needs of Canada’s northern regions have similarities, the geographical, political, and economic realities in each of the territories make for very unique and specific situations that should not be ignored. The development of these regional economies is how we manifest Canada’s Arctic foreign policy to the world, and the development of Yukon’s infrastructure is critical to the expansion of Yukon’s economy.

Investment in major infrastructure projects in areas such as roads, energy, and telecommunications must meet the needs of northerners both in the immediate future and the long-term future as Canada's north grows and evolves. The Government of Yukon recognizes this and is committed to the development of northern infrastructure. For example, we're in the process of establishing a technology and telecom development directive to bring together and focus the Government of Yukon's activities related to the information and communications technology sector and the telecommunications environment. The ICT sector is an important part of Yukon's knowledge economy and one of the sectors that the Government of Yukon is committed to promoting as we pursue economic expansion and diversification. As part of its mandate, the directorate will be undertaking a bankable feasibility study of a redundant fibre optic link to the south, most likely through Juneau, Alaska.

In conclusion, ladies and gentlemen, we believe northern economic development is critical to northern sovereignty and needs considerable and consistent attention. Northern development means actively occupying the north with sustainable, economically thriving communities of healthy, active, community-minded citizens. Sustainable economic development in northern Canada benefits all Canadians.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Thank you very much.

We're going to start over here with the opposition, with Madame Laverdière on the first round for seven minutes, please.

[Hélène Laverdière, NDP, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

Thank you to all the witnesses for the very interesting presentations.

I would like to start with a couple of questions for Mr. Bevan. You talked a lot about the impact of climate change on erosion and a series of other issues that climate change raises in the north especially. What do you think the council could do, or do more of, with respect to climate change?

I'll make this a double question, because you also spoke about the renewable energies that you are using and developing. So I would like you to develop on that a bit more.

Thank you.

[Andy Bevan]

Thank you, Miss Laverdière.

With respect to the first part of the question around climate change, I think, in all fairness, the council is somewhat equipped to have discussions about the circumpolar perspectives of climate change, but there is no doubt that climate change is global and, obviously, at some point others will need to be involved in that dialogue. I don't profess to be an expert on the scientific work that the council has undertaken over the course of the last 10 or 20 years. Certainly, I know that the council does very good work in that regard.

I guess our interests are primarily in work of the council around, more strictly, the environmental research work that it has undertaken. We talked a little bit about the black carbons, etc., and the persistent organic pollutants. So in that regard we obviously support its work and we try to stay as plugged in as possible, Ms. Laverdière, recognizing, of course, that it is primarily a forum for national government.

I apologize, but what was the latter part of your question?

[Hélène Laverdière, NDP, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Maybe I should have been more specific. I was thinking, in particular, about climate change adaptation rather than prevention.

The second part of the question was about renewable energies in the north, if you could expand a bit more on those.

Thank you.

[Andy Bevan]

Certainly. On the question of adaptation, again, I'm not sure I have any specific perspectives on exactly what the council could or could not do. But we certainly benefit through our partnership with Canada on programs designed to provide information around adaptation, whether that be base data or the other work that we're doing in partnership with Canada. So again, at the risk of sounding anything other than helpful, I'm not sure I have any particular perspectives on how the council can undertake or wrestle down that work, but I certainly know that Canada and the GNWT have some effective partnerships in that area.

With to respect to renewable energy, certainly as a jurisdiction, again, Ms. Laverdière, we are doing everything we can to try to realize and bring to market our significant hydro potential. What we are doing in the interim on a community basis—because obviously there are significant costs associated with bringing some of those world class resources to market—is that we're using a lot of biomass.

We have been very dependent on diesel fuel in our communities, much the same as the other territories to some extent. In fact, some of the communities were almost exclusively reliant on diesel fuels. So any energy or alternative renewable energy sources we can bring to market in those communities helps us just get out of diesel. Biomass is something that we've put a lot of energy and resources into, and we probably consider ourselves a bit of a leader in that regard. Obviously, the uniqueness of the north, the 33 small communities in the NWT, lend themselves to these kinds of programs.

[Hélène Laverdière, NDP, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Thank you.

I will pass it on.

[Dennis Bevington, NDP, Western Arctic, NT]

Thanks.

I have a question for all three of you dealing with the permanent participants on the Arctic Council. At various levels there has been a recognition of the limited resources available for participating fully in the Arctic Council. Do you think it should be a priority of Canada to encourage the development of permanent resources to support the permanent participants in the work they do, not only at the meetings but also in-between the meetings in preparing the information and the knowledge that gives them the presence at the table they are looking for?

The question is for all three of you.