Foreign Affairs Committee on Oct. 2nd, 2025

[Mario Simard, Bloc, Jonquière, QC]

Mr. Nakimayak, do you know of any current strategic critical minerals projects involving Inuit communities?

[Herb Nakimayak]

As of now, there are certainly talks of that in our regions, not with the Inuit but in the southern part of the Northwest Territories. Development of ports would sort of fall in line with that. I'm sure that there are initial conversations that are happening and that need to occur to ensure that, first and foremost, sovereignty is also a part of it.

[Mario Simard, Bloc, Jonquière, QC]

Since I don't have much time left, I'll finish with this.

We often hear that, to ensure sovereignty over the northern territory, we must occupy the territory. Aren't natural resource development projects a way to occupy the territory?

[Herb Nakimayak]

Yes, I agree with you. We have the Canadian Rangers, and we have Inuit, and we need to ensure that we are all part of it when it comes to it, but occupying would certainly enhance security in our country.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ahmed Hussen]

Thank you very much. We will now move to MP Aboultaif.

You have five minutes.

[Ziad Aboultaif, Conservative, Edmonton Manning, AB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you to the witnesses for appearing before the committee.

You must have already read the Arctic foreign policy. In December 2024, it was introduced by the then minister of foreign affairs. The obvious question is this: Was there anything that you think was missing from the policy? Was there anything that you wish had been included in that policy?

I'll start with Dr. Kennedy and move to Mr. Nakimayak after that.

[Sheena Kennedy]

I believe that the policy is very comprehensive. I was very pleased to see the consideration of the environment directly in the policy. I think there is a lot more we can do together to inform how the policy is implemented, the role of science and monitoring and the inclusion of Inuit in the implementation of the policy.

As I have said, I think there's a lot of opportunity in there for multilateralism and connecting that to environmental protection and security. That could be done through Canada's support for a new central Arctic Ocean agreement.

[Ziad Aboultaif, Conservative, Edmonton Manning, AB]

Go ahead, Mr. Nakimayak.

[Herb Nakimayak]

I think that the naming of the consulates in Nuuk and Anchorage has been great.

When it comes to funding, that's always an issue for Inuit organizations, and the cost of living is certainly being reflected. I think that, when it comes to our knowledge systems, they're basically the vein of our existence. We call our traditional knowledge “indigenous knowledge”, “Inuit knowledge” or “Inuvialuit knowledge”. We've been negotiating a lot with Canada and other states to ensure that our knowledge systems are intact.

Also, I think sometimes that we need a better understanding of our knowledge systems with committees such as this and others. That could really benefit the decisions that are made or recommendations for developing policy and regulations, especially in the Arctic. That's where, for us, the marine environment could improve, by ensuring that our regulations are strong, sound and reflective of areas of importance for Inuit.

When we start to see ships dumping in our waters before they go to Alaska, Nunavut or another country, then, of course, that's a sign. Looking at signs like those that are happening in real life are really important to understand and maybe break that down. How do we improve this, and what approach do we take? Usually we want Canada to take this approach with Inuit to ensure that it is, in fact, sound.

[Ziad Aboultaif, Conservative, Edmonton Manning, AB]

Banking on the Inuit community and the indigenous communities in the north is very critical, and you've mentioned diplomacy as a best way to approach that, which, on the political side, could be very difficult, especially with the practices of Russia these days and the relationship with Russia.

On the other side, we see the community expand beyond Canada's borders to the other partners in the Arctic. That level of co-operation you mention could have a positive impact and a negative impact. Would you be able to clarify for us the positives in that co-operation and what could be the potential negatives?

Again, the question is for both of you. I'll start with Dr. Kennedy.

[Sheena Kennedy]

Thank you. I think that's a great question.

I think that the lessons of the Central Arctic Ocean Fisheries Agreement are important here, because very unlikely allies were able to come together to agree on an area of mutual strategic interest. It's not often that you get the U.S. and Russia signing on to the same agreements. I think this is an example of when everyone has collective interest and also collective risk, and you can then come to an agreement to proceed with caution, which is really what the Central Arctic Ocean Fisheries Agreement is.

I would say that a new agreement basically sets out the rules for what people can do and what they can't do in a space. Then it sets out a process for determining when we might decide and what the rules are that would determine how we might ship through that region or not.

I think that creates a type of agreement that is different from a more political one.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ahmed Hussen]

Thank you very much.

We will go next to MP Vandenbeld.

[Anita Vandenbeld, Liberal, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

Thank you very much to the witnesses for being here today.

I would like to start with you, Mr. Nakimayak.

I was on this committee six years ago, when you testified for our last study on the Arctic. Of course, a lot has changed in six years.

First of all, I appreciate what you said about the sovereignty and the people. I think this was a point that you and others made last time. If people are receiving Canadian health care, Canadian EI and Canadian social insurance numbers, then this is Canadian territory, and the people are really core to that.

I wonder if you could reflect a bit on what may have changed in the interim of the last six years. Particularly, I know that the Inuit people who live in the Russian Federation territory are part of your council.

Has there been any political pressure, or has there been any shift that would reflect the geopolitical shifts that have happened since our last study?

[Herb Nakimayak]

Thank you for that question. It's nice to see you again.

I think a lot has changed. For Inuit, the interest and attention in our regions and in the Arctic is tenfold, because we are the western gate of the Northwest Passage. We're seeing all of these pleasure crafts coming through. Of course that has changed a lot, and it has brought about some thinking about what kind of environmental impact this is going to have on our communities.

For us, we're talking about environmental impacts as well as the eroding shoreline. I mentioned to one of your colleagues that we've certainly found artifacts in our region that go back about 700 years. This is from whaling.

Through time, we want to ensure that our homelands are protected and ensure that, whether it's cruise ship operators or navies from wherever they may be, they are certainly consulting with us. If they're going to be in our region, let's have that dialogue.

I may be speaking to other departments, saying that if that's the case, certainly we can contribute to whether these patrols, or whatever it may be, could be more impactful for Canada and the partnerships you have.

There has been a lot of joint research planning. That's what we are seeing, and that's the avenue they're taking to show interest in our regions, for sure.

[Anita Vandenbeld, Liberal, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

Has the changing relationship with Russia had an impact on your council?

[Herb Nakimayak]

Yes, it certainly has. Most recently, we were granted permanent consultative status at the International Maritime Organization, which is for shipping. Certainly countries like Russia have put pressure on us, and it's why we are there, but we want to ensure that the Inuit in Russia are safe as well, so we do our best to work diplomatically to ensure that their lives are protected and that the health, well-being and safety of all Inuit are equal. There is no one who is less or otherwise. That's how we look at it.

Thank you.

[Anita Vandenbeld, Liberal, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

Thank you very much.

I have a short time, and I'd like to go to you, Dr. Kennedy.

I'm glad you mentioned the link between environment, climate change and security. Canada has recognized that climate change is a national security issue.

I wonder if you could elaborate a little about the way the changes happening in the oceans and in the climate are impacting Canada's national security interests.

[Sheena Kennedy]

I think we are facing the relationship between our collective well-being and the environment. We also work with a lot of coastal communities in Atlantic Canada. They are seeing a lot of changes in their livelihoods and in their communities. Herb spoke about coastal erosion. That's happening all over.

When you have environmental protections in place, you have eyes and ears on the water. You have monitoring. You have science. You have management. That creates a greater sense of security for people. We can't really feel secure without the right information. We have a lot of science, but there's a lot we don't know. Particularly in the north, there is information that we really need to be able to understand what the impacts are.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ahmed Hussen]

Thank you very much.

Mr. Simard, you have the floor for two and a half minutes.

[Mario Simard, Bloc, Jonquière, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Ms. Kennedy, I gather from your comments that you're most concerned about climate change and, perhaps, the geopolitical issues with Russia. Since the committee will be preparing a report, I'm wondering about your short‑term recommendations for greater climate change resilience or for measures that should be put in place. I'm asking this question because the geopolitical situation over the past five or six years is different from the situation in the past.

Do you have any recommendations for the committee, both in terms of geopolitics and climate change?

[Sheena Kennedy]

It's a light question.

On climate change, I would start with the rapid decarbonization of the maritime industry. That is a huge one. Maintaining Canada's commitments to our climate targets and looking to our partners in the European Union to see how they are decarbonizing their shipping would be worthwhile for this committee to consider. I have a deep bench on this in my organization, so we'd be happy to provide insights if that's helpful.

On this notion of Arctic exceptionalism, which I know some people are questioning in our new environment, we need to hold on to that. This a strategically important place where parties have come together in the past, and we should take that very seriously.

[Mario Simard, Bloc, Jonquière, QC]

Since I still have some time left, I would like to ask Mr. Nakimayak the same question.

Do you have any recommendations that should be included in our committee's report?

[Herb Nakimayak]

In short, it's nice that we're sitting here at committee, but having advisers from Inuit regions involved in this would be really helpful to ensure that you are, in fact, doing the right thing as you move ahead.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ahmed Hussen]

Thank you.

Next is MP Michael Chong. You have five minutes.

[Michael Chong, Conservative, Wellington—Halton Hills North, ON]

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you to our witnesses for being here today. It's good to see you.

I haven't been up in the north for a few years, but I look forward to going back at some point. I had a memorable trip hiking up the Weasel River across Baffin Island several years ago. Never did I think it would take that long to climb up and down moraines and across glacial rivers, but we got it done. We got back to Pangnirtung, and a good, warm meal was never more welcome.

I'm not sure if you can answer the following question. If you can't, that's fine. I just want to ask it. Are you familiar with some of the race that's on to lay underwater sea cables between Europe and Asia and between Europe and North America, as well as in the Russian sphere of the Arctic?