Foreign Affairs Committee on Oct. 23rd, 2025

[The Chair, Liberal, Ahmed Hussen]

Thank you very much.

Our next speaker is Mr. Simard.

You have the floor for six minutes.

[Mario Simard, Bloc, Jonquière, QC]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

Ambassador, I'll give you time to put on your earpiece. Can you hear me okay? Yes. The interpreter's voice is smoother than mine. That works in your favour.

As my colleague Mr. Oliphant just pointed out, this mandate touches on many realities. You ended by talking about a form of public education on the realities in the Arctic. I understand that there are strategic, geopolitical and economic development issues associated with your mandate, with what you will have to do.

Earlier today, I sat on the Standing Committee on Natural Resources, where we heard from an indigenous grand chief who talked to us about free, prior and informed consent. She explained how difficult it was for the communities in a mining development context, particularly in the north. I think you will come across the issue of free, prior and informed consent in a mining development context. You are no doubt aware that Bill C‑5 makes it possible to somewhat speed up the development of certain natural resources right now.

As part of your mandate, am I to understand that you can play the role of mediator or, to a certain extent, ensure that the communities are on the same page with the government's wishes in terms of economic development?

[Virginia Mearns]

It is definitely an area of heightened interest in our northern and Arctic communities with respect to new opportunities that are being pursued and what that means for the northern Arctic communities.

One of the strengths that we do have in the territories in particular is the regulatory regime that exists and has come about as a result of the ratification of modern treaties with various groups. Those are the mechanisms that are protected rights. These are mechanisms that have to be adhered to. Ensuring there are assurances that these mechanisms will not be skirted and will indeed continue is going to be quite critical, as will be ensuring that indigenous northern communities have a strong understanding of where their opportunities lie because of these major investments that are coming forward.

Nation-building opportunities should also include opportunities for our businesses that exist in northern Arctic communities as well.

Thank you.

[Mario Simard, Bloc, Jonquière, QC]

Thank you for that.

I don't want to focus too much on one dimension. However, I still want to come back to this idea of expanding critical mineral development in Canada, because I think that largely commits the north, which is where the main critical minerals are located.

To be able to do that, we need infrastructure. From what I understand of your reality, there is already a crying need for infrastructure in the north. To put infrastructure in place, people have to live on the land. I don't want to have a purely mercantile vision. That's not my goal. However, to set up infrastructure, there has to be economic development and people living on the land.

I don't know how you see this possibility of linking economic development, which involves natural resource development, with the associated infrastructure.

Is that something that could be part of your mandate?

[Virginia Mearns]

I think the dialogue around all of that is definitely a part of my mandate. Of course we do have the various departments within the Government of Canada that are tasked with pursuing those opportunities and engaging with territorial governments, indigenous rights holders and the business sector to be able to make that a reality.

I very much anticipate that the dialogue will also come to me, and I think it's important to remember that our communities have identified for quite some time where the infrastructure gaps exist within their communities and what that means for their ability to pursue the diversification of their own economies. At the same time, I would note that these communities have also identified possible future projects that would help boost...and whether that be in the realm of exploration for critical minerals or engagement with the private sector for large investments, those conversations are very real, and they have been happening for some time. That's really enabled our northern Arctic communities to come to the Government of Canada with their priorities, whether it is in a pre-budget submission or regular dialogues that they're afforded to have.

[Mario Simard, Bloc, Jonquière, QC]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ahmed Hussen]

We'll go next to MP Kramp-Neuman for five minutes.

[Shelby Kramp-Neuman, Conservative, Hastings—Lennox and Addington—Tyendinaga, ON]

Thank you.

Congratulations on your appointment.

To start off, I'm curious about what drew you personally to this role and what you are passionate about.

[Virginia Mearns]

First off, it was very exciting to see the release of the Arctic foreign policy, and it explicitly described the fact that this role was being reinstated. I think it's a very critical role at this critical moment in time.

At that time, in reading the policy or even the executive summary, I never imagined that it was going to be something that I would have an opportunity to do, so it's incredibly humbling to have this opportunity.

First and foremost, I saw it as the opportunity to help elevate the voice of our communities, and I want to also recognize the leaders who have been doing that for decades. Our community leadership and our territorial regional leadership have been doing that, and I think this is also another opportunity to add to that. Also, equally, I hope to be helpful in bringing to our communities some of the things that are happening in southern Canada and on the international stage.

[Shelby Kramp-Neuman, Conservative, Hastings—Lennox and Addington—Tyendinaga, ON]

Thank you so much.

I'd like to speak more specifically about the evolving dynamic that we have with our partners in the south, and I'm curious, with the shift in U.S. trade and energy policies, about what opportunities or challenges you anticipate for Canada's northern development.

[Virginia Mearns]

I won't be able to get into the specifics of it, but I can confirm that trade, whether it is with our southern neighbours or elsewhere, does definitely have an impact in our northern Arctic communities, because our communities are incredibly dependent on these sources. We don't have the sorts of capabilities that exist in southern Canada, whether it is access to lumber immediately or steel products and those sorts of things, so having the reliance on sourcing that elsewhere has a direct impact on what can happen and how quickly in our communities.

[Shelby Kramp-Neuman, Conservative, Hastings—Lennox and Addington—Tyendinaga, ON]

How can Canada protect our Arctic resource exports and still attract investment without the over-regulation that you were speaking about earlier?

[Virginia Mearns]

I think it's a critical component of that open dialogue between the Government of Canada and our communities in where the interests lie as well as being able to expand what is already known as opportunities. It's critical to really look at them from a global perspective and work together with our communities, our territorial governments and our rights holders to ensure that there is a coordinated fashion when that happens in pursuing those.

[Shelby Kramp-Neuman, Conservative, Hastings—Lennox and Addington—Tyendinaga, ON]

In the spirit of coordination and collaboration, how do you see Canada's leadership style in the Arctic? How do you see that complementing rather than competing with American ambitions in that region?

[Virginia Mearns]

It really helps to strengthen the relationship domestically to be able to work together on those opportunities and also demonstrate to not only our American neighbours but also others that there are definitely opportunities in our northern Arctic communities. However, it has to be done in the Canadian way. That requires coordination, and that requires co-operation domestically but then facing outwards as well.

Thank you.

[Shelby Kramp-Neuman, Conservative, Hastings—Lennox and Addington—Tyendinaga, ON]

Is there a message that you would like to share with the committee and with Canadians in the south so that we can better understand the realities of the north?

[Virginia Mearns]

I think what I'll say is that there is ample information and a lot of willingness from northerners to share what our reality is and to share stories of our successes as well. There tends to be a lot of negative emphasis on what's happening in our northern and Arctic communities and not so much emphasis on the positive and on recognizing that there are very complex, unique dynamics that exist and that are Canadian.

I'm really encouraging curiosity, I think. Taking the approach of curiosity and reaching out to learn more would be fantastic.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ahmed Hussen]

Thank you very much.

Next, we're going to go to MP Mona Fortier.

You have five minutes.

[Mona Fortier, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier—Gloucester, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you to the witnesses for being here today.

Congratulations on your appointment, Ms. Mearns. We know that you will play a key role, and we're very proud to see you in this role, which, as you mentioned in your presentation, is very important.

I want to come back to your presentation, in which you talked about the codevelopment approach. This is not the first time we've heard about it in this study, and I think it's necessary, as we've demonstrated.

How do you see this codevelopment approach in the Arctic, obviously, but also in terms of foreign policy?

[Virginia Mearns]

It is not an easy task. I don't think it would be fair to proclaim that. It is an important exercise because, ultimately, the result is products that are reflective of the voices in our communities.

Co-development is something that we have heard as a major desire and priority coming from our northern Arctic communities, governments and indigenous rights holders, so actually putting that into practice is such a critical exercise. It's an area that, even in the very short weeks that I've been in this role, is intriguing for other states, especially in the Nordic countries, and in really understanding the approaches that Canada is taking in those relationships that result in the ability to co-develop policy and strategies. It is something that demonstrates that working dynamic but then ultimately creates an opportunity to stand behind the final product with pride and with the confidence that we are pursuing a pathway that folks are comfortable with.

[Mona Fortier, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier—Gloucester, ON]

Out of curiosity, I have a question that might benefit someone like me who is learning how to make better use of this codevelopment approach. Do you have any concrete examples of what works or what doesn't? Do you have any recommendations for us that we could add to the report on our study?

[Virginia Mearns]

I would definitely point to committees, such as the Inuit-Crown partnership committee that was formed in 2016. You see a lot of co-development and also the commitment to work on areas of joint interest. Immediately, my mind goes to that as a very current example of the co-development exercise put into practice on a pretty daily basis.

I think the other component I want to highlight and raise when it comes to the exercise of co-development is that we have to keep in mind that there are modern treaties that call for that. It is a right that is constitutionally protected, and there are moments in time in which co-development is actually required. That really helps to keep or establish parameters within which it is very appropriate to pursue the exercise of co-development.

Thank you.

[Mona Fortier, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier—Gloucester, ON]

I don't have much time left.

Would you like the committee to take a closer look at a specific recommendation as part of this study, especially in terms of the priorities it should keep in mind?

[Virginia Mearns]

If there is an opportunity to come back to the committee, I think after my preliminary engagements that I will be pursuing I'm hoping there may be some concrete examples that I'll be able to bring back. Right now, I am very much excited to participate in that engagement and hearing first-hand. Subsequent to that, I would be happy to share what I've heard so far.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ahmed Hussen]

Thank you very much.

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