Mr. Speaker, the governments of United States and Canada have for a number of years supported the protection of the Arctic national wildlife refuge in Alaska.
However, a recent Alaskan legislature motion to allow oil and gas exploration in what are often called the 1002 lands puts in
jeopardy that resolve. The Canadian government and the Prime Minister are on record as saying that they support the proposal to keep the Arctic national wildlife refuge safe from oil and gas exploration.
The wildlife refuge is a calving ground for the Porcupine Caribou herd which provides food for the people of northern Yukon and the U.S. The herd is an important national treasure. It is an international treasure. I have encouraged the Prime Minister to raise this issue with President Clinton during this visit to Ottawa.
Both the Prime Minister and the president are on record as saying they are in favour of no exploration on the 1002 lands. Again I encourage and urge the Prime Minister and the president to reconfirm this policy during this visit.