Mr. Speaker, climate change is opening the Arctic Ocean to fishing for the first time.
Currently there is no international agreement on Arctic Ocean fisheries. Over 2,000 global scientists have called upon the five Arctic coastal countries to hold back the start of commercial fishing in Arctic waters until research is done and management plans are in place.
Canada knows how much damage is done by unregulated international fishing.
In 2013 Canada will be the chair of the Arctic Council. Will the government show leadership and push for a treaty governing fishing in the Arctic?