Mr. Speaker, it is the view of the official opposition members of the committee that primary consideration of the Arctic Council under two years of Canada's chairmanship should remain on the issues related to the mitigation and impacts of climate change on the Arctic environment, which are international and global in implication and can be more effectively tackled by multinational means and social development.
Economic development, while increasing in its importance, will only benefit from international agreement and understanding of these issues.
With regard to the third recommendation, the members of the official opposition who sit on the committee would prefer that the permanent aboriginal participants be funded by the Arctic Council rather than having to count on their respective countries for the funding.
Finally, the official opposition members of the committee regret that the minister responsible for the Arctic Council was unable to appear before the committee during the preparation of this report.
Given the importance of the minister's role as incoming council chair, and we congratulate her for it, and in the interest of all members for the successful Canadian chairmanship, we ask that the minister make an annual report to Parliament in each of the two years of the Canadian chairmanship.