Environment committee  Yes, thank you very much. First, my comment is on education—it's key. I say that because as I was listening to the discussion on habitat conservation, we were talking more about the southern parts of Canada and not about the Arctic. The habitat in southern Canada is very important for us, because the birds that come to the Arctic, like the Canada goose and the different types of ducks, all winter down here and farther south.

Environment committee  As far as we're concerned, it was. There was an environmental review undertaken and the environmental review was accepted and people were involved in that review process.

Environment committee  Is that the old development or the new one?

Environment committee  I would say there has been a benefit, and it's highly supported by the region in terms of its development. Whether in fact it has almost eliminated unemployment in that area I can't answer directly at this point. We can get the figures for you. But I would assume there is a lot more opportunity for jobs.

Environment committee  Yes, they are in good shape, despite the negative predictions of our closest neighbour. We have found that the population of polar bears has in fact increased because the polar bears are starting to come inland. The ice is melting. Polar bears live on ice and they hunt on ice, so when they have no food they start coming to the inland regions of the Arctic.

Environment committee  Thank you for that. I'm not an expert on the percentages, but I can respond to the question. I think that, yes, we need to look very carefully at how the oceans are going to be addressed in terms of all the potential development. The oceans are already being affected now with a lot of the dumping and debris that goes on with shipping, which is under more control now than it was in the past.

Environment committee  Thank you very much for your question. Yes, climate change is real. It has been happening for many years. In fact, Inuit predicted the changes long before nation-states were actually talking about it. We started to see those changes years ago. You really need to take that into consideration if you're developing an NCP in relation to Arctic waters, for instance, even though the ice is melting right before our very eyes and the Northwest Passage is opening up.

Environment committee  For instance, when we work with species at risk, the Inuit knowledge that was not being considered was how the polar bear was being impacted by climate change. There was a movement in the United States to uplist the polar bear to a category three, endangered species. When you listened to the elders in our communities, and the knowledge they possess, it was completely the opposite.

Environment committee  I think those are the key elements. If you, like Mr. Atleo, drill down into that question, you can start to see areas where you would have to go into more detail in terms of conservation.

Environment committee  Thank you very much for your question. When we talk about a collaborative approach, it goes back to what Chief Atleo was saying about informed and prior consent. The collaboration has to be based on the proposition we need to be informed about. Species at risk is a good example of that.

Environment committee  I'm sorry, but my audio isn't working for some reason.

Environment committee  Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. [Witness speaks in Inuktitut] Thank you for the invitation to appear today. The Canadian Arctic is home to some 55,000 Inuit. We call it Inuit Nunangat—the Inuit homeland in Canada. It is an intrinsic part of our identity as a people. Future generations of Inuit must inherit a homeland that will continue to provide for them.

Finance committee  Thank you for your comments. I'd be glad to meet with you on this. I have to agree with Mr. Jock that training itself can't answer all of the educational needs of our people. They are not completing kindergarten to grade 12, and that's why I emphasized to a great degree the need to get our kids through high school.

Finance committee  Thank you very much for your question. It's very hard to put a figure on a life. I did put out some figures on education, housing, and mental health. When you look at the suicide rate among the Inuit, you will see that it is seven times greater than the Canadian rate. So for every suicide in Canada, there are seven in Inuit communities.

Finance committee  Thank you. I just wanted to add that we also have to look at infrastructure that doesn't exist. Is Canada going to invest in the Arctic where infrastructure doesn't actually exist but is needed?