Canada’s Arctic Council Chairmanship 2013-15

Development for the People of the North

• The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq is Minister for the Arctic Council and Canada’s Arctic Council Chair– Member of Parliament for Nunavut

– First Inuk in Canada’s Cabinet

– First Indigenous person to Chair the Council

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• Canada assumed the Chairmanship of the Arctic Council at the 2013 Ministerial meeting in Kiruna, Sweden.

Arctic Council to focus on: •Responsible Arctic Resource Development

•Safe Arctic Shipping

•Sustainable Circumpolar Communities

© Paul Galipeau

Strengthening the Arctic Council

Strengthening and enhancing the Arctic Council has always been a priority

• Canada’s Chairmanship will aim to strengthen the Council by:

–Improving coordination and accountability

–Enhancing the capacity of the Permanent Participant organizations

–Increasing collaboration and coordination with international organizations

Responsible Resource Development

• Circumpolar Business Forum

• Action to prevent oil pollution

Safe Arctic Shipping

• Guidelines for sustainable tourism & cruise-ship operations

• Arctic Council cooperation on a mandatory polar code

©Luc Rainville 2008

Sustainable Circumpolar Communities

• Protecting Arctic traditional ways of life

• Promoting traditional and local knowledge

• Promoting mental wellness

©AANDC

Sustainable Circumpolar Communities

• Addressing short-lived climate pollutants

• Adapting to climate change

• Supporting the conservation of migratory birds ©Christopher Zockler

Enhancing Scientific Cooperation in the Arctic

• Increase international scientific cooperation in the Arctic.

• Work will be done by the Task Force for Enhancing Scientific Cooperation.

• The Task Force is led by the U.S., Russia and Sweden.

© Fisheries and Oceans Canada

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