Report

INTRODUCTION

A Canadian delegation of two Members of Parliament, Mr. Ryan Leef and Mr. Dennis Bevington, attended the meeting of the Standing Committee of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region (the Standing Committee) held in Washington, D.C., United States (U.S.), from 10 to 11 March 2015. Accompanying the delegation was Mr. Thai Nguyen from the Parliamentary Information and Research Service of the Library of Parliament as advisor to the delegation.

The Conference of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region (CPAR) is a parliamentary body comprising delegations appointed by the national parliaments of the eight Arctic states (Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, the U.S.) and the European Parliament. CPAR also includes Permanent Participants representing Indigenous peoples, as well as observers. CPAR meets every two years. The 11^th CPAR took place in Whitehorse, Yukon, from 9 to 11 September 2014.[1]

At the conclusion of each biennial conference, CPAR adopts a statement with recommendations to the Arctic Council (AC) and to the governments of the eight Arctic states and the European Commission. Between conferences, Arctic parliamentary cooperation is facilitated by the Standing Committee, which began its activities in 1994. The Standing Committee monitors how the governments implement the Conference Statement, and takes initiatives to further Arctic cooperation. CPAR and the Standing Committee act as a parliamentary forum for issues relevant to the work of the AC. The Standing Committee takes part in the work of the AC as an observer.[2]

MEETING SUMMARY[3]

A.   DRAFT PROGRAM OF THE UNITED STATES’ CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE ARCTIC COUNCIL

Admiral Robert Papp, Special Representative for the Arctic, U.S. State Department, presented the draft program of the U.S. chairmanship of the AC to the Standing Committee.[4] The overall focus of the U.S. chairmanship is “One Arctic: Shared Opportunities, Challenges and Responsibilities,” showing “unity among the Arctic States and peoples” and that “all of us, not just the Arctic States and peoples, share in responsibly managing the region.” It has three thematic areas:

·         Arctic Ocean Safety, Security and Stewardship;

·         Improving Economic and Living Conditions; and

·         Addressing the Impacts of Climate Change.

Admiral Papp indicated that the draft U.S. program contains measurable goals and attempts to balance environmental, climate and security concerns. He also indicated that the U.S. will carry on Canada’s emphasis on the people of the North, including partnership with the Arctic Economic Council (AEC)[5] as a tool to achieve sustainable development of the Arctic.

Admiral Papp mentioned that the U.S. will maintain collaboration with Russia on Arctic issues, despite the conflict in Ukraine, since the AC needs consensus from the eight Arctic states in order to move forward.

A Canadian delegate asked Admiral Papp about ways the U.S. intends to carry on the partnership with the AEC. The delegate mentioned that, as in Canada, the great majority of the people in the U.S. live in the South, and enquired about the involvement of Arctic residents in the decision-making process of the U.S. as the AC’s Chair. The Canadian delegate also asked the Admiral about the importance of mental wellness issues in the U.S. chairmanship program.

Admiral Papp replied that the AEC is a business-to-business cooperation forum with no state interference but noted that some members of the AEC are state-owned companies. Regarding the decision-making process, Admiral Papp indicated that there have been several consultations completed with Alaskan stakeholders as part of the drafting process of the U.S. chairmanship program. Admiral Papp also confirmed that mental wellness, including suicide prevention, will be part of the U.S. program.

B.   ALASKA’S PERSPECTIVES ON THE UNITED STATES’ CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE ARCTIC COUNCIL

Mr. Craig Fleener, senior advisor to the Governor of Alaska on Arctic Policy, informed the Standing Committee about Alaska’s perspectives on the U.S. chairmanship of the AC.[6] According to Mr. Fleener, Alaska’s views and involvement in the making of U.S. Arctic policies is of paramount importance since Alaska is the only American Arctic state. He indicated that Alaska prioritizes economic development, diversification of employment opportunities and development of employment skills in its policies.

A Canadian delegate asked Mr. Fleener about ways to retain the skilled workforce in the Arctic since often workers participate in employment skills development programs but then leave the region for more attractive opportunities elsewhere. Mr. Fleener replied that Canada provides a good example of an Arctic state that has a high retention of its Arctic labour pool. He indicated that creation of employment opportunities in local communities is vital. However, Mr. Fleener also noted that having skilled indigenous people leave their communities and work in various positions across the state or for the federal government can be positive for the employer and society, since it increases societal sensibility regarding the Arctic.

Another Canadian delegate suggested that economic development can induce higher income disparities and poverty levels in local communities. Natural resource development can generate short-term benefits, but these benefits are not sustainable if there are no local economic spin-offs. Mr. Fleener added that it is important to find a way to let small communities continue to be able to rely on a subsistence economy if they wish to do so.

C.   THE ROLE OF THE UNITED STATES IN THE ARCTIC COUNCIL

Mr. Alfredo Gomez, Director, Natural Resources and Environment, Ms.  Susan Fleming, Director, Physical Infrastructure and Mr. Michael Hix, Assistant Director, Natural Resources and Environment presented to the Standing Committee findings of the U.S. Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) report on the U.S. participation in the AC and recommendations for improvements.[7] The report concluded that there is a need for better coordination and specific resources allocated to follow-up on recommendations of the AC. The GAO also suggested separate funding for infrastructure and Arctic cooperation in order to increase the effective implementation of the Arctic Council recommendations.

A Canadian delegate pointed out that with rotating AC chairmanships, coordination of the Council’s priorities is important for progress to be made on multi-year initiatives. He gave the example of the marine protected areas and ecosystem-based management initiatives which have been a topic of discussions and study for the past four years. In his opinion, without coordination of priorities between successive chairmanships, it would be difficult to keep track of progress made in order to move the issue forward.

The GAO representatives suggested that the recently established Secretariat of the AC in Norway would be helpful in providing the continuity needed. However, priorities will still be set by the country holding the chairmanship of the Council. They also indicated that an inventory of past recommendations and progress accomplished on various initiatives is required.

D.   STATUS OF THE WORK OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE

The Chair of the Standing Committee suggested the possibility that the September meeting of the Standing Committee be moved from Brussels to Fairbanks, Alaska, so that members could also attend the Arctic Energy Summit on 28-30 September 2015.[8]

A Canadian delegate indicated that because of the planned federal elections in October in Canada, it is highly probable that the Canadian delegation will not participate in the September meeting of the Standing Committee. He also updated the Standing Committee on progress made at the AC under Canada’s chairmanship. The delegate stated that the Arctic Economic Council, which acts as a forum to discuss common economic challenges and discover new business opportunities to develop and benefit the North, held its first meeting in September 2014. He also mentioned that a key priority of Canada has been to incorporate traditional and local knowledge more effectively into the AC’s ongoing work. The Canadian delegate added that Canada is working closely with the incoming Chair, the U.S., to advance shared priorities.

Another Canadian delegate informed the Standing Committee that membership of the Canadian delegation to the Standing Committee may change as a result of the October Canadian general election. He indicated that he is pleased to see that renewable energies are part of the U.S. chairmanship’s program. The delegate pointed out that the Northwest Territories has a solar energy strategy and aims to install solar systems with the capability to supply up to 20% of the average load in diesel communities.[9] He also called for increased sharing of information and practices among Arctic countries in renewable energies strategy.

A U.S. delegate presented to the Standing Committee a map of Alaska showing the surface occupied by federally protected areas. She explained to the Standing Committee the conflicting views between the U.S. federal government and the State of Alaska regarding the use of these areas and development in Alaska in general.[10]

A Canadian delegate argued that natural resources’ development can adversely impact local communities and provided the example of diamond mines in the Northwest Territories. He indicated that many workers at these mines come from the South. He added that the development of the mines disturbs the caribou’s migration route, which affects a major food source of local populations. The delegate explained that the issue is not whether industrial development should occur or not but figuring out ways to make economic development benefit Arctic residents.

E.   LETTER OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE TO THE CANADIAN CHAIRMANSHIP AND THE INCOMING UNITED STATES’ CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE ARCTIC COUNCIL

Members of the Standing Committee agreed to sign a letter (Appendix 2) to the Chair and the incoming Chair of the AC to reiterate key recommendations included in the CPAR’s Whitehorse Conference Statement.[11] The letter also included a recommendation from the Standing Committee to the current AC’s Chair and incoming Chair to:

raise a strong Arctic message to communicate the consequences of climate change in the Arctic at the UNFCCC COP 21 negotiations in Paris in December 2015.

FUTURE MEETING OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE

The next meeting of the Standing Committee is scheduled for 12 May 2015 in Reykjavik, Iceland. The meeting in Reykjavik will be held back to back with the 4th Northern Dimension Parliamentary Forum from 10-11 May 2015 to which members of the Standing Committee are invited to participate.

Respectfully submitted,