Canadian foreign policy priorities in the Arctic region

Canadian Foreign Policy: A policy memo on the Arctic

The relation between the Arctic and Canada over the years has been a mutual one albeit with a few hitches taking into account the dynamic international relations patterns experienced. This prompted Canada to publish a statement on the relation between Canada and the Arctic in 2010. This statement sought to make clear the priorities that Canada had in the Arctic region and these were fundamentally on four major region. First was exercising sovereignty, secondly was the promotion of the economic and social development, third was the protection of the Arctic environment and lastly was the improvement and the development of the governance system (Geopolitics in the High North, 2013). These are the four parameters upon which the foreign policy particularly between Canada and the Arctic is based and will be deepened on.

Exercising sovereignty

There has been a united approach between Canada and the U.S.A. In monitoring and controlling of the Northern airspace through the North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD).

To further fortify this sovereignty within the Arctic in an emphatic yet responsible manner, there are various alternatives that Canada needs to put into urgent consideration. There is need to follow the international law in resolving the persistent boundary issues in the Arctic region. This must and should include resolving the small misunderstanding between the Canadian government and the American government over the fate of maritime boundary in the Beaufort Sea as well as the boundary between Canada and Denmark over the maritime boundary in the Lincoln Sea.

Secondly, Canada needs to effectively secure recognition at the international levels over the resources of the seabed as well as the subsoil. This is in light of the fact that states have the sovereign rights to explore the resources within their economic zones and indeed the UNCLOS recognizes the rights of the coastal states as is with Canada over the natural resources that are beyond 20 nautical miles from it coastal baseline.

It will also be of importance for Canada to work in collaborating with the domestic legislations that already exists within the region. This will enable the ease response to issue like emergency responses, illegal trafficking of drugs as well as organized crime.

Protecting the Arctic environment

The Arctic environment suffers from activities that take place in far off places and of greatest significance here is the climatic changes that occasion the receding ice and general negative impact of the Artic fragile environment. These climatic changes in turn impact negatively on the economy and the people within the region. There is need hence for the environmental protection for sustainable development. Though there have been significant measures like the formulation of the Arctic Waters Pollution Prevention Act (AWPPA) which was geared towards protection of the marine environment especially tackling pollution and shipping safety laws to be in place (Justice Laws Website, 2013), there is still more that Canada can do to ensure a sustainable economic growth of this region.

Canada must therefore resort to ecosystem-based management system within the Artic region. There is need to ensure an approach that will take into account the co-management of the species in the Artic region that may cross the international borders like the polar bear and the Arctic birds. The collaborative approach to the ecosystem should also include the Arctic research and science ventures conducted in collaborative participation among the various nations concerned. It is also important for Canada to keep establishing terrestrial and marine protected regions within the Arctic and keep monitoring of the ecological integrity and biodiversity.

Secondly, there is need for Canada to take a proactive role in supporting the international efforts geared towards tackling the climatic change in the Arctic region. The Canadian government must work in close relations with the concerned countries and the Northern communities in assessing the vulnerabilities, risks as well as the opportunities that touch on climate change.

Canada must also pursue the international standards when it comes to environmental issues. This will ensure that there is no room for opening up gaps towards environmental pollution. In the event that contaminants are detected, Canada should be at the forefront in ensuring there is proper reversal of the same and future proper waste disposal mechanisms instituted and there must be a deliberate negotiation at the international level to ensure eradication of the mercury emission and other harmful pollutants.

Improving and developing governance

The Northerners should be allowed to be in charge of their economic and political future and roadmap. It is important to note that Canada has done all within its means to ensure that the United Nations Declaration on the Human Rights of Indigenous people in fully implemented and realized especially within the Arctic region. This has ensured progress within the region with the Northerners taking more responsibility of many of the aspects of the affairs within the region.

Canada hence needs to engage with the Northerners concerning Canada's foreign policy through bodies like the Canadian Arctic Council Advisory Committee and the Northern governments as well as the Indigenous Permanent Participant organizations in Canada. These engagements should be geared towards finding a common ground among the nations and working together.

Canada should also give monetary support to the various councils that work with the people from the Northern countries in order to ensure effective governance systems are in place. The Canadian youth must also be empowered to participate in the dialogues that are geared toward good governance within the Northern region.

Way forward

There is need hence to engage I continued dialogue with the various councils and official groups in the Arctic region with the view of making the Canadian policies more understood and welcome within the region.

Canada will also ensure the strategic communication between the country and the Northerners is made more effective for better understanding of the interest of the Arctic people and the Canadian people as well.

Canada will as well pursue collaboration in working with other member states to address the structural needs of the organization. In as much as the current state of the body has served Canada over a long period of time, the dynamism that comes in necessitates change in the structure of the organization.