Canadian Foreign Policy: A Policy

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.

Economic and social development

One of the most significant means of portraying the sovereignty of Canada in the North is through the creation of a dynamic and robust economic platform and an improvement of the social well being of the people in the Arctic region. These can be achieved through resource development and job creation and this is possible bearing the massive natural minerals that are within the Arctic region and these minerals can act as the foundation of the sustainable economic activities within this region. So far, the Canadian government has already invested a lot in the mapping of the mineral zones as well as making commitments that have to do with the economic development of the region (Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada, 2013).

To achieve the above, Canada should then create conducive conditions for the sustainable development in the Arctic that will complement the domestic measures to support economic development. This needs the full understanding of the challenges as well as the opportunities fro investment in the region, extensive science research and traditional knowledge of the region.

Secondly, there must be a deliberate effort to seek and establish investment opportunities that will be of great benefit to the Northerners as well as the Canadians. This can be achieved through strengthening of the trade ties with this region and full implementation of the proposed free trade agreements. The improvement of the sea as well as the air transportation links with the North will enhance access to this region and in effect encourage more trade and investment into the region.

Thirdly, there must be urgent catering for the better understanding of the human aspect in the Arctic region. Canada must play a leadership role in the region in order to ensure the improvement of the health and livelihood of the people within the region m through formulation of appropriate health policies that touch on health systems, heath observation and nutrition guidelines. This will also ensure the preservation of the beneficial indigenous aspects like languages.

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.