Prime Minister’s hawkish approach to Arctic creates conflict where none exists

Prime Minister Harper’s recent comments stating that Canada is opposed to international cooperation in the Arctic create conflict where none exists.

“The issues facing the Arctic cannot be solved by this Prime Minister’s gunslinger approach,” said Dennis Bevington, NDP Arctic Council critic. “On safe shipping in international waters, search and rescue, high-seas fishing, environmental protection and climate change mitigation, does the Conservative government want to freeze out international cooperation just as the ice melts in the Arctic Ocean?”

The MP for Western Arctic said that international cooperation in the Arctic is not a threat to Canada’s sovereignty and increasing the number of observer countries at the Arctic Council has no impact on decision-making or national jurisdictions.

An NDP government would work in cooperation with other nations in the Arctic while protecting Canada’s sovereignty.