A picture of the Arctic Canadian city of Iqaluit.

Iqaluit, the capital of Canada’s eastern Arctic territory of Nunavut, will host the Arctic Economic Council meeting in September. (The Canadian Press)

Arctic Economic Council to meet in Nunavut in September

Eye on the Arctic brings you stories and newsmakers from across the North

The first official meeting of the Arctic Council’s Arctic Economic Council will take place in Canada’s eastern Arctic territory of Nunavut this September, Canada announced in a news release on Thursday.

Canada is the current chair of the Arctic Council, an intergovernmental forum made of up the world’s eight circumpolar nations.

Canada has made business and economic development the main focus of its two-year mandate.

The business slant of Canada’s chairmanship has been criticized for being overly focused on issues in Canada’s Arctic while ignoring the economic realities of other circumpolar nations.

A picture of Leona Aglukkaq, Canada’s minister of the environment, minister for the Arctic Council and minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency
Leona Aglukkaq, Canada’s minister of the environment, minister for the Arctic Council and minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency. © PC/Sean Kilpatrick

The Iqaluit meeting will be closely watched as the Arctic Economic Council is being pushed by Canada as a key accomplishment of their chairmanship.

“The Arctic Economic Council will facilitate business opportunities, trade, investment and growth in the best interests of Northerners,” said Leona Aglukkaq, Canada’s minister of the environment, minister for the Arctic Council and minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, in a news release on Thursday.

“Canada’s representatives have extensive experience working in the North and will help ensure that a diverse range of businesses are involved in making decisions that promote sustainable economic development across the Arctic.”

QUICK FACTS

Arctic Council Members:

Canada, Denmark (Greenland), Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Russia, United States

Arctic council permanent participants

Arctic Athabaskan Council, Aleut International Association,  Gwich’in Council International, Inuit Circumpolar Council, Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North,
Saami Council

Year formed: 1996

Current Chair (2013-1015): Canada

Next Chair (2015-2017): United States

The Arctic Economic Council was put together for businesses in the North to give feedback to the Arctic Council on economic issues.

Each Arctic State and permanent participant organization will name three business representatives to attend the Iqaluit meeting.

Canada’s representatives are: Tom Paddon, President and CEO, Baffinland Iron Mines Corporation, Lillian Brewster, Vice President of Aboriginal Business, ATCO Structures & Logistics; Peter Tapatai, President, Peter’s Expediting Ltd.

The meeting will take place September 2-3.

For more on what to watch for with the Arctic Economic Council and the role it plays in Canada’s chairman ship:  Listen

Related stories from around the North:

Canada: Canada’s Arctic Council leadership gets mixed reviews, Eye on the Arctic

Finland: Ex-President Ahtisaari calls on Finland to join NATO with Sweden, Yle News

Greenland:  Greenland urged to work with Arctic Council, CBC News

Iceland:  Many questions, but few answers as Arctic conference gets underway in Iceland, Alaska Dispatch

Norway:   Permanent Arctic Council Secretariat opens in Tromso, strengthening Norway’s position in Arctic, Blog by Mia Bennett

Sweden: Feature Interview: Sweden wraps up Arctic Council, Radio Sweden

Russia:  Blog – Russia puts countries on edge in the Arctic, Cryopolitics

United States: U.S. participation in Arctic Council lacks coordination, follow-through: report, Alaska Dispatch

column-banner-eilis

Categories: Economy, Environment & Animal Life, Indigenous, International, Politics, Society
Tags: , , , , ,

Do you want to report an error or a typo? Click here!

For reasons beyond our control, and for an undetermined period of time, our comment section is now closed. However, our social networks remain open to your contributions.