Our Government believes strongly that our activities in the Arctic must be informed
by and must add to our scientific knowledge of the region. … And that’s why today
I’m delighted to announce that our Government is committing significant funding over
the next six years starting this year to begin the construction process for the
Canadian High Arctic Research Station here at Cambridge Bay.
The Canadian High Arctic Research Station will also enhance Canada’s visible presence
in the Arctic. In this way, science and sovereignty are entwined, and the important work
now being done out of Resolute Bay on the continental shelf will dovetail with the
research to be undertaken here. … My friends, the North is Canada’s inheritance and
Canada’s future. (Prime Minister Stephen Harper)
Cambridge Bay, Nunavut – August 23, 2012
Thank you very much. Thank you. And a special thanks to everybody, special thanks particularly to Connie Kapolak for hosting us here at the Kiilinik High School. We appreciate the use of these wonderful facilities.
Greetings to everyone, to territorial commissioner Elias, to Premier Aariak, to Minister and MLA Peterson, obviously to my colleagues, to Minister Duncan, to Senator Patterson, to Yukon MP Ryan Leef, to Mayor Gillis and also to the president, I gather, of NTI is here, also President Evalik and all of your colleagues from the Kitikmeoq Inuit Association.
Mesdames et messieurs, ladies and gentlemen, let me begin by giving a special thanks to the lady who introduced me today, to Minister Aglukkaq. Leona, let me thank you not only for that kind introduction, but more importantly, let me thank you for the work that you’re doing.
You know, Nunavut, in fact all Northerners need strong voices in Ottawa to achieve all that is possible, people who combine the region’s roots and traditions with a clear vision for the future.
Nunavut has never had such a strong voice as this woman, Canada’s Minister of Health, the Minister for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, and of course, your Member of Parliament.
She is doing great work in all of these areas for the North and of course for all of the country.
By the way, I just want to also mention that both Laureen and I do want to thank everyone who worked so hard to organize last night’s community feast.
We were very disappointed in 2010 when weather kept us from getting here as we had planned.
I said that I would be back, and I can tell you that it’s certainly been worth the wait.
It was truly a great night, so thank you, Cambridge Bay.
Mesdames et messieurs, je suis très heureux d’être ici parmi vous tous.
Ladies and gentlemen, it’s a real pleasure to be here with all of you on this, my seventh annual summer tour of the great Canadian North.
J’ai maintenant vu une grande partie du Nord du Canada, d’Inuvik à Iqaluit, de Whitehorse à Alert.
Et comme toujours, c’est un plaisir pour moi; je dirais même plus – je trouve cela inspirant.
I’ve seen a lot of Northern Canada, from Inuvik to Iqaluit, from Whitehorse to Alert, and I always enjoy it.
In fact, I can say that I find it inspiring.
As Northerners, you know what I mean when I say that as you look out over the land, it seems endless, and so too are the North’s possibilities.
On Tuesday, I spoke of the vast mineral wealth upon with the economic future and orderly development of the North so vitally depends.
Yesterday I talked about the North’s rich environmental heritage as we announced the boundaries of our newest national park.
Aujourd’hui est un jour important pour une raison qui touche autant le développement économique et la protection de l’environnement, et cette raison concerne les connaissances scientifiques.
Today is an important day for a reason related to both economic development and environmental protection, and that is scientific knowledge.
Our Government believes strongly that our activities in the Arctic must be informed by and must add to our scientific knowledge of the region.
C’est pourquoi nous investissons dans la géocartographie complète, dans la recherche dans les parcs nationaux, et dans les projets de grande envergure, comme le programme du plateau continental pour l’air à Resolute Bay.
That’s one reason why, as I’ve mentioned before, we’ve invested in comprehensive geomapping in our territories and in research studies in our national parks.
It’s why we’ve expanded the polar continental shelf program research facility at Resolute Bay, which is now complete, by the way, and in operation, and why we’re engaged in research work under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Expansion of our satellite surveillance capacity will also assist these endeavours.
Still, our decision in 2010 to establish a Canadian High Arctic Research Station right here is of the greatest significance.
Et c’est pourquoi aujourd’hui je suis heureux d’annoncer que notre gouvernement alloue des fonds considérables pour les six prochaines années à compter de cette année afin d’entamer la construction de la Station de recherche du Canada dans l’extrême Arctique ici à Cambridge Bay.
And that’s why today I’m delighted to announce that our Government is committing significant funding over the next six years starting this year to begin the construction process for the Canadian High Arctic Research Station here at Cambridge Bay.
Un consortium de Montréal qui a acquit une vaste expérience de l’Arctique a obtenu le contrat de la conception et commencera son travail dès maintenant.
The project’s site selection is in its final stages.
The project’s office will be open next summer, and actual construction of the centre will follow.
But we are not waiting for completion of the building.
Our Government is also committing a substantial additional amount for the research station’s crucial science and technology programs.
All told, today’s announcement is a little under $200 million over the next six years.
Mes amis, notre gouvernement croit que les recherches au sujet du Nord doivent être menées dans le Nord.
My friends, our government believes that the right place to do research about the North is in the North.
The Canadian High Arctic Research Station will serve a further purpose.
La Station de recherche du Canada dans l’extrême Arctique accroîtra la présence visible du Canada dans l’Arctique.
The Canadian High Arctic Research Station will also enhance Canada’s visible presence in the Arctic.
In this way, science and sovereignty are entwined, and the important work now being done out of Resolute Bay on the continental shelf will dovetail with the research to be undertaken here.
Now, friends, I have one other significant matter to deal with.
Next year, Canada will take over the chairmanship of the International Arctic Council.
Je suis heureux d’annoncer qu’en plus de ses autres fonctions de ministre, votre députée, Leona Aglukkaq assumera le rôle du ministre d’état pour le Conseil de l’Arctique.
I’m pleased to announce that in addition to her other ministerial duties, your Member of Parliament, Leona Aglukkaq will assume the role of Minister for the Arctic Council.
In this capacity, she will be Canada’s chief representative, in effect, Canada’s ambassador to and chair of the Arctic Council.
So congratulations, Leona.
This is a very important job, and I know you will be consulting with territorial governments and Aboriginal organizations as you prepare for the chairship.
The fact that we have for the first time appointed a cabinet minister to the position is a measure of how seriously we take this work, and we do.
Mes amis, le Grand Nord canadien est notre patrimoine, notre frontière, et notre avenir.
My friends, the North is Canada’s inheritance and Canada’s future.
That’s why we place such emphasis on our Northern strategy and all of its objectives: upholding Canadian sovereignty, promoting economic and social development, improving Northern governance, and of course, protecting our environmental heritage.
The North is also Canada’s great adventure.
It always has been. Laureen and I count ourselves profoundly fortunate to have seen as much of it as we have.
Yet even Canadians who have never seen its wild and vast beauty know in their heart that the North is Canada’s call to greatness, and that our country’s biggest dreams lie in our highest latitudes.
And of course, upon the success of our activities here will depend in significant measure what kind of country Canada will be in the century to come.
Thank you all for being here.