Welcome to 2030 NORTH: A National Planning Conference

Co-hosted by the Canadian Arctic Resources Committee (CARC), Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) and the University of Alberta’s Centre for Military and Strategic Studies (CMSS)

January 26-29, 2009
Ottawa Marriott
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Canada is waking up to the reality of a North transformed by climate change, challenges to northern sovereignty, and rapidly increasing natural resource exploration and development. But beyond vague and often contradictory messages about polar bears or the Northwest Passage, Canadians have no clear picture of what this will mean to their lands and waters, wildlife and peoples of the circumpolar world. 2030 NORTH will assemble the best data and expertise about the north to create the first comprehensive picture of the Arctic 20 years from now - and beyond.

Canada’s current northern presence, policies and programs were, for the most part, shaped years ago to meet the needs of a very different social, political and physical environment. Maintaining our claims to sovereignty and leadership will require a new vision for a new north - a comprehensive public policy agenda that recognizes and reflects the pivotal role of the Arctic, today and in 2030. Working within a highly interactive format focused on discussion and analysis of five original, commissioned papers, participants will generate the foundations of a comprehensive northern strategy and action plan to guide Canada forward to 2030, and beyond.

 

Who should attend: Aboriginal leaders, organizations and governments Scientists and academics Federal, territorial and community government representatives Senior policy makers Business and industry with an interest in northern development NGOs and foundations