My Little Corner of Canada, March 6

Lancaster Sound has been recognized for decades by the international scientific and environmental community as one of the most important ecosystems in the world. It has been called “The Serengeti of the Arctic.”

Iconic species like the humpback, beluga, narwhal, walrus, polar bears, thousands of various seabirds and other marine mammals inhabit and migrate through it each year.

It is the gateway to their breeding and calving areas all through the High Arctic. Scientists and environmental experts have been calling on the Government of Canada to give it necessary protection for years.

Finally, in 2006, Stephen Harper made an election promise to establish a national marine conservation area in Lancaster Sound.

This was applauded by environmentalists and all the communities in the area. What has happened since then? Nothing much.

Discovering that the government had an obligation to involve the Inuit and their organizations in the establishment of the conservation area, the government approached the Qikiqtani Inuit Association to begin the discussions of establishing this marine park.

But it became clear right from the beginning that the government was in no hurry to establish the marine park. The government kept stalling and there was little progress in the negotiations.

Instead, the government announced they wanted to allow exploration for oil and gas in and around Lancaster Sound.

The government, at first, visited the surrounding communities to consult with them. Confronted with almost total opposition to oil and gas exploration, the government abandoned their token consultation efforts and announced they were going ahead with exploration over the objection of the communities.

The QIA took them to court. The government lost.

They were told they had a duty to consult the Inuit properly and to seek their informed support under the terms of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement. The government retreated from their strong-arm tactics.

But, about a year later, they again announced their intention to allow exploration in Baffin Bay. Even after having lost in court, this government seems intent on bulldozing ahead. This time, the community of Clyde River is taking court action to stop them.

The oil companies and governments admit their existing technology would be almost totally inadequate to deal effectively with an environmental disaster like the blowout in the Gulf of Mexico.

Some oil companies still have exploration permits around the mouth of Lancaster Sound. It seems that Harper is prepared to sacrifice Lancaster Sound in favor of his friends in Big Oil.

It has been 10 years since Harper promised to create a national marine park around Lancaster Sound. It is an election year again in Canada. Harper needs to be reminded of the promise he made in 2006.