The Arctic is ours, PM says

During the United Nations Conference on Climate Change, Prime Minister Paul Martin came out with a strong commitment to the Arctic and action on climate change.

In a press conference following his address to the conference, Martin said Canada has “a global responsibility for the Arctic” and intends to maintain its sovereignty in the High Arctic.

“The Arctic is part of Canada,” Martin said. “This is our territory and we are going to occupy it the way we do in the South.”

This, Martin said, means maintaining health, education, housing and a military presence.

Although he did not specify the nature of the support he would supply to Arctic communities, Martin said his government would continue to provide support to the scientific research community and that Canada has the “main responsibility” for this.