11th Conference of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region
The 11th Conference of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region was hosted by the Canadian parliament in Whitehorse 9-11 September 2014.
The Conference unanimously adopted a Conference Statement directed towards the governments of the Arctic Region, the Arctic Council and the institutions of the European Union.
The participants attending the conference in Whitehorse
The first part of the Conference Program was the welcoming remarks chaired by the two Co-Chairs of the Conference Ms Sara Olsvig, MP and Chair of the Standing Committee (SCPAR) and Mr David Tilson, MP and President of the Canada-Europe Parliamentary Association
Mr Tilson and Ms Olsvig
The welcoming remarks of Mr David Tilson, Hon. Daniel Lang, Senator, Yukon, Mr Ryan Leef, MP, Yukon and Hon. Darrell Pasloski, Premier of Yukon.
Following the welcoming remarks, Ms Sara Olsvig reported to the Conference of the activities of the Standing Committee since the 10th Conference of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region in September 2012.
The topic of the Session 1 was: Sustainable Infrastructure Development.
The first panelist was Mr Mitch Bloom, Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency. Mr Bloom was followed by the second panelist Mr Rick Myers, Mining Association of Canada.
Mr Dennis Bevington, MP Canada and Vice-Chair of SCPAR was the rapporteur in session one.
Mr Dennis Bevington, SCPAR rapporteur in session 1
Session 2 was titled: Governance Models and Decision-Making Processes
The first panelist was Ms Dalee Sambo Dorough, University of Alaska, Anchorage. She was followed by Ms Susan Harper, Department of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Development, Canada.
Mr Eirik Sivertsen, (speech) MP from Norway, was the rapporteur from the Standing Committeeon Governance Models and Decision-Making Processes.
Mr Eirik Sivertsen, rapporteur in session 2
Session 3 was titled: Enhancing Northern Economies: Responsible Resource Development and Capacity Building
The first panelist was Mr Justin Ferbey, Carcross/Tagish Management Corporation. The second panelist was Mr Tom Paddon, Baffinland Mines.
The rapporteur from the Standing Committee was Senator Lisa Murkowski, US Senate.
Mr Justin Ferbey, Carcross/Tagish Management Corporation, panelist in session three
Session 4 was regarding: Environmental Challenges.
The two panelists addressing Environmental Challenges were Ms Gail Fondahl,University of Northern British Columbia, and Ms Annika E. Nilsson, (manuscript) Stockholm Environmental Institute.
The rapporteur from the Standing Committee on Environmental Challenges was Senator Vladimir A. Torlopov, Council of Federation, Russia.
Ms Annika E. Nilsson, Stockholm Environmental Institute, panelist on Environmental Challenges