Policy Issues
Sustainable Development in the Hudson Bay/James Bay Bioregion
In 1991, CARC, along with the Rawson Academy of Aquatic Science and the Environmental Committee of Sanikiluaq, initiated fundraising efforts for a comprehensive program designed to address some of the bigger environmental issues raised by hydroelectric development in the Hudson Bay region. The program was officially launched at a reception in February hosted by the Hon. John Fraser, Speaker of the House of Commons, and a founding member of CARC. Program staff have now also been engaged. To date, the project has commitments totalling $600 000 from nine Canadian and U.S. foundations.
In addition, two federal government departments will contribute a total of $45 000 for work related to the program, with the Government of the Northwest Territories contributing $15 000. The Canadian Nature Federation has agreed to provide the services of one of its staff scientists.
The federal government, led by Environment Canada, is now committed to a program for Hudson Bay and James Bay that will complement the work being undertaken by CARC, Sanikiluaq, and the Rawson Academy. Environment Canada has agreed to host a scientific workshop this spring to identify the issues involved in assessing the cumulative environmental impacts of hydroprojects in Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec.
Inuit Relocation
In the Spring 1991 issue of Northern Perspectives, CARC examined in detail the circumstances surrounding the decision to relocate northern Quebec Inuit to the High Arctic. The study followed the release of a controversial report by the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development which determined that sovereignty had prayed only a minor role in planning carried out by the federal government.
In January 1992, a study prepared by Prof. Daniel Sobemman of Queen's University for the Canadian Human Rights Commission found that sovereignty had played a role in the relocation decision and that the government had "failed to meet its fiduciary duties of care and diligence in planning and carrying out the relocation, and in not taking steps in the first few years to honour its promise of return."
Noted Prof. Soberman: "In those years, the Inuit relocatees of 1953 suffered unnecessary hardship, particularly in the first year-as did to a lesser extent the relocatees in 1955- caused by inadequate planning and implementation of the project ... Their hardship was aggravated by the long delays and difficulties many of the first generation relocatees encountered in finding their way back to Inukjuak. The delays resulted in long-distance separation of different generations of the same family."
The report concluded that the relocation experiment was flawed and that the federal government should apologize to the Inuit families involved. While it did not endorse a call f or financial compensation made by several Inuit groups, the report recommended that the government pay for
Canadian Environmental Assessment Act
Executive Director Stepben Hazell continues to co-chair the Canadian Environmental Assessment Caucus, representing environmental non-governmental organizations across Canada In November, the caucus presented a brief to the legislative committee studying proposed amendments to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (Bill C-13). The legislation was passed by Parliament in March 1992. Hazell is also a member of a multi-party committee that will advise the federal government on the numerous regulations that will be required to implement Bill C-13.
Arctic Environmental Network
In conjunction with groups in the United States, Scandinavia, and Russia, CARC has initiated discussions aimed at establishing a coalition of environmental organizations on arctic and sub-arctic issues. The goals of the coalition are to foster the exchange of information on resource development and related issues, and to provide input into ongoing discussions on multilateral co-operation. Plans are currently underway to establish an international secretariat and a conference or series of workshops involving arctic ENGOs. An initial meeting of North American groups, based in Ottawa, Yukon, Alaska, and Washington was held in September 1991.
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR)
CARC was one of several North American environmental organizations involved in the battle to prevent oil and gas development in Alaska's "1002" lands. Executive Director Stephen Hazell spoke at the North Slope Conference in Wbitehorse in October about the need to adopt a bioregional or ecosystemic approach to the entire North Slope, from the Northwest Territories to Alaska. CARC is now assisting in the development of a management regime for the North Slope.
International Arctic Council
For the past two years, CARC has worked closely with the Arctic Council Panel, an independent group founded to promote multilateral co-operation in the international North. In consultation with northerners, the panel has recommended procedures and structures designed to further dialogue and enhance the effectiveness of an Arctic Council as a regional voice within the international community.
Thanks in large measure to the work of the Arctic Council Panel, then External Affairs Minister Joe Clark announced in November 1990 that Canada supported the idea of an Arctic Council. Canada's commitment was reinforced by statements made by Indian and Northern Affairs Minister Tom Siddon in June 1991. An initial meeting of circumpolar representatives concerned with the creation of an Arctic Council is scheduled for spring 1992 in Ottawa.