Putting the Canadian Polar House in Order

Résumé

Northern Canada is facing unprecedented social, political, economic, environmental, and cultural changes. Unfortunately, attention to northern issues has typically been sustained for only short periods in response to external events usually associated with interests in minerals, oil and natural gas reserves, or pipelines. Public policy needs to be supported by a strong knowledge base: the results of scholarly studies and various research and monitoring programs can help government to identify problems, set priorities, and implement solutions. The cumulative effect of inadequate federal funding has been to marginalize northern research, creating a crisis in capacity and knowledge that can no longer be ignored. ... Several fundamental problems have contributed to the current crisis in northern science and research in Canada. Canada has no accepted northern science and research strategy. ... There is a conspicuous lack of funding for northern research in Canada, at a time when most other polar countries have significantly increased their investment in research capacity, including infrastructure and logistical support. ... Federal northern science and research programs and resources are fragmented across numerous departments and agencies. Conflicting mandates between and within individual departments result in poor planning and a lack of continuity. ... Numerous disincentives in the research community have diminished interest in northern research. Thus a lack of training and replacement of northern researchers has led to a serious reduction in our capacity to address northern issues in many fields. So how do we put our polar house in order? ... Building on the suggestions made by England (2000), we propose a two-part solution to secure Canadian leadership in northern science and research. These proposals both enhance political identity and accountability and improve opportunities for effective planning and action. First, there is a critical need to develop a national strategy for Northern Science, Research, and Knowledge (NSRK). This NSRK Strategy would be tabled in Parliament and would provide direction for national commitments and activities. The Strategy would be developed by an interdepartmental deputy minister committee, in consultation with northern governments (territorial and aboriginal), the northern colleges and research institutes, university-based northern research institutes, northern communities and the private sector. ... Second, we propose that the federal government establish a Canadian Northern Research Service. The Service would support the development of a NSRK Strategy .... The Service would also provide a home for northern training and education initiatives, particularly the University of the Arctic. The Northern Scientific Training Program is already one of the most successful ways of enhancing northern research expertise, but it could be expanded to include northern students and greater community involvement. ...