Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about my participation in the Arctic Encounter Symposium in Anchorage, Alaska.
On April 7 and 8, I had the opportunity to take part in this year’s symposium and present on a panel titled “Heathy Communities, Resilient Communities: Insights from the Arctic.” In the discussion I was able to share lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and how these lessons can be applied to the challenges ahead, such as the ongoing threat to Arctic sovereignty and security.
Mr. Speaker, the Arctic Encounter Symposium is the largest annual Arctic policy event in the United States. Founded in 2013, the symposium focuses on the interests and concerns of the global community regarding the Arctic.
During the symposium I had the opportunity to meet with many dignitaries including Northwest Territories’ Premier Caroline Cochrane, the Ambassador of Canada to the United States, Kirsten Hillman, Canada’s first Consul General to the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, Mia Yen, Assistant Commissioner of the Arctic Region, Neil O’Rourke, the International Chair of the Inuit Circumpolar Council, Dr. Dalee Sambo Dorough and various representatives from Greenland.
Housing, infrastructure, Arctic sovereignty and security dominated many of the conversations at the symposium.
Mr. Speaker, I look forward to continuing the dialogue with the delegates I met at the symposium – I know that many of Nunavut’s priorities are shared by other Arctic jurisdictions.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.