Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen:

I am extremely pleased to be here with you today attending this international gathering on the North and I am delighted to see so many familiar faces.

I have been asked to share with you today some insights into the work of the Canadian government over the past two years to renew its commitment to northern issues. I will also be taking this opportunity to give you a brief overview of our new initiative to build a northern dimension to Canada's foreign policy and how this intersects with other international policy work.

For the North, this is a time of rapid and exciting change. Canada's own northern regions are emerging from over a hundred years on the periphery of society and joining the mainstream of Canadian life. Our northern region is now very much part of this Government's agenda. It has also entered the day-to-day lives of Canadians: one only has to pick up any of our major newspapers that regularly feature front-page stories of events occurring in the North.

Internationally, the circumpolar North is emerging as a recognized region in world affairs. Global awareness is growing about the Arctic's importance to the environmental health of the planet. Reflecting all of these developments, people from across the circumpolar North have begun to press for action to address the serious environmental, economic, social and cultural threats facing their communities.

Canada has been an active player in the circumpolar North for many years. We can be proud of our role in building a strong, dynamic and engaged circumpolar community--a community that is proactive and that has begun to challenge national governments and international institutions to develop comprehensive policies to promote and protect this unique region of the world.

We can also take pride in the work Canada has done in "leading by example" and taking the necessary step of taking a critical look at our foreign policy related to the North and crafting directions for new foreign policy efforts.

Let us take a moment to review some of these activities.

In 1996, in the context of a National Forum on Canadian International Relations, Minister [Lloyd] Axworthy expressed the view that "our foreign policy must be rooted in public acceptance and support. It must take its direction from what Canadians think is possible and desirable."

The process of consulting Canadians, especially northerners, on Canada's circumpolar interests has, in fact, been underway for some time. In 1997 the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade met with hundreds of individuals and organizations across Canada,...