Indian and Northern Affaires indiennes Affairs Canada et du Nord Canada 1 1 Canada’s Northern Strategy and Arctic Science Nick Xenos, INAC "Simulation

Indian and Northern Affaires indiennesAffairs Canada et du Nord Canada

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Canada’s Northern Strategy and Arctic Science

Nick Xenos, INAC

"Simulation of Canadian Cryosphere": Project WorkshopJan. 19, 2010

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DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL DIMENSION

Exercising our Arctic sovereignty as international interest in the region increases.

SovereigntyEconomic and Social

DevelopmentEnvironmental

Protection

Adapting to climate change challenges and ensuring sensitive Arctic ecosystems are protected for future generations.

Governance

Providing Northerners with more control over their economic and political destiny.

Encouraging social and economic development and regulatory improvements that benefit Northerners.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY UNDERPIN ALL FOUR PILLARS

www.northernstrategy.ca


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Canada’s Northern StrategySovereignty Environmental Protection

Ongoing scientific work proceeding for UNCLOS, including joint work with US

Articulated Canada’s Arctic foreign policy Strengthened presence at the Arctic Council Announced NORDREG – mandatory

reporting Successful Op-Nanook sovereignty exercise

Undertaking a feasibility study for the High Arctic Research Station

Arctic Research Infrastructure Fund supports projects across the North

Arctic Waters Pollution Prevention Act amendments received Royal Assent

Completed Nahanni National Park expansion Signed Canada-UK MOU on polar research

Economic and Social Development Governance

Launched Can-Nor, the new economic development agency for the North and the Northern Projects Management Office

Signed Labour Market Agreements with the three territories

Signed the Inuit Education Accord Announced full funding for Pangnirtung Small

Craft Harbour

Signed negotiation protocol on Nunavut devolution

Implemented funding arrangement to strengthen Nunavut’s financial management systems and network capacity

SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS ACROSS ALL FOUR PILLARS


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Canada’s Arctic S&T advantagesGeography 25% of global Arctic 40% of Canada Widest range of Arctic ecosystems due

to huge north-south gradient – unique natural laboratory

People Over 100,000 live in the territories Traditional knowledge accumulated

over 10,000 years of habitation Canadian Arctic scientists - world class

Resources Oil and gas Metals and minerals Fisheries and wildlife Arts and tourism

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Current Canadian Arctic S&T

283 287 307 450 473 476 476 495 659 7901,0651,2171,226

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Source: Science-Métrix

Excellence• 2nd only to US in Arctic science publications• On average ~15% of the world’s Arctic S&T papers are Canadian• Highly specialized in Arctic science• Networked to the key players in polar researchTraining and skills development• International Polar Year: 950 new researchers and students, more than

900 Northerners were engaged • ArcticNet: 370 graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, research

associates, and technicians • Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council: 700 students and

fellows funded to do Arctic research• Northern Scientific Training Program: 444 students supported in 2008/09Entrepreneurial impact• Collaboration between industry, academia and governments


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On-going federal funding to Arctic S&T

from a number of sources including:

• Granting councils

• Natural Sciences and Engineering Council (NSERC)

• Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)

• Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

• Canadian Foundation for Innovation

• Departmental S&T budgets ...

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International Polar Year (IPY)

• $150M from the Government of Canada Program for IPY over 6 years (2006/07 – 2011/12); $6M from NSERC, the largest ever polar research program

• 52 science and research projects: $106M focused largely on:• Climate change impacts and adaptation• Health and well-being of northern communities

• Mobilized 1400 investigators and 190 foreign collaborators from 17 different countries in 67 communities in Northern Canada

• Results beginning to emerge and are pushing the boundaries of our knowledge about Arctic

• Early results workshop to be held in February 2010 (Ottawa)

• “From Knowledge to Action”: IPY wrap-up conference, Montreal April 22-27, 2012


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“Budget 2009 provides INAC with $2 million to undertake a feasibility study for the proposed [High Arctic Research] station, which will lever existing research infrastructure by serving as the hub for scientific activity in Canada’s vast and diverse Arctic region.

…also… with up to $85 million over the next two years to invest in maintaining or upgrading key existing Arctic research facilities. Funds will be allocated on a competitive basis to projects, with a view to providing a near-term economic stimulus while building a strong foundation for Arctic research capacity that supports government priorities.”


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High Arctic Research Station (HARS)• Signature deliverable of the Northern Strategy• Key legacy for International Polar Year

Consultations highlighted three requisite conditions to advance Arctic S&T through HARS:

1. World-class hub for Arctic S&T

2. S&T program that delivers excellence and relevance

3. Strong research network across Canada’s vast and diverse North

5 Phases Feasibility Design Build OperateDefinition

Current status


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1. Draft HARS Mission and ObjectivesDraft Mission

– To increase and apply our knowledge of the Arctic in order to improve the lives of Northerners, all Canadians, and the world

Draft Objectives To provide leadership and the platform that supports:– Internationally recognized S&T– Influential science advice for Canada and the globe – Innovative S&T solutions to improve economic activity,

environmental protection and quality of life for Northerners and all Canadians

– Enhanced S&T capacity through education and outreach Set of principles for the Station will also be established


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1. World-class platform

Defining user requirements and facility functions

• Input from HARS Experts and Users Group

• Benchmarking against other polar stations, other laboratories

• Costing based on similar facilities in both the Arctic and Antarctic

WORK•Labs

•GIS•Marine•Wet•Dry•Analytic•Computing•Mobile•Engineering•eHealth•Social science

•Tech incubator•Business incubator•Workshops•Experimental site •Traditional knowledge centre•Logistics •Offices

RESIDE•Accommodation •Dining•Recreation

STORE•Data/Info•Photos•Maps•Library•Samples•Equipment•Specimens•Vehicles•Supplies

INTERACT•Meeting rooms•Teaching space•Video/conferencing•eLearning•Telecommuni-cations •Satellite receiving station•Science centre•Auditorium


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1. Location• Short-list of 3 Nunavut communities

announced on February 20, 2009– Cambridge Bay– Resolute Bay– Pond Inlet

• Information collected:– People/Community Dimension– Science and Technology Dimension

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2. S&T Program• Extensive process to define

S&T priorities for HARS– Scoping and synthesis papers– Visioning Workshop– International panel convened by

CCA process

• NCP Blueprint model could be used as a mechanism to further refine the S&T priorities


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2. S&T Program

Sustainable resource development

Environmental science & stewardship

Climate change

Healthy & sustainable communities

Canadian Visioning workshop’s proposed S&T priority themes

• Using a NCP Blueprint model, sub-categories and S&T questions would be developed for each theme

• Program activities could include:– S&T research, including traditional knowledge– Monitoring– Data management– Logistics– Knowledge transfer– Education, outreach and training


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3. Infrastructure Network:

Construction at Nunavut Research Institute (Iqaluit, NU)

Construction at Kluane Lake Research Station (Yukon)

Centre d’Etudes Nordiques construction (Whapmagoostui/ Kuujjuarapik, Nunavik)

strengthening Canada’s Arctic S&T infrastructure

• $85 million over two years was committed as part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan for the Arctic Research Infrastructure Fund (ARIF)– Open and competitive Call for Proposals was

launched in an expedited process – Proposals were reviewed by a National

Selection Committee of experts– Funding for 20 projects at 37 sites

announced on March 30&31, 2009– Work is underway at all 20 projects and is

to be completed by March 31, 2011


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3. ARIF projects

Star : shortlisted HARS locationBlue #s: Arctic Research Infrastructure Fund Projects

Note: Map is for illustrative purposes only.

315

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3. ARIF Recipients1. Arctic Health Research Network, Northwest TerritoriesProject Lead: Arctic Health Research Network, Northwest Territories

2. Arctic Migratory Bird Research NetworkProject Lead: Environment Canada

3. Aurora Research InstituteProject Lead: Aurora College

4. Centre d'études nordiques (CEN) - SAON NetworkProject Lead: Université Laval

5. Churchill Northern Studies CentreProject Lead: Churchill Northern Studies Centre

6. H. S. Bostock Geological Core LibraryProject Lead: Yukon Geological Survey

7. Health Canada Radiological Monitoring NetworkProject Lead: Health Canada

8. kANGIDLUASUk Base CampProject Lead: Nunatsiavut Government

9. Kluane Lake Research StationProject Lead: Arctic Institute of North America

10. Labrador Institute & Nunatsiavut Research CentreProject Lead: Memorial University & Nunatsiavut Government

11. M'Clintock Channel Polar Bear Research Cabins

Project Lead: Queen’s University

12. Nunavik Research Centre

Project Lead: Makivik Corporation

13. Nunavut Research Institute

Project Lead: Nunavut Arctic College

14. Nunavut Research Vessel

Project Lead: Government of Nunavut

15. Old Crow Research Facility

Project Lead: Vuntut Gwitchin Government

16. Polar Continental Shelf Project Project Lead: Natural Resources Canada

17. Polar Environment Atmospheric LaboratoryProject Lead: Dalhousie University

18. Quttinirpaaq National ParkProject Lead: Parks Canada

19. Yukon CollegeProject Lead: Yukon College

20. Yukon ForestryProject Lead: Government of Yukon


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Next Steps

• HARS: Finalize the Feasibility Study– Establish the functions and operational

requirements of the facility– Location analysis– Outline the preliminary project costs and schedule

to build the Station

• S&T Program– Continue to refine S&T program

• Infrastructure Network– Successful delivery of ARIF


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Nick Xenos Director, Arctic Science Policy, [email protected] (819) 934-9218

www.northernstrategy.ca

Photo: Paul Vecsei

Documents

Indian and Northern Affaires indiennes Affairs Canada et du Nord Canada 1 1 Canada’s Northern Strategy and Arctic Science Nick Xenos, INAC "Simulation