Month: August 2010

Here's my transcript of the English-language portions of Prime Minister Stephen Harper's press conference in Churchill, Man. earlier today:

Prime Minister Stephen Harper: The weather today here in Churchill has held us back a bit. This is the reality of Canada’s north. This is actually the second time this has happened. A couple of years ago we had a trip up to the high north delayed because of high winds and storms. So these things do happen. It’s a reality in Canada’s north and a reality in all of the country.

We live in a magnificent country with a challenging climate. It might hold us back at the airport but it doesn’t hold us back in building this great country. In fact, if Canada’s history is anything to go by, it makes us all the more determined.

Today traditional activites like hunting and fishing co-exist alongside cutting edge scientific research. In many ways, the vibrant community of Cambridge Bay represents a fulfillment of John Diefenbaker’s vision of a Canada of the north. And following in the Chief’s footsteps, this government has a four-point northern strategy. We are exercising Canada’s Arctic sovereignty, promoting social and economic development, protecting the north’s environmental heritage and improving and devolving northern governance so that northerners have a leading role in charting their own destiny.

The ongoing partnership between the Government of Canada and the citizens of this hardy land is aimed at building a strong and prosperous future for all of our true north. For instance, investments in scientific research here provide benefits for local communities but in a much broader sense. When we strengthen these communities we strengthen our country.

That’s why in Canada’s Economic Action Plan, we set aside substantial funding to maintain and upgrade key Arctic research facilities. Investments in Arctic science strengthen Canada’s sovereignty, fostering more sustainable environment and contribute to a growing economy. That’s why this government made a commitment to establishing a world-class station that can be a hub for research in the high Arctic.

And we are taking the next steps to deliver on that commitment. After careful review, including a comprehensive feasibility study, it has become clear which community would be the best home for this investment. Today, I’m pleased to announce that Cambridge Bay will be the site of the Canadian High Arctic Research Station. This will be a world-class centre for science. This will be a tangible expression of this government’s determination to develop and protect all of our true north. And it will serve as an important stepping stone for the continue progress of Cambridge Bay.

The Canadian High Arctic Research Station will be a meeting place for Canada’s top scientists and, indeed, for leading scientists from around the world. The station will stimulate not only local economic activity and leading-edge research. It will also inspire the imaginations and the ambitions of young Canadians in Cambridge Bay and across the north.

I want to take a few moments … to talk about the bigger picture. In the recent global recession, Canada has done better, far better, than its peers among advanced countries. And while the strength of our economy is encouraging, nothing can be taken for granted. That’s why we continue to be focused on the economy and jobs and why we are continuing to follow a plan, Canada’s economic action plan, a plan that has witnessed the creation of nearly four hundred thousand net new jobs over the past year.

We are investing in things that have a lasting value for our communities and for our country. If we stay on course and we continue to make strategic investments like the high Arctic research station in Cambridge Bay, I’m confident future prosperity awaits us all.

Mark Kennedy, Postmedia News: [The research station] is being located in a part of the Arctic where they are increasingly seeing winters that don’t last as long so I’m wondering to what extent will this centre teach us all about the impact of global warming, how will that assure the sceptics that, indeed, global warming is a reality and how will it impact your reputation as a government that is actually getting serious about research on the issue?

Harper: This government has been generously funding research on that issue and – yes – I would anticipate that the high Arctic research station will become a hub for research on climate change as well as a wide range of other issues. It will be a large-scale world-class centre that will be looking at all aspects of northern science and northern environment. But rest assured – research on that is proceeding already. For instance, I was in Alert, in the very far north – the farthest north you can go – not long after I became prime minister. I visited the weather station there where they were, in fact, tracking the effects of climate change. So this is something our government does contribute to.

Bruce Campion-Smith, Toronto Star: This research station has been three years in the making. It’s going to be potentially another five years (until design is complete). We have icebreakers, which are long-term. Patrol vessels. What do you say to critics who say that some of the signature projects of your Arctic initiative — there doesn’t seem to be an urgency to them. When do you think scientists might take up station in Cambridge Bay?

Harper: I would say to you: These are big-scale, long-term projects. They’re not done in an instant. Major Coast Guard procurements, for example, are the same as major military procurements. They take place over a long period of time. Obviously, they’re co-ordinated with the wearing-out of existing vessels and the replacement of those vessels. In the case of the research station, yes, it is also a long-term project in terms of development. There’s a lot of design work to be done on this. In the meantime, we have been putting additional money into northern research and into existing northern research facilities to expand programs and to lay the groundwork for the eventual and final establishment of the research station. So just to be clear: They’re long-term projects but we’re not standing still. Things are happening to prepare the ground and to expand the scientific research programs in the north in the meantime.

Terry Milewski, CBC Television: A question on another topic, if I may: You’ve been clear for some time that Canada’s continuing mission in Afghanistan is going to purely civilian. Parliament has been clear. It’s also clear that without armed security no civilian mission is really possible and [Afghanistan] President [Hamid] Karzai doesn’t want private contractors anymore. Doesn’t it follow that Canadian civilians working in Aghanistan will either have to be protected by the military of some other nation or by Canadian military? What is your preference?

Harper: Well, these are difficult questions. I see there’s a report today on some proposals for our future involvements. I should just be clear that while officials are examining various proposals we have not taken decisions and there are difficult questions along those lines to answer and I will certainly concede that President Karzai’s decision will certainly complicate some of those choices in the future. But I’m not in a position today, Terry, to answer those questions but we are working on.

Daniel Thibeault, Radio-Canada: [Asks, in French, about Harper’s reaction to the hostage taking in the Philippines and whether or not he’s had a chance to speak to the families of the Canadian victims]

Harper: No I haven’t had a chance to speak to anyone involved. Officials, obviously are following this very closely and I’m not in a position to give any details but we do know there are deaths involved in this incident. It is a terrible and a tragic incident and obviously I just want to take this opportunity to express my condolences on my behalf and obviously on behalf of the entire government to the families who have lost loved ones in this particular tragedy.

James Cudmore, CBC Radio: A couple of weeks ago you were asked about seismic testing in Lancaster Sound and, at the time, you said it had nothing to do with oil and gas exploration but the government of Canada’s role in that testing program is funded under the geo-mapping for energy and minerals program whose goal is to provide high-quality data on the location and exploitation of energy and mineral resources. I wonder if you can explain that discrepancy and, more broadly, if you could speak to what extent aiding in the exploitation of Arctic energy and mineral resources is a priority for your government.

Harper: Well, first of all, let me be clear. My understanding of this particular testing – it’s principal purpose – was in the development of the protected marine area we’re developing there. But obviously the government has made a commitment to do enhanced scientific mapping throughout this region. And obviously potential uses of that knowledge are multifold in the long-term. But this is, we have felt, good scientific work that is of great value to Canada and provides a potential employment in this part of the country and I should mention that the particular project in question was something we agree to with the government of Nunavut. So we’re obviously disappointed with the court decision and have not yet taken a position on how we will respond to that decision.

Cudmore: And more broadly on the extent that your government feels it necessary to aid in the exploitation …

Harper: I say that this kind of data is useful for all kinds of potential purposes but obviously any kind of economic development, [or] specific resource development that we pursue, we want to make sure we do in concert with people in this region of the country and that they will benefit significantly should that occur.