Foreign Affairs Minister to attend Arctic Council Ministerial Meeting in Finland

Statement

May 3, 2019 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced that she will be in Rovaniemi, Finland, from May 6 to 7, 2019, to attend the Arctic Council Ministerial Meeting.

The Minister will meet with international counterparts and political leaders to advance issues of common interest in the region, including climate change, Indigenous priorities and the rules-based international order.

Quotes

“The Arctic is a unique region that is facing unique challenges. In particular, the accelerated pace of climate change in the Arctic presents huge challenges and opportunities for Arctic countries and the Indigenous peoples who have lived there for generations. The Arctic Council Ministerial presents us with a chance to discuss these challenges with other Arctic countries and Indigenous representatives and work to find common ground.”

- Hon. Chrystia Freeland, P.C., M.P., Minister of Foreign Affairs

Quick facts

  • The Arctic Council was established in Ottawa in 1996 with the Ottawa Declaration. Canada was the first chair of the Arctic Council, from 1996 to 1998, and again from 2013 to 2015. The chair of the Arctic Council rotates among the member countries every two years.
  • ·The Arctic Council’s member states are Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the United States.
  • Six Indigenous peoples’ organizations are permanent participants at the Arctic Council, contributing Indigenous perspectives as a crucial part of the council’s work. Three of the permanent participants include Canadian representation: the Arctic Athabaskan Council, Gwich’in Council International and Inuit Circumpolar Council.
  • Canada is currently co-developing a renewed Arctic policy framework with Northerners; territorial and provincial governments; and First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples, which will replace Canada’s Northern Strategy and Statement on Canada’s Arctic Foreign Policy.

Contacts

Adam Austen
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Adam.Austen@international.gc.ca

Media Relations Office
Global Affairs Canada
343-203-7700
media@international.gc.ca
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