December 9, 2013 - On Friday December 6, 2013, Canada filed a submission regarding its Atlantic Ocean continental shelf with the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf. This submission is a significant milestone in the process prescribed by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. At the same time, Canada filed preliminary information concerning the outer limits of its continental shelf in the Arctic Ocean.
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea reflects the sovereign rights of coastal states over the natural resources of the seabed of the continental shelf. The Convention prescribes a process for states to determine with precision the location of the outer limits of the continental shelf and obtain international recognition for them.
As part of the filing process, Canada’s partial submission and preliminary information will be made available on the website of the United Nations Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea on or after December 9, 2013.
Today, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird and the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of the Environment, Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency and Minister for the Arctic Council, will introduce Canada’s submission from the foyer of the House of Commons. This event will be followed by a detailed technical briefing at Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada by subject matter experts.
Event: Introduction of Canada’s continental shelf submission
Date: Monday, December 9, 2013
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Location: House of Commons Foyer, Centre Block, Parliament of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario
Event: Technical briefing by subject matter experts
Date: Monday, December 9, 2013
Time: 2 p.m. ET
Location: Cadieux Auditorium, Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada, 125 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario
Media representatives wishing to participate in the background technical briefing by teleconference should call 1-877-413-4814 (toll-free from Canada and the United States) or 613-960-7526. The access code to listen in English is 1075109. The access code to listen in French is 3906346.
For more information, please contact:
Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada
613-995-1874
media@international.gc.ca
Follow us on Twitter: @DFATDCanada
