The announcement came today by Minister of Fisheries Jonathan Wilkinson and President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami Natan Obed.
Minister of Fisheries Jonathan Wilkinson and President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami Natan Obed announced today of the creation of a unique Arctic Region inclusive for the Inuit Nunangat.
The Inuit Nunangat is a collectivity of 53 Inuit communities across Nunatsiavut (Labrador) Nunavik (Quebec), Nunavut, and the Inuvialuit Settlement Region of the Northwest Territories and the Arctic Region inclusive will be spread out over four operational regions by the Canadian Coast Guard once it's established.
The new area will also help bring closer collaboration between the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, the Coast Guard, and Inuit and First Nations issues and rights regarding fishing, shipping and resource developments in the area.
The creation of the Arctic Region will be implemented in phases and first steps include the recent hiring of a Department of Fisheries officer regional director and commissioner. The roles will be based in Rankin Inlet and Yellowknife.
President Obed says he welcomes the creation of the new Arctic Region, and the specific policy needs that will be created by Inuit and staffed by Inuit.
The Canadian Coast Guard will have four operational regions once the stand-alone Arctic Region is established.