Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in December 2016 the federal government announced that it would be developing a new Arctic Policy Framework (APF) in collaboration with Indigenous, territorial and provincial partners. I would like share some of the work and feedback that Inuit of Canada are proposing in response to a draft Table of Contents shared at a recent meeting.

The APF proposes four themes, Mr. Speaker:

1. Economy and Trade;

2. Defence, Safety, and Security;

3. Environmental and Scientific Cooperation; and

4. Social and Cultural Cooperation.

Mr. Speaker, the Inuit Circumpolar Council of Canada (ICC) recommends a reorientation of these themes, focusing on Inuit self-determination:

1. Changing "economy and trade" to "sustainable economy and trade," emphasizing the fact that, while the GDP in Canada's Arctic is 150 per cent higher than the Canadian average, most of the wealth generated in the region does not stay in the communities;

2. Changing "defence, safety, and security" to "peace, safety, and security," emphasizing a reorientation from defence to peace;

3. Changing "environmental and scientific cooperation" to "healthy environment, healthy people," focusing on considering environmental health and Inuit well-being as one, and equal consideration of traditional and scientific knowledge; and finally

4. Changing "social and cultural cooperation" to "Inuit-Crown partnership for social, cultural, and global cooperation," emphasizing meaningful Inuit participation in international agreements and bodies.

Mr. Speaker, the inextricable linkages between issues of sovereignty and sovereign rights in the Arctic and the Inuit's self-determination and other rights require states to accept the presence and role of Inuit as partners in the conduct of international relations in the Arctic. The foundation and projection of Arctic sovereignty and sovereign rights all require healthy and sustainable communities in the Arctic.

Mr. Speaker, there is an opportunity for Indigenous groups in the Arctic to get involved in developing of the new Arctic Policy Framework. The work that ICC has done today is a good example and shows how Inuit division of policy takes shape. I encourage other Indigenous groups to participate in meaningful engagement with federal government and other partners on this important framework. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.