During a presentation on Thursday to the Canadian House of Commons in regards to Arctic sovereignty, Mary Simon, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami president, said that Canada should create a joint federal-Inuit “authority” to manage ships travelling the Arctic sea route as a means of strengthening the country’s claims to the much disputed Northwest Passage.

Simon also said that a “creative partnership” such as the one she is suggesting could be the start of an era of “tackling challenges in ways that could be freshly beneficial for Inuit and for Canada as a whole.”

During her presentation, Simon said, “It might be productive to explore the possibility of a joint Inuit/federal government Northwest Passage authority that would offer a pro-active regulatory regime against the expected increase in ship traffic. If we can have a seaway authority for the St. Lawrence on a joint Canada-U.S. footing, there is room to consider an analogous authority for the Northwest Passage built around an Inuit/federal government partnership.”

Simon also said that if the Inuit had a hand in monitoring the Northwest Passage it would not only respect and pay homage to “the history of Inuit use” of the Arctic waters, but also the “central importance of sustainable economic development for Inuit communities.”
Simon’s also repeated her request that the position of Canadian Arctic ambassador be reinstated. Simon held the position under the Liberal leadership.

University of British Columbia expert in polar geopolitics, Michael Byers, supports Simon’s proposal for more Inuit involvment. But Myers makes it clear that when it comes to participating in regulating the Northwest Passage any formal Inuit participation would have to be done under federal authority.

“Including the Inuit in Canada’s efforts to regulate and manage the Northwest Passage makes sense. In short, it would underline that Inuit are a continuing element in Canada’s sovereignty claim — and that they support Canada’s position.”