Ottawa to appoint Virginia Mearns of Iqaluit as Arctic ambassador

The government of Prime Minister Mark Carney is naming its Arctic ambassador Thursday as it seeks deeper ties with circumpolar nations at a time of rising security concerns. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand’s office says Virginia Mearns will be the Arctic ambassador, which will be Canada’s senior Arctic official on the world stage. “Canada is an Arctic nation, and we are at a critical moment when it is imperative that we safeguard our sovereignty and defend our Arctic interests,” Anand said in a statement. “Mearns will advance Canada’s polar interests in multilateral forums, engage with counterparts in Arctic and non-Arctic states, and serve as a representative in our diplomatic corps.” Mearns lives in Iqaluit and has worked within local Inuit governments. Arctic foreign policy The appointment is part of the $35 million Arctic foreign policy that Ottawa released last December. That policy calls for science collaboration across the Arctic, tighter security co-ordination and new consulates in Alaska and Greenland. Those pledges came ahead of the government’s announcement of cuts to the foreign service — part of Carney’s plan to finance a massive boost in military spending. Carney told an event in Inuvik, N.W.T., this morning that he would officially announce the appointment later today. The appointment comes after U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested Canada should become the 51st American state, while repeatedly floating the idea of annexing Greenland. Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, which represents the interests of Inuit in Canada, has voiced concern about another wave of militarization of their territories, as seen during the Cold War. Those exercises have over decades included forced relocations, loss of property and disruptions to traditional ways of life. The organization has said that Inuit want to help defend Canada against foreign threats but in a way that respects local realities. The group has been in touch with Inuit counterparts in Greenland and Alaska about recent events. Continue Reading