Keith Hutchings, minister of innovation, business and rural development, is in St. Anthony today for the launch of a series of sessions as part of a provincial government initiative to identify opportunities in the Arctic.
“With the eyes of the world looking northward, Newfoundland and Labrador is ready to lead the way,” Hutchings said in a news release. “Collectively, Newfoundland and Labrador’s knowledge and expertise of working in cold and harsh ocean environments, ideal geographic location, industrial infrastructure, first-rate educational, research and development capacity, and innovative, world-class companies position the province at the frontier of Arctic-related activities. This exercise holds the potential to further identify new economic and business opportunities.”
Through its Arctic Opportunities Initiative, the province says its working with businesses and organizations to “identify opportunities in the Arctic, build knowledge and capacity, and create awareness of Newfoundland and Labrador’s expertise and capabilities related to the Arctic.”
The series of sessions, termed engagement sessions, will include discussion on activities in the Arctic, opportunities and challenges, as well as the role of the provincial government in facilitating such opportunities.
“These sessions will provide stakeholders with an opportunity to be a part of the process from the beginning,” said Hutchings. “The dialogue and information generated during these sessions will be an essential component in determining how the provincial government can assist stakeholders in successfully pursuing opportunities in the Arctic, as well as in the further development of the Arctic Opportunities Initiative.”
Businesses and organizations from a variety of industry sectors, industry associations, academic institutions, and the federal government have been invited to participate.
Once again, the provincial government is looking to Labrador to exploit its resources - non renewable resources. If it checks the blog icyseas.org there is ample evidence that the great white north is melting due to climate change. Soon, our fish stocks will be affected by loss of salinity in the water due to the Petermann Ice Island which is twice the size of Manhattan and is melting and headed into Labrador waters. For once, I'd like to see the thick heads in Confederation building make a concerted effort towards conservation rather than exploitation.