Prepared by: John Higginbotham
March 31, 2015
ABSTRACT:
This study highlights the strong relationship between Canada’s Arctic territories’ marine transportation and infrastructure, and the need for economic and community development, a relationship which will be affected by the melting of the Arctic ice cap. The paper examines the pressures for urgent action in the Canadian Arctic given domestic and global interests. It reviews existing marine and intermodal transport systems in the Canadian Arctic, underlines how transport systems can facilitate Arctic resource and community development, looks at obstacles to Arctic marine transportation development, considers the experience of gateways and corridors in Canadian transport policy as a useful model for the Arctic, and examines the issue of Arctic governance. It further considers current and potential Arctic cooperation with the United States and other countries and organizations as a key to North American Arctic marine development. The report concludes with detailed recommendations for a National Arctic Marine Transportation Strategy by the federal government in partnership with the
territories and aboriginal organizations.
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