Development or Bust: Canada’s Arctic Council Chairmanship 2013–15

Abstract

Canada chaired the Arctic Council from 2013–15. During its tenure, Canada attempted to rebalance the policy focus of the Arctic Council from environmental protection to sustainable, or as it termed it, responsible development. These efforts were met with resistance from many within the Arctic Council epistemic community. Critics feared that its support for resource development compromised efforts to combat climate changes; and that the agenda favored business stakeholders over scientific ones. This chapter describes and assesses Canada’s efforts to prioritize Arctic development at the regional level. It evaluates the extent to which its development agenda gained traction not only during its Chairmanship, but subsequently in the American and Finnish Chairmanship agendas and through the ongoing work of the Council. Finally, it provides some reflections on the style and impact of the Canadian Chairmanship.