Analyzing The Harper Government's Decision Making Process on Building and Funding the Canadian High Arctic Research Station ...

• Main Author: Girard, Michael
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: The School of Public Policy 2013
• Subjects: Arctic; Climate change; Global warming
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.11575/prism/30141; https://prism.ucalgary.ca/handle/1880/51606

The objective of this Capstone project is to analyze the decision-making processes of Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s government with regard to its Northern vision and of the establishment of a Canadian High Arctic Research Station (CHARS). Investigation of policy that supports this Northern vision will be reviewed throughout this Capstone to understand how the Harper government is implementing its announcements. The importance of the Arctic research station (CHARS) will be discussed throughout; specifically, emphasis will be placed on the changing environment in Northern Canada that has resulted from climate change. Global warming is causing changes to the arctic landscape, allowing once largely inaccessible Northern maritime passages to become accessible year-round. Additionally, there is currently no active body in Northern Canada that monitors or enforces Canadian claims to sovereignty over its Northern borders. These are significant issues that may influence the decision-making process of the Harper ...