QUEBEC – Steven Blaney, M.P. for Lévis–Bellechasse, announced today that
the Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker Amundsen will spend the next 15 months
as a platform for major scientific missions that will be conducted in Canada's High
Arctic. The announcement was made on behalf of the Honourable Loyola Hearn, Minister
of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO). The ship's participation represents an $18.1-million
investment by the new Government of Canada for International Polar Year (IPY).
"For 15 consecutive months, researchers from Canada – including several from
DFO – and a number of other countries will be working from a Canadian Coast Guard
icebreaker," said Mr. Blaney. "Canada's New Government is proud to fund a project
that offers a unique opportunity to increase our scientific knowledge of the North
and to improve both the environment and the health and quality of life of Canadians."
The CCGS Amundsen will leave Quebec City on July 26. During its 469-day
voyage, it will explore several sectors of the Canadian Arctic, travelling as far
north as 81° N in Kane Basin. It will also have to navigate the most difficult part
of the Northwest Passage, Bellot Strait, which marks the northernmost point of the
continent.
The success of the mission depends in large measure on the Canadian Coast Guard's
expertise in planning northern expeditions and navigating ice-covered waters, which
it acquired particularly during previous, similar missions. A scientific project
will require that the ship spend the entire winter in the Arctic and that it remain
constantly in motion, despite the ice. This will mark the first time that a Canadian
icebreaker succeeds in navigating throughout the winter months in the Arctic.
Three main scientific missions will be conducted on board the Amundsen:
the Circumpolar Flaw Lead System (CFL) Study, the Inuit Health Survey, and the continuation
of the work of ArcticNet, a Network of Centres of Excellence of Canada. The first
two projects received an $18.1-million grant from the new Government of Canada for
the ship's participation, which $14.1 million was recently announced in Winnipeg
for the CFL project.
The CFL study, led by Dr. David Barber of the University of Manitoba, will be
conducted over 10 months. "The project will be an unprecedented study integrating
physical and biological science as well as western and traditional knowledge," said
Dr. Barber. "This will be the first time a ship has ever over-wintered in a flaw
lead, enabling us to conduct a thorough examination of the arctic ecosystem towards
a better understanding of the impact of climate change on the North."
The Inuit Health Survey will be led by Dr. Grace Egeland of McGill University.
"The health voyage will give us insight into those factors that contribute to health
and resiliency of the Inuit to better prevent the negative impact of the overwhelming
changes associated with globalization, westernization, and climate change." said
Dr. Egeland.
ArcticNet, the Network of Centres of Excellence of Canada headed by Dr. Louis
Fortier of Université Laval, is studying the impacts of global warming and the modernization
of the Arctic on Canada's Far North, in particular, the environment, human health,
geopolitics and the economy.
"The Amundsen and ArcticNet will play their most important role downstream
from IPY, by enabling Canada to continue research into the changes occurring in
the Arctic, maintain close links among research teams, train young researchers and
preserve for prosperity the huge datasets that are acquired" said Dr. Fortier.
At the international level, thousands of scientists and researchers from more
than 60 countries are participating in IPY. The new Government of Canada will contribute
$150 million to supporting excellence in research on the Canadian Arctic during IPY's two-year Canadian component.
For more information on International Polar Year, visit
http://www.ipy-api.gc.ca/.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
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Pascale Fortin
Communications Advisor
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Quebec City, Québec
418-649-6297
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