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VICTORIA – Randy Kamp, Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries and Oceans, today announced that Canada’s New Government will invest a total of $13.15 million for six projects that will strengthen Canada’s position as a global leader in Arctic research.
"For Canada, International Polar Year is an amazing opportunity to gain greater scientific knowledge of our North so we can better understand the impacts of climate change on our environment and improve the well-being of our northern communities," said Mr. Kamp. "Canada’s New Government is proud to provide this important financial support that will ensure that our country continues to conduct world-class research in the Arctic."
A total of 44 Canadian research projects were selected for IPY 2007-2008 funding by the Government of Canada in March 2007. Today’s announcement confirms funding for six Arctic Ocean research projects selected under this process, to be led by Fisheries and Oceans Canada scientists. These projects include:
- Canada’s Three Oceans ($6, 400, 000)
- Canadian Archipelago Through-flow Study ($3, 400, 000)
- Climate Variability and Change Effects on Char in the Arctic ($2, 000, 000)
- Global Warming and Arctic Marine Mammals ($350, 000)
- Impacts of Severe Arctic Storms and Climate Change on Arctic Oceanographic Processes ($500, 000)
- Pan-Arctic Tagging of Beluga Whales ($500, 000)
DFO scientists will work closely with Northern residents, as well as Canadian and international academic partners to understand the impacts of climate change on Arctic marine ecosystems. Much of the research will be conducted aboard Canadian Coast Guard icebreakers
The largest of these projects, Canada’s Three Oceans, makes use of two Canadian Coast Guard icebreakers, the CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier and CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent to cover 15,000 kilometres, completely encircling Canada over a two-year period.
IPY 2007-2008 involves thousands of researchers from more than 60 nations around the world. Much of the research associated with IPY will be focused on understanding the effects of global climate change on the Earth’s Polar regions.
The Government of Canada will provide $150 million to support research excellence focused on the Canadian Arctic over the two-year IPY period. The volume of northern research performed during this time will be unprecedented and the results of the 44 Canadian-led projects will make an extraordinary contribution to our understanding of climate change impacts and adaptations and community health and well-being in the Canadian Arctic.
Fact sheets related to this announcement are available on the Government of Canada’s International Polar Year and DFO websites.
Fact Sheets
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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Sophie Galarneau
Manager, Media Relations
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Ottawa
613-990-7537 |
Steve Outhouse
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Ottawa
613-992-3474 |
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NR-HQ-07-27E |
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