Louis Fortier
Département de biologie, Université Laval
Ottawa, October 24, 2000

The ice pack that covers the central Arctic Ocean has thinned by over 40% in the last 30 years and its area has shrunk by 14%. It is unclear if this trend is part of a natural cycle or represents one of the first signs of global climate warming. The ice cover controls air-sea exchange of gazes (including greenhouse gazes), determines the rate of sequestration of carbon dioxide by the Arctic ocean, and is the only habitat of the unique Arctic fauna. Given the potential importance of the Arctic Ocean in controlling global climate, most countries of the G7 have dramatically developed their Arctic research programs in recent years. Despite obvious Arctic responsibilities, Canada is not contributing its share to this international effort. This is primarily because cut-backs in federal Arctic programs during the last 20 years have left the Canadian northern research community in a state of crisis. A noted exception to the recent lack of Canadian leadership in the Arctic is the International North Water Polynya Study (NOW). By bringing together the scientific expertise, logistical and financial means of universities and federal institutes and by inviting international expertise to complement the Canadian expertise, the NOW Research Network conducted one of the most successful multidisciplinary program in Arctic oceanography ever. The advantages and difficulties linked to a network approach are illustrated and quantified. It is concluded that international networking is the only way for Canada to fulfil its Arctic mandate and re-assert its sovereignty over its high Arctic territories.