In attempting to influence national policy on circumpolar issues it will be important to encourage the flow of ideas between interested groups and thus enhance prospects for a broadly based, efficient, and effective advocacy. On the matter of support for circumpolar and northern research in Canada, the record of corporate Canada in this regard leaves much to be desired, especially in those cases where very large revenues and profits are won in resource development. Whether this comes in the form of new corporate research initiatives or from royalties and taxation, passed through governments or some combination of the two, is a matter to be decided. This is not about research to serve purely corporate agendas. It is about paying a fair share towards publicly agreed on research needs.
Sound knowledge is always a wise investment.
Lessons Learned and the Way Ahead . This will be an important opportunity to promote policy perspectives on a wide range of circumpolar issues. An international gathering such as this is an opportunity to develop public and stakeholder support and encourage political and administrative leaders here in Canada to be open to innovative approaches to meeting circumpolar needs on into the future. Research and analysis on ways to link the two is required in the near future. Both the National Forum on Canada's International Relations and the Sustainable Development Conference in Whitehorse present useful opportunities to develop a strategy publicly.