The Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney, appointed Inuk leader Virginia Mearns as the Ambassador for the Canadian Arctic, as part of the new Canadian foreign policy, which aims to develop diplomatic relations in the Far North.
The Prime Minister took advantage of his visit to the Northwest Territories to make it the announcement, in the Inuvik community.
The new ambassador, who lives in Iqaluit, is currently Director of Relations with Inuit at the Inuit Qikiqtani association.
The Canadian Prime Minister is visiting the Northwest Territories, especially in the Fort Smith community where he was born.
Photo : CBC / Carla Ulrich
She also held various management positions in the government of Nunavut, including that of the deputy minister of executive and intergovernmental affairs.
Virginia Mearns was also involved for ten years in the Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) organization.
In a press release, the Inuit Qikiqtani association praised the qualities of leadership, initiative and the wisdom of Ms. Mearns’ strategic opinions, as well as its role in the progress of many projects.
The association also welcomes this appointment as the recognition of the strategic role of the Arctic and the involvement of Canada in the boreal regions, to work with the Arctic Council and promote multilateralism there.
The appointment of Virginia Mearns is part of the new Canadian foreign policy, which also provides for the opening of new consulates in Alaska and Greenland.
These offices will have the main objective of supporting scientific research and promoting security in the Arctic with other Nordic nations.
With information from David Thurton