Canada's Changing North

Book excerpt: Among the many recent developments explored in Canada's Changing North is the legal recognition of aboriginal rights by the Canadian state, which has led directly to significant increases in their political and economic power. It also examines how economic development, which has long focused on non-renewable natural resources, particularly minerals, has grown to an enormous scale. Development of arctic oil and gas, which hinges on world supplies and national and international politics, has meant major changes across the North. Some of the new national parks in the Canadian North are already under threat from mineral development. Northern tourism has made it possible for a wide variety of affluent visitors to visit hitherto remote areas, affecting the ecology. The final selection, on northern challenges, discusses critical issues such as the impact of climatic change, the social needs (e.g. housing, education) of a rapidly increasing aboriginal population, environmental protection of unique regions, and defence of Arctic sovereignty. Of the sixty-two readings in this edition, forty-one are new.