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The Arctic policy of Canada refers to the foreign policy of Canada in regard to the Arctic region and to Canada's domestic policy towards its Arctic territories. This includes the devolution of powers to the territories. Canada's Arctic policy includes the plans and provisions of these regional governments. It encompasses the exercise of sovereignty, social and economic development, the protection of the environment, and the improving and devolving of governance. Canada, along with the 7 other Arctic nations, is a member of the Arctic Council. On August 23, 2012, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced that Nunavut MP Leona Aglukkaq will serve as chair of the Arctic Council when Canada assumes the Chairmanship from Sweden in May, 2013.〔(PM Harper: Nunavut MP Leona Aglukkaq will chair the Arctic Council PM Harper: Nunavut MP Aglukkaq will chair the Arctic Council )〕 Along with its mainland in the upper regions of the North American continent, Canada claims sovereignty over the related continental shelf and the Arctic Archipelago. It considers the waters between the islands of the Archipelago to be Canadian Internal Waters. The United States considers those to be international waters. Canada has more Arctic land mass than any other country. This land is included within the administrative regions of the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon. As of 2011 approximately 107,265 Canadians live in the Arctic.〔(Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, 2011 and 2006 censuses )〕 ==History== Government interest in the North began with the English explorations of Frobisher and Davis in the 1500s and the 1670 Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) charter. The HBC charter gave the company title to Rupert's Land, the watershed of Hudson Bay. In 1821, the rest of the present-day Northwest Territories and Nunavut south of the Arctic coast was added to the charter. Then, in 1870, the Hudson's Bay Company transferred title to its lands to Canada. Thus, the new dominion acquired sovereignty over all of what is now northern Canada except for the Arctic islands. This northern mainland sovereignty has never been questioned.〔 In 1880 the government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland transferred to Canada the rest of its possessions in the Arctic, including "all Islands adjacent to any such Territories" whether discovered by British or foreigners, or not yet discovered.〔 Further historical information related to Canadian Arctic policy can be found in the sections which follow. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Arctic policy of Canada」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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