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Canada set to declare Arctic marine sanctuary protected: officials
"We are very pleased that the federal government is taking proactive steps to safeguard this globally significant marine ecosystem,"
- Chris Debicki, Nunavut director for Oceans North Canada
The leading advocates of a new national marine park in Lancaster Sound — a wildlife-rich but controversial expanse of waters off the north coast of Baffin Island — say the Canadian government is poised to end doubts about the area’s future and officially declare it protected.
A national marine park would prevent oil and gas extraction in the area of Canada's northeastern Arctic that is roughly twice the size of Lake Erie. Mr. Baird made it clear that any major oil and gas reserves in the region could impact the location of the boundaries. "But there is no doubt that a lot of oil will be taken off the table," he said.