July 7, 2000
SEAN McKIBBON
Nunatsiaq News
IQALUIT — A delegation of Canadians, including the president of Iqaluit’s chamber of commerce, Alain Carriere, headed for Russia last week to meet with business people there in an attempt to set up trade ties between Arctic communities in both countries.
"We want to introduce and hope to foster business linkages between the two Arctic economies," said Carriere, explaining that the trip is the result of a collaboration between the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, DIAND, and the Baffin Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Carriere said that he was to stand in for the executive director of the BRCC.
The trip was to start with a visit to Moscow, and then trips to three other regions in northern Russia.
Carriere said in the late 1980s, businesses such as Ferguson Simek Clark capitalized on the opening up of the Russian economy and their experience in the Canadian Arctic. He says the idea of Canadian companies taking their Arctic know-how to other Arctic countries should be re-visited.
"There are a number of technologies that we have developed in the North that we would be able to apply in Russia," he said.
Carriere said Russian expertise in permafrost and ice bridges could do much to improve transportation in Nunavut, while Canadian building techniques and energy saving technology are relatively unknown in Russia.
He said the two countries could also exchange wildlife management knowledge.
Russian environmental problems could also be a place for Canadians to lend a helping hand and do some business.
"This is something of a reconnaissance mission," Carriere said. A report will be put together on the findings of the trade mission.
"The new government realizes they have to do something for northern Russia. They have environmental problems and there are many other things that need to be looked at," he said.