OTTAWA, Aug. 21, 2014 /CNW/ - David Stewart-Patterson, Vice-President, Corporate and Public Affairs, The Conference Board of Canada, is available to speak to the media on northern issues pertaining to social and economic development, Arctic sovereignty and northern governance.

For five years, the Conference Board of Canada's Centre for the North has served as a forum for research and dialogue on Northern and Aboriginal issues. Recent research, The Role of the Public Sector in Northern Governance, examined governance practices and challenges in Canada's territories.

Focusing on economic development in the north, the January 2013 report, The Future of Mining in Canada's North, discusses key issues that must be considered to ensure that both the positive and negative impacts of mining projects are fully understood, such as infrastructure, regulatory uncertainty, skills shortages and Aboriginal rights.

The October 2013 report, Changing Tides: Economic Development in Canada's Northern Marine Waters, examines how to safely make the most of the economic potential of Arctic waters. Factors that could inhibit growth include commodity prices, infrastructure, emergency response and search and rescue capacity, information gaps, and regulatory regimes. While, mitigating the risks and enhancing the benefits of development will require more integrated governance and better use of public and private-sector resources.

SOURCE Conference Board of Canada