News Nicole Halseth News Editor n recent years, the Arctic has become a hot commodity, and Arctic issues are increasingly making their way into international headlines. Russia is only the latest Arctic nation to follow this trend. According to Daniel Sandford of BBC News, in his article Russia's Arctic: Mission to Protect Wildlife, “Russia is planning huge oil and gas developments in the Arctic Ocean off its northern coast--drilling that could threaten pristine wildlife habitats.” Despite warnings from Russian scientists that large populations of walruses and polar bears could be put at risk, the Russian government is continuing early exploration of potential production areas and may begin activity within the next two decades. Nicole Halseth News Editor o it seems that Liberal leader and MP Justin Trudeau is ‘one of us.’ Or at least, one of the nearly 40% of ‘us’ in Canada who have dabbled with marijuana at least once. Openly admitting he has smoked pot after becoming an MP, though only “five or six times” in his lifetime, has resulted in immediate backlash from members of the Conservative party, among others. When asked, Prime Min- ister Steohen Harper responded that these actions “speak for themselves,” while Justice Minister Peter MacKay publicly questioned Trudeau's ability to lead Canada and declared he sets a “poor example’ for all and especially youths. However, it seems not all sectors of society are willing to condemn the man for his actions, as high profile celebrity and human rights spokesman George Takei was quick to praise Trudeau for his bold admission. Trudeau himself is unapologetic over smoking pot, and has taken it one step Polar bears and walruses in Russia (and around the world) are already facing hardships resulting from climate change and environmental degradation; the most significant of which is retreating ice due to melting, which has forced numerous Arctic animals away from traditional feeding grounds to further inland where food is more dangerous and more difficult to procure. Instituting large-scale oil and gas production would likely further disrupt their lifestyles due to noise and pollution, chasing away food which is already growing scarce. These activities would also risk potential oil spills that are devastating on the surrounding environment, and can be dangerous, costly, and time consuming to clean up. Like Russia, Canada is now facing a similar dilemma where it comes to dealing with our own Arctic interests. Arctic Canada is rich in culture, biodiversity, and natural resources. It has a longstanding history of being a place of intercultural exchange through interactions between Arctic explorers and vibrant Inuit communities. Arctic Canada is interspersed with unique ecosystems and life that exist nowhere else on the planet, though both the Inuit and these unique ecosystems have recently been facing the challenges of climate change and continued environmental degradation. Canada’s Arctic also holds great political and economic potential. First, it has gained increased attention recently in regards to the Northwest Passage, which after further glacial melting may serve as an efficient and viable international trading route. Second, our Arctic holds enormous potential further. In July, Trudeau announced that pot is one of the major issues dealt with in his new policy plans, and sup- ports full legalization of the substance. This is an upgrade from his previous stance of just decriminalization. Stating that “the current model is not work- ing’ in regards to the war on drugs, Trudeau believes it is more important now to tax and regulate it in order to ensure social progress is being made. One of Trudeau's main arguments towards the legalization of marijuana is the pressure it puts on the legal systems, and the associated costs. Currently, hundreds of thousands of people have incurred criminal records for possession and/or use of marijuana. These near 500,000 records may re- sult in barriers to future travel, employ- ment and citizenship, while additionally costing law enforcement almost $500 million per annum. The Liberal Farty is explicit in its resolution to “understand the need to consider ending the prohibition of marijuana and addressing the root causes of crime to see real results,” as is seen on their website. Other solutions directed towards taking the pressure off law enforcement and minimizing the impact on citizens caught with marijua- na include more “enforcement options,” such as ticketing. Arguments against the legalization of marijuana in the past have been nu- merous. After Trudeau's announcement in July, the Conservatives posted on their official website that pot has harm- ful effects on its users and society as a whole, and that legalizing it would be against the interests of Canadian families. Another main argument put forth put forth by the Conservatives is that legalizing pot may make it more readily available to youths. Individual opinions aside, the legaliza- tion of marijuana would have plenty of impacts on Prince George, and in the UNBC community as a whole. Aside from the obvious, this action would have direct effects on the level and severity of crime in Prince George, as well as local finances and debt. It would also impact public perceptions and social interactions. As youth and The Russian and Canadian Arctic: Beyond Oi for large oil and gas reserves, which makes it extremely valuable to the international community. However, this current and future oil and gas mining threatens the environment in which it is housed. Arctic nations around the world are gradually realizing this fact, and placing more focus on protecting their habitats because of it. This gradually increasing awareness remains, even if some do not appear to be on the same page. Given the challenges Canada’s Arctic is already facing, we must be cautious not to follow such an environmentally damaging route if we wish to continue enjoying a vibrant, sustainable Arctic in the future. Should we fail in this respect, we may not be the ‘true north’ for much longer. Peter Power | heglobeandmail.com young adults are a significant propor- tion of users and first time users of pot, legalization would also impact students across Canada. Whether these poten- tial impacts would be negative or posi- tive remains to be seen, though that they would be seen and most likely felt is almost certain. For more information on what to expect should Canadians legalize marijuana, we could possibly look to the examples set by other coun- tries, such as the Netherlands, who have already been dealing with the aftereffects of legalizing marijuana. Pot legalization may be one of the key political issues in our very near future. Furthermore, it will be interesting to see if this stance of total and complete honesty will be something we can expect from Trudeau throughout his run in politics, and if this will be a help or hindrance to him in the next federal election.