*PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS NOT A REAL PETITION, IT IS ONLY FOR A CLASS* Dear Mr. Harper, The issue of Arctic sovereignty is one of growing importance and must be addressed by the Canadian government. With rising climate temperatures, numerous amounts of resources are being found in this region that appeal to many countries. Furthermore, access to the Northwest Passage is highly beneficial for the formation of efficient trade routes. While many countries seek to gain control in the Arctic, specifically the precious seaway of the Northwest Passage, Canada needs to claim ownership of the area. Not only would control of the Passage be advantageous for the Canadian government, it would also help the indigenous people who reside in this region. This is a call for action for the government to claim autonomy over the Arctic, and specifically over the Northwest Passage. The government can benefit from controlling the Northwest through various resources, such as oil, minerals, natural gas and fish. Accessing these resources would allow the government to profit and would thereby be economically beneficial. However, as examples have shown in the past, development is not always in the best interest for the indigenous people living in the area. The indigenous people that inhabit the Northern regions of Canada are self-sufficient and unruly or unregulated development could severely affect their way of life. Therefore, to best serve the economic needs of the country without neglecting the fundamental rights of the indigenous, an NGO would be the best option to act as a liaison between the government and local communities. The input NGO corporations would help protect the indigenous people and the overall environment of the region. We urge the government to claim our rightful Arctic terriroty as a part of Canada to benefit the overall Canadian economy. But we heavily stress the protection of the indigenous people that reside in the Arctic region. Sincerely,