OTTAWA - Inuit leaders are protesting plans that would change shipping rules and allow the navy to dump garbage and raw sewage into Arctic waters.
They have written to National Defence Minister Peter Mackay to seek clarification on the issue.
"We call on the Canadian navy, and other ships, to exercise restraint in changing their practices in this regard," Mary Simon, resident of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami.
"It's clear the navy is reacting to changes in the Canadian shipping act. There may be ways to comply with the regulations without causing undue harm to the environment."
The new rules, expected to go into effect this fall, would allow warships to jettison food wastes and sewage overboard if they are at least 22 kilometres offshore.
The changes came after ship captains worried that keeping waste food aboard would turn the vessels into smelly garbage scows, especially in light of rising temperatures in the region.
"These food remnants may decay or putrefy and generate an occupational health-and-safety issue on board," a navy internal memo said.
Canadian warships are technically exempt from the Canada Shipping Act as well as from other laws with environmental restrictions, although navy ships are legally bound to comply with ecosystem protections under the Fisheries Act.
The change comes as more ships are dispatched on Arctic sovereignty patrols in an area with limited facilities for disposing of waste on shore.
Duane Smith, president of Inuit Circumpolar Council (Canada), also opposes the plan.
"It's very discouraging to learn of this in addition to the increased stress the Arctic is experiencing with climate change, the opening of the Northwest Passage, and concerns over asserting Canadian sovereignty in the Arctic," he said.
"I would ask people to stop and think. The Arctic is not a dumping ground, in the sea or on land. When people go camping, they take their garbage with them and leave the wilderness as they found it."
Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, too, protested the idea, saying it threatens Arctic waters.
"The Arctic ecosystem is already under stress from warmer temperatures and rapid loss of sea ice cover," she said. "Mr. MacKay should simply direct vessels to return to port to offload trash."
