Dear Prime Minister Harper,

I am deeply concerned about climate change in the Arctic and the threat this poses to the polar bear.

Temperatures in the Arctic are rising at almost twice the rate of that of the rest of the world, and it is threatening to place the entire Arctic ecosystem in jeopardy. For the polar bear, an irreplaceable symbol of the Arctic, climate change could lead to their extinction.

The polar bear depends on sea ice to survive, hunting for seal until the ice disappears every summer. As climate warming reduces the extent of the pack ice, the polar bear loses precious hunting time, and the number of polar bears declines.

I call on the Government of Canada to protect the polar bear's habitat and slow the effects of global warming in Canada's treasured Far North.

I call on the Government of Canada to take the lead in protecting our natural heritage. We must provide international leadership in the battle against global warming.

I call on the Government of Canada to establish strong regulations concerning access to and removal of natural resources from within Canada's North. Oil and gas development should not come at the expense of our nation's wildlife.

I call on the Government of Canada to maintain essential habitat for all Arctic wildlife, and ensure that Canadian communities in our North are not disrupted by climate change.

Thank you for considering my views.