Canada, Russia, continue to talk as part of Arctic Council meeting in Yellowknife

YELLOWKNIFE – Canada may be upset at Russia over Ukraine, but talks on northern issues continue between the two.

Government officials confirm that a Russian delegation is attending a meeting in Yellowknife this week held by the Arctic Council.

All members of the eight-nation group are attending, even though the council includes some of Russia’s harshest critics, such as the United States.

A spokeswoman for Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq (ah-GLOO’-kah), who heads the Arctic Council, says Prime Minister Stephen Harper has instructed officials to review all bilateral relations with Russia.

But Amanda Gordon says the work of the Arctic Council will continue as planned for now.

In Europe this week, Harper questioned the mentality of a government that says Canada has no right to speak out against Russia’s moves against Ukraine.