Even in our day science suspects beyond the Polar seas at the very circle of the Arctic Pole the existence of a sea which never freezes and a continent which is ever green.

Consider this: I can go to Antarctica and get cash from an ATM without a glitch but should I fall ill during my travels a hospital there could not access my medical records or know what medications I am on.

Ten percent of the big fish still remain. There are still some blue whales. There are still some krill in Antarctica. There are a few oysters in Chesapeake Bay. Half the coral reefs are still in pretty good shape a jeweled belt around the middle of the planet. There's still time but not a lot to turn things around.

We have a moral responsibility to save wild places like the arctic refuge for future generations and that is why our country has remained committed to its protection for nearly 50 years.

For example the Prime Minister earlier this year talked about the importance of the Arctic to our future. He's right. A hundred years from now the strength of Canada is going to be coming from our resources in the Arctic.

This journey is not over. Our education initiatives have so much momentum and we're committed to sharing even more stories from the Arctic when we return.

Remember in 1973 the same science chatter said that the coming Ice Age is going to occur we're going to lose millions of people. And the politicians knew how to solve it they just didn't have the courage to solve it they were going to put coal dust on the Arctic.

For years I never knowingly went on a holiday. When I travelled it was for work. Now I am a huge advocate particularly to places which have amazing wildlife such as Antarctica India and Patagonia.