Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay emphasized Ottawa's commitment to the North in Whitehorse this morning while welcoming diplomat from around the world.

'You are in Canada to promote your countries' interests, as you should,' MacKay said in his address to approximately 65 ambassadors and high commissioners.

'But you are also here to help explain Canada to your own governments and citizens you represent.

'That is why a visit to the North of Canada is of great importance. I am convinced that you cannot understand this country until you appreciate the role that the North has played in the formation of the Canadian character and the Canadian psyche.'

The ambassadors are here for the the ninth annual diplomatic forum that is held in different areas of the country as a means of providing diplomats with an opportunity to leave their consulates to see and experience more of the country first-hand.

The list of visiting dignitaries shows representation from every region of the globe, from Angola to Brazil, Croatia to Finland, El Salvador to China, Israel to Mozambique, Australia to Serbia....

The ambassadors and high commissioners to Canada began arriving Sunday for three days of meetings beginning today. One day is scheduled to discuss issues and governance models specific to the North. The meetings are not open to the media.

MacKay told the diplomats the North is a place that many Canadians have the good fortune to see.

'So you are among the blessed to see this part of the country.'

In the Yukon, said MacKay, everything is big: the mountains are big, the rivers are big; and he cautioned his guests that if they hear buzzing overhead, it's likely not a helicopter or airplane, but a mosquito because the mosquitoes are big.

The North can also be harsh and intolerant, the minister said.

He referred to the 1922 movie Nanook of the North, a production thought to be one of the first documentaries based on an Inuk family as they travelled, hunted and lived.

It was a testament the spirit and humour of the people, he said.

'What many people don't know, however, is that the Inuk hunter who played Nanook dies of starvation shortly after the film was made because the hunt failed that year. It speaks of the harshness....'

In addition to reiterating Ottawa's promise to enhance its profile in the Arctic, MacKay highlighted the federal government's ongoing financial and military support for the Sudan's Darfur region and Afghanistan.

He pointed out Canada's decision to withdraw support for the new Hamas-led Palestinian government, as the Hamas are listed in Canada's Criminal Code as a terrorist group.

Many, he said, were surprised that Canada acted first, but is a reflection of the decisiveness that exists with the Conservative government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

'We have no desire to act rashly,' MacKay told the ambassadors and high commissioners.

'We are not in the business of trying to be first out of the starting blocks for its own sake.

'But, when your interests are clear, when you see your duty to the country and to other nations clearly, then there is no reason to hold back and wait for the rest to catch up. Leadership has its risks, but indecision and timidity or dithering carry far greater risks when it comes to international decision-making.'

But MacKay also pointed out Canada is still providing support for the Palestinian people through non-government organizations and other means, under a watchful eye to ensure money is not diverted to Hamas.

The Foreign Affairs minister lauded the success of Canada's presence in Afghanistan and the strides the country has made politically and socially with Canada's help.

Young girls are having the opportunity to obtain education for the first time in their lives, woman are opening up businesses for the first time, millions of refugees have returned and general security is increased for a country that was once a breeding ground for terrorists, he said.

In a brief interview after his address, MacKay said Canada's commitment to the North is solid, and will come in the form of his party's initiative to increase spending for equipment and personnel to strengthen the Department of National Defence.

MacKay said he will leave it to Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor to lay out at a future time exactly what additional resources Canada was planning for the North to enhance Canada's sovereignty in the Arctic.

The federal government's commitment to maintaining its sovereignty in the Arctic is real, and not imagined, he insisted.

He expects gains will be made with the United States over issues of dispute in the Beaufort Sea by building stronger and more co-operative relationships.

The minister said he was up early this morning for a run that took him along the Yukon River, and gave him a chance to admire the mountains and breathe the brisk clean air.

'It is such a pleasure to be here in Whitehorse.'

MacKay is a lawyer by trade, and was born and raised in Nova Scotia.

He was first elected in 1997, returned in 2000, 2004 and again last January.

MacKay is the former leader of the Progressive Conservative Party, which signed the agreement in October 2003 to merge with the Canadian Alliance Party.