Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper ate raw seal meat as he launched the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, a federal body designed to speed up the development in northern Canada. Its establishment is one of the commitments promised by Ottawa under the Economic Action Plan, on Tuesday.

The launch of the agency is one of the highlights of the five-day visit of the prime minister to Canada's north, which he has done yearly. Harper also replicated what Canadian Governor General Michaelle Jean had done when she was in the same region a few weeks back - that is eat seal meat to send a message to the European Union that Canada backs the seal hunt industry.

The northern development agency, to be known as CanNor, will have its main office in Nunavut's capital city Iqaluit, but will have regional offices in two other northern cities, in Yellowknife and Whitehorse. CanNor will have an annual budget of $50 million for the next five years.

Harper had the raw and boiled seal liver and ribs as their meal while holding a cabinet meeting with several ministers. According to the aides of the prime minister it was the first time Harper ate seal meat, but he savored it. When Jean ate the raw seal meat a few months back, it created a furor overseas, particularly the EU which was then about to pass a law banning the entry of seal products in the 27-member regional bloc.

The seal trade is one of the sources of livelihood of north residents. The region is attracting more international attention because of the confirmation of vast oil resources trapped underneath the Arctic ice.

Harper said, "Whether we are talking about the abundant natural resources or the resourcefulness of northerners themselves we are acting today to unleash the north's true potential."