Former Nunavut Commissioner Peter Irniq wants Ottawa to stop talking and start acting on climate change.

At a news conference on Parliament Hill on Thursday, Irniq said Canadians need to wake up and acknowledge global warming is forcing Inuit to change their way of life.

'Climate change and global warming is not just a debate anymore.'-Peter Irniq

"Climate change and global warming is not just a debate anymore," Irniq said. "It's real, it's there. So one of the things we have to do is take some action."

Gjoa Haven hunter Jerry Arqviq said the unpredictable weather is making it dangerous for hunters to go out on the ice on their snowmobiles.

He said the warmer weather is also having an impact on polar bears.

"Their skin's are getting different. Their blubber is different now," Arqviq said. "The meat is different now. It used to be nice and red."

Federal Environment Minister Rona Ambrose, meanwhile, told the Commons environment committee on Thursday that the government does not consider climate change to be its top environmental priority, although she acknowledged it is an issue Canadians are "very concerned with."