Harper's Arctic Stand Makes For Grand Politics

It is only an international waterway if we let them frame the issue that way. It is well within Canadian territorial waters, and thus we have solid claim over that stretch of the arctic.

If this row heats up watch for coded media words like 'legal position', and 'international waters' to describe the situation. Like the mysterious wmds they will repeat the same phrases over and over until people come to believe them - even Canadians. Like in this article, they will try to show that it is not only the U.S., but other countries as well.

Harper is really putting himself out there as this could blow up in his face. He has now taken a strong position to preserve Canadian sovereignty. If he neglects that position and fails to achieve what was also a campaign promise, he helps take them down a notch going into the next elections. They were the party to "Stand for Canada" as their election slogans say, well they better stick to it, because Canadians have shown they have no problem punishing parties at the ballot box.

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If there was ever a time for Canadians to become pushy - now is the time - for time is running out on this nation called Canada.

Roy Whyte: This is nothing more than a smoke screen , it a big to do about nothing. I can hear the exchange now between Bush and Harper.
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Ring ! Ring " Hello.

Bush “ Hello Prime Minister Harper , I just want to let you know how please we are down here that you in power son, congratulations.

Harper “Well thank you President Bush , yes George I can hardly wait to start working with our good American neighbours.

Bush: Ok son lets cut the crap.. Here the way it going to be and do frigging miss with me, listen up. Ambassador Wilkins is going to toss you a ball and you better run with it , so here how it goes. He going to let you in Canada know that the North is strong and free and that we consider those waters to be international waters. You are to come back as if you are pissed and that you are putting the USA in its place, OK ?

Harper: But George .

Bush , don’t but me , just do it and we will let it sit for a few weeks and I pretend to be a little pissed at you , Ok? Then we are going to work on a few things I want Harper, the Missile Defence Program and I also want that water deal done too before I step down, Ok Harper?


That is what took place in the phone call and now we are going to have to wait to see if Harper plays ball with the Bush.

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Good government is not a party government

Very well done. You even got George's accent right!

Canada can not exercise its sovereignty, democratic rights and move freely without fear because it has not gotten approval / permission from or risking offending, as Cellucci put it but in reverse, our neighbor / friend / family to the south of us.


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Perception is two thirds of what we perceive reality to be.

Difficult decisions are a privilege of rank.

It is perhaps (figuratively speaking) high time to get the St. Roche out of the Maritime Museum in Vancouver, and into the salt water again. Its voyage was a Canadian effort to establish sovereignty during WW II, when the USA ran rough-shod over Canada with the construction of the Alaska Highway, the Canol pipeline and the like.

It is not only the Northwest Passage itself that is at stake, but also the huge triangular area of border dispute between Canada and the USA.

I guess if Canada would force that particular issue in The Hague, the International Court of Justice might side with Canada.

time to get the St. Roche<<

If that is all that it takes, Canada has actualy Icebreakers to do the voyage. The RCMP can be a lot more comfortable as well. Obviously more is needed, but what? Would Canada need a huge fleet or just one ship. Unfortunatly if Americans use the channel now, they won't be stopped and a show of force will not work. The waste of money would be realized and unless Canada can do better in a World Court, nothing will make a precedence. Of course we all know how Americans respond to any court rulling not in their favour.

"Unfortunatly if Americans use the channel now, they won't be stopped and a show of force will not work."<br />
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Irrelevant. If anyone read the links I put in the last story on this, military patrols are not of concern when it comes to the law of the sea. Military patrols only establish soverenty.<br />
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Commercial traffic is what determines ownership.<br />
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Quote: "The Canadian government realized and feared that the Manhattan might represent future commercial voyages that could seriously undermine Canada’s claim to sovereignty. Should other US or international vessels traverse the Passage, “a practice [of using the Canadian archipelago] for navigation may evolve among states” "<br />
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<a href="https://www.westga.edu/~canconf/Charron.htm">https://www.westga.edu/~canconf/Charron.htm</a><br />
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If you read nothing else, skip to the "conclusions".<br />
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<p>---<br>"If you must kill a man, it costs you nothing to be polite about it." Winston Churchill<br />

Mulroney was going to build an icebreaker to protect our northern sovereignty too. At least that's what he told us when he wanted to be seen standing up to Ronnie Raygun.

Of course the icebreaker never got built and Mulroney did his best to sell our country to the US.

Isn't Mulroney one of Harper's backroom advisor's?

Funny how that works.

True, but what happened to the Mulroney government that did not listen? I think there are enough of those Con holdovers in the new party who have not forgotten how Canadians punished them.

I really think that the Conservatives want and need a majority to do what they really want, and to get there they will keep their campaign promises - including standing up for Canadian sovereignty in the Arctic.

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If there was ever a time for Canadians to become pushy - now is the time - for time is running out on this nation called Canada.

military patrols are not of concern when it comes to the law of the sea.<<

Harper is recommending "armed" icebreakers.

Canada had (probably not now) a weather ship and a geographical ship on the coast that were 2nd class icebreakers. Scientific vessals would be more usefull.

Do not worry about Harper doing any damage to Canada, he not from Quebec and he was never an employee of Power Corp Canada, therefore he will not last as the leader of this Conservative Party.

I would say that he will be stuck like David Orchard was by MP Peter MacKay and Peter is having relations with Sophia the daughter of the Head of Pawer Corp Canada, you watch. For some reason that company is a shadow government in its self.

Harper will be gone before the next election, because the backroom boys will set a trap to discredit him. Don't think for one minute that the players are going to let Alberta become the new power house of Canada, Ontario and Quebec have a right to entitlement as being the economic engine of Canada.

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Good government is not a party government

How do you know who Mackay is dating? The Globe and Mail claim Desmarais is backing Martin Cauchon....don't forget he is very old and quite unhealthy--we'll see if his sons are as influential...

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"A Liberal is someone who refuses to take his own side in a fight".

-Robert Frost

You might say a reporter told me so.

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Good government is not a party government

Or you could read the story he posted . . .<br />
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<a href="http://www.vivelecanada.ca/article.php?story=20051201051846355">http://www.vivelecanada.ca/article.php?story=20051201051846355</a><br />
<p>---<br>"If you must kill a man, it costs you nothing to be polite about it." Winston Churchill<br />