Past Canadian governments have neglected their duty and have failed to enforce its Arctic sovereignty.  As a result, its northern waters have not been adequately protected, patrolled or monitored.  Prime Minister Stephen Harper has made the Arctic a priority and has committed to further defend Canadian sovereignty and protect its interests in the region.  Canada does have an obligation to defend the territorial integrity of its borders and must ensure that its Arctic waterways are also being respected by other nations.

 

The Arctic, with its abundance of untapped oil, gas and mineral resources, has nations jockeying for a bigger piece of the pie.  There could be conflicting claims between Canada, Russia and Denmark, over the Lomonosov Ridge.  Canada maintains a sovereign claim over the Northwest Passage, but the U.S. and other countries insist that it is an international waterway.

Past Canadian governments have neglected their duty and have failed to enforce its Arctic sovereignty.  As a result, its northern waters have not been adequately protected, patrolled or monitored.  Prime Minister Stephen Harper has made the Arctic a priority and has committed to further defend Canadian sovereignty and protect its interests in the region.  Canada does have an obligation to defend the territorial integrity of its borders and must ensure that its Arctic waterways are also being respected by other nations.

 

The Arctic, with its abundance of untapped oil, gas and mineral resources, has nations jockeying for a bigger piece of the pie.  There could be conflicting claims between Canada, Russia and Denmark, over the Lomonosov Ridge.  Canada maintains a sovereign claim over the Northwest Passage, but the U.S. and other countries insist that it is an international waterway. 

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