Time was when a prime minister on the cusp of an election campaign would spend those last few days before the writ gladhanding through the more populous regions voterich ontario, say, or battleground quebec. Canada joins rush to claim the arctic financial times. Icc canada commends the government of canada for defending our sovereignty in the canadian arctic, icccanada said in a news release issued on may 24. But it was the prime minister himself who revealed the reasoning as well as the intent of the government of canada in july 2007 when he announced the arctic patrol ships and deepwater port. Both russia and canada, who along with the us, norway and denmark constitute the five states with polar claims, have made legal attempts to secure their rights to large swathes of the arctic, which is thought to contain 15 percent of the oil reserves and 30 percent of all natural gas in the world. Make no mistake, this government intends to use it. S tephen harper boldly claims to be passionately committed to protecting and defending the north. Who owns the arctic understanding sovereignty disputes in. Sovereignty over the area has become a national priority for canadian governments in the 21st century, thanks to growing international. Ottawa, ontario icc canada commends the government of canada for defending our sovereignty in the canadian arctic by filing a 2,100page submission to the united nations convention on the law of the sea unclos defining our extended continental shelf boundary. Because canadas arctic is central to our national identity as a northern nation. At the time, harper was working to assert canadas sovereignty in the arctic, not just over its own territory but all the way to the north pole. The militarization of the arctic could serve to only heighten tensions in the area.
Canadian forces to stockpile military equipment in arctic. Defending our sovereignty in the arctic introduction the true north, strong and freea line from our national anthem, and a rallying cry for canadian patriots immediately calls to mind a vast, frozen expanse, a land that most canadians will never visit. Canadian arctic sovereignty the canadian encyclopedia. But, while we may not visit it, we have always known that we canadians owned it. Canadas recent continental shelf submission under the united nations convention on the law of the sea is good for inuit, says the canadian wing of the inuit circumpolar council. Canada flexes its muscles in scramble for the arctic. Canada has a choice when it comes to defending our sovereignty over the arctic, harper told a gathering of sailors at canadian forces base esquimalt near victoria, british columbia. Canada has a choice when it comes to defending our sovereignty over the arctic, said mr harper as he announced plans last month to spend. In a 2007 speech by prime minister stephen harper announcing the construction of the new arctic offshore patrol ships aops, he affirmed, canada has a choice when it comes to defending our sovereignty over the arctic. He said exploration of the arctic energy and mineral resources was critical to canadas growth. Oct 04, 2008 a hardhitting, timely, and provocative book about the history and future of the canadian arctic.
It is part of our history, and it represents the tremendous potential of our future. Inuit agree that asserting and defending canadian sovereignty in the arctic requires taking our military responsibilities seriously, as well as simultaneously addressing other priority. I predicted that would happen in my book, but it was just ironic it did at this time. It proclaimed, on the ground for the first time, canadas sovereignty over the entire arctic archipelago. Historical overview of the arctic and state interest the arctic region consists of the north pole, the arctic ocean, and the area demarcated by the arctic circle, an imaginary line that marks the latitude above which the sun does not set on the day of the. Rather, defending canadian arctic sovereignty is really about the control of the region.
Larsens many voyages upheld the first principle of arctic sovereignty. Canada has a choice when it comes to defending our sovereignty over the arctic. Defending canadian arctic sovereignty canada must defend its sovereignty beyond military means. Harper commits billions to build canada an arctic navy.
The book merited the recognition it so justly received such as the lionel. Defending our sovereignty in the arctic introduction. In defending our nations sovereignty, nothing is as fundamental as protecting canadas. This history should fuel a heated national debate as the arctic ice shrinks and new challenges to our sovereignty appear from all directions. And make no mistake this government intends to use it. It certainly discussed sovereignty disputes in the northern hemisphere, but it largely focused on canada, and what canada has done in its arctic territories, and what it should do to protect its interest especially in relations to offshore mining and resource extraction, and the nature of the northwest passage. Canada heats up rhetoric over claims to north pole. Arctic sovereignty and security in a climatechanging world. Welcome to the return of the cold war, global warming style.
In recent years, rapid climate change has brought the far north to. Canada announced plans monday to increase its arctic military presence in an effort to assert sovereignty over the northwest passage a potentially oilrich region the united states claims is. Arctic sovereignty is a key part of canadas history and future 40 per cent of the countrys landmass is in its three northern territories, and the country has 162,000 kilometers km of arctic coastline. And so, when prime minister stephen harper stated at nansivik in 2007, canada has a choice when it comes to defending our sovereignty over the arctic. The author argues for a panarctic sovereignty conceptualization where devolution and inuit consent are constitutive, and not obstructive, to canadian sovereignty in the north, and a means to achieve wellbeing, prosperity, and selfdetermination. Implications of global warming on state sovereignty and. Myth versus reality in stephen harpers northern strategy the. And make no mistake, this government intends to use it, harper said. Happily, defending the land does a fine job for its intended audience. Yet the reality of inuit education in canada is that too many of our children are not. Canadas arctic sovereignty is on thin ice now magazine. Arctic sovereignty that will arise due to global warming. Updating our ideas alternative definitions of sovereignty and security are emerging in the postcold war period.
And make no mistake, this government intends to use it. Ceremonies of possession, science, and sovereignty in the. Valuing our role as one of the worlds arctic nations means. Canada must assert sovereignty over the arctic while there. This chapter reflects upon how canada reads and constructs russian actions and intentions in the arctic.
The events could have been the perfect opportunity for a lesson in puppet mastery on the international. Canada has a choice when it comes to defending our sovereignty in the arctic, we either use it or lose it. The traditional view of arctic security focuses on military defence, especially the protection of national borders and the assertion of state sovereignty over arctic land and water. A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext. Prime minister harper has recently stated that, canada has a choice when it comes to defending our sovereignty over the arctic. Arctic front tells the disturbing story of canadas absentmindedness in arctic policymaking over the decades. In new defence policy, liberals turn focus to arctic sovereignty. Harper goes hunting for franklin expeditiongjoa haven, nunavut stephen harpers argument for canadian sovereignty in the far north took a decidedly historic turn wednesday as the prime minister dropped in on scientists and coast guard officers hunting for the wreckage of the lost franklin expedition.
Defending canadas arctic sovereignty becomes a political performance through scientific enterprise as much as one. In the 1980s, the conservative government of brian mulroney won recognition of our arctic possessions under international law. Procurement for canadas arctic sovereignty mission. An international solution to an ice cold war in arctic. With arctic issues once again at the forefront of public debate, this invaluable. Canada has a choice when it comes to defending our sovereignty over the arctic, prime minister stephen harper said. Harper has gone further, making polar sovereignty a foremost.
Icc canada commends government of canada for unclos. Last week, i discussed how canadas procurement efforts to this end are off to a slushy start. As has been the case throughout history, sovereignty often relies on the realpolitik principle of. It was a land grab, or rather a water grab, since theres no land north of canada. It spans more than 40% throughout our country and is home to more than 100,000 canadians arctic, 20. Apr 15, 2015 speaking in 2007, for example, harper made it explicitly clear that defending arctic sovereignty was a priority. Canada, norway, russia, denmark via greenland, iceland, sweden, finland and the. We are deeply concerned, and we are determined to promote and defend the sovereignty of canada in the arctic, baird said in an interview with the danish publication berlingske, published in the native language. And it represents the tremendous potential of our future. Canada has a choice when it comes to defending our sovereignty in the arctic.
We will defend our sovereignty in the arctic august 27, 2014 by editor state of globe. With passion and sharp words, arctic front confronts canadas longstanding neglect of. The canadian arctic, one of the defining features of our vast landscape. Speaking in 2007, for example, harper made it explicitly clear that defending arctic sovereignty was a priority. Defending our sovereignty in the arctic read more articles from the newsroom. In my mind, arctic sovereignty relates to what i said about canada needing to understand and value what it means to be an arctic nation. Oct 02, 2008 a hardhitting, timely, and provocative book about the history and future of the canadian arctic. Because canadas arctic is central to our identity as a northern nation. Russia reembraces a cold war in the north the star. It is part of our history, and it represents the tremendous potential of our. Canada must assert sovereignty over the arctic while theres still. During my first year in office, you have witnessed my america first foreign policy in action. Successive canadian governments have found it convenient to call this defending arctic sovereignty, but. Who owns the arctic securing canadian sovereignty in the.
The arctic consists of land, internal waters, territorial seas, exclusive economic zones eezs and high seas above the arctic circle 66 degrees 33 minutes north latitude. Canadas current defence policy is contained in the canada first defence strategy of 2008, which includes plans for investments until 2028. That would open up sea lanes to shipping and allow for more extensive oil and mineral exploration. Jan 22, 2014 in my mind, arctic sovereignty relates to what i said about canada needing to understand and value what it means to be an arctic nation. Jul 05, 2019 the second arc of the book regroups chapters that address specifically the issue of asserting canadian sovereignty in the arctic. The government of canada committed to enforcing its arctic sovereignty in the liberals new defence policy, promising more vehicles, surveillance and presence in the region. Circumpolar inuit org supports canadas arctic shelf claim. Canada must assert sovereignty over the arctic while theres still time senator dennis patterson. Jul 19, 2007 canada has a choice when it comes to defending our sovereignty over the arctic, harper told a gathering of sailors at canadian forces base esquimalt near victoria, british columbia. During the cold war, arctic security was inseparable from national security, nuclear deterrence and the bipolar rivalry between the american and soviet superpowers. A hardhitting, timely, and provocative book about the history and future of the. Canada to increase military presence in the arctic despite.
While these are important steps, they dont go far enough in addressing the challenges to our sovereignty in the arctic. The fourth chapter, by kristin bartenstein, examines the legal dimension of territorial sovereignty. While harper is right to say that canada has a choice when it comes to defending our sovereignty over the arctic. The book opens with an introduction that begins to develop the relationships between sovereignty and living on the land, the overarching theme of the book. Securing canadian sovereignty in the arctic canada. Canada has a choice when it comes to defending our sovereignty over the arctic, harper said. What is the federal governments strategy to support its claims to sovereignty in the high arctic. Aug 30, 2019 arctic sovereignty is a key part of canadas history and future 40 per cent of the countrys landmass is in its three northern territories, and the country has 162,000 kilometers km of arctic coastline. The territorial claims on the north pole are the latest contentious grey area amongst world forces russia, canada, the usa, denmark and norway.
Sovereignty served cold centre for international policy. Defending our sovereignty in the arctic centre for military. Historical and legal study of sovereignty in the canadian north. Canadian arctic sovereignty essay 1220 words bartleby. As ice caps melt, russia stakes its claim to oilrich arctic. A hardhitting, timely, and provocative book about the history and future of the canadian arctic. Russia today we are deeply concerned, and we are determined to promote and defend the sovereignty of canada in the arctic.
Canada has a choice when it comes to defending our sovereignty over the arctic we either use it or lose it, harper said in july 2007. Understanding sovereignty disputes in the north by michael byers will get your blood boiling if you believe, as i do, that the northwest passage is canadian and not an international waterway. All land, internal waters, territorial seas and eezs in the arctic are under the jurisdiction of one of the eight arctic coastal states. Ottawa buying up to 8 arctic patrol ships cbc news. Myth versus reality in stephen harpers northern strategy. Defending our sovereignty has always come at a great cost, regardless of what form that threat takes, and today will be no different, he said. Scholars must update their interpretations of the words to be more inclusive if we are to reduce the vulnerability and increase the resilience of arctic societies.
Canada has a choice when it comes to defending our sovereignty over the arctic, he said. Sovereignty, not ideology, scott morrison tells returned. With passion and sharp words, arctic front confronts canadas longstanding neglect of the far north and outline what needs to be done to protect our national interest. From the 1920s through the 1940s, the great canadian navigator henry larsen patrolled our arctic waters aboard the famous rcmp schooner st. Jan 20, 2016 home news canadas arctic sovereignty is on thin ice. A 500member force will be focused on defense of the arctic and assertion of canadian sovereignty. Arctic sovereignty and security in a climatechanging world 3 executive summary in may of this year, about 200 kilometres north of the arctic circle, representatives from the five coastal states of the arctic gathered in the small town of ilulissat, greenland to discuss the future of the north. Whitney lackenbauer and adam lajeunesse with a renewed commitment to maintaining a presence in the region and enhancing.
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