Canada's North-West Passage

Canada's proud and storied North-West Passage is suddenly on the verge of offering as an international free-for-all. While it has historically presented as Canada's proud northern heritage, our vast frozen northlands, it has suddenly assumed the allure of possessing untold riches in its natural resources, suddenly become approachable and therefore extractable, thanks to Climate Change.

Canada's Prime Minister Harper has assured Canadians that he has spoken with erstwhile President George W. Bush on a number of occasions, informing him unequivocally that Canada has no intention of surrendering its ownership of the Passage, nor its claim to its vast Arctic resources. "I've been very clear with President Bush. This government will assert its sovereignty."

To which purpose the government, admittedly, before the untimely advent of a threatening recession, had announced its intention to commit to a high-profile Arctic agenda, spending an impressive amount of government funds to develop highways, and pipelines, and to develop hydroelectric energy projects, transforming our frozen North into a vast revenue source.

However, as that old saying goes about the best-laid plans of mice and men, a recent U.S. Geological Survey has identified an estimated polar storehouse of billions of barrels of oil and trillions of cubic feet of natural gas within those polar reaches and across the Arctic continental shelves. "They constitute the geographically largest unexplored prospective area for petroleum remaining on Earth." Making it compellingly interesting to Russia, Denmark, Norway as well.

Mr. Bush, in his last days of White House occupancy, has issued a statement to the effect that the United States has developed a new policy, in effect challenging Canada's claims over the Northwest Passage, disputing the boundaries in Canada's claim to the Beaufort Sea. That area so alluringly rich and ripe with oil and gas. A natural draw, so to speak. Challenges galore.

Canada's plan is to increase its military presence in the North, and to order and make use of armed icebreakers, create a deep sea fort, and increase the presence and patrols of its aboriginal Arctic Rangers, a proud living presence familiar with their territory. Along with building other infrastructure to consolidate economic and social development. Hitting hard up against the reality of American resolve.

The American navy is set to follow instructions, to make its presence known, pushing the limits of international law to challenge Canada's insistence on its sovereignty. Just another little tiff between sometimes-uneasy neighbours.