PM Harper will be touring parts of northern Canada later in August as part of a five-day tour of Canada’s three territories.  One has to wonder if the annual northern event will bring another round of Arctic announcements, which to date have mainly been full of hot air?  News reports have already mentioned Mr. Harper attending the annual Canadian Forces’ northern multi-purpose military exercise Operation Nanook and along with a Cabinet meeting to take place in the Nunavut capital of Iqaluit.  These venues will play host to perfect back drops for another possible round of what some might call “broken promises”.

Earlier this week, Michael Byers — a leading Canadian Arctic expert, wrote a commentary in the Ottawa Citizen (Re-packaging Arctic Sovereignty) arguing that Canada’s government needs to make good on its Arctic announcements; a prime example includes the proposed new fleet of Arctic patrol vessels that is currently postponed and has not even passed the “letter of intent” phase with military contractors.

Mr. Byers is right to make such acusations as it has almost become tradition for Canada’s top politicians to turn to the North as means to either help get votes come election time or bulster public support.  With mounting tension for our never ending thirst to consume natural resources which guides our current lifestyles, the resource rich Arctic is and will become extremely important to our national security.  Lesson to be learned: talk is cheap, let’s step to the plate and make good on being the true north strong and free.