Polar Blog » arctic

Northern Watch

Adam — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 01:48:06 +0000

Canadian government officials will be revisiting a portion of the Northwest Passage this coming summer to install and test a sophisticated surveillance detection system. Under the Northern Watch military program, officials are in the process of completing an underwater maritime detection system at Gascoyne Inlet on Devon Island (key choke point within the Passage). The technology will enable better detection methods of both surface and underwater vessels and allow a more accurate picture for Canada as to what is transiting across its icy Arctic waters.

According to Coast Guard figures, some 62 commercial and re-supply vessels transited portions of the Northwest Passage in 2008. Government officials feel that if testing goes smoothly the Northern Watch program will be fully operational by 2012.

Please visit the following link for more information:

The Canadian government will keep an ear on its frigid Arctic waters – Canadian Press

Northern Strategy

Adam — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 20:41:17 +0000

The Canadian government recently released a new website dedicated to informing the general public on its ongoing progress towards its northern strategy.

Canada’s Northern Strategy

Although there is generally nothing new in terms of recent events, it does create an easy outlet to learn about Canada’s current Arctic commitments. Big ticket items such as new patrol ships and other security measures have for the time been placed on the back burner.

Arctic is part of budget

Adam — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 00:52:00 +0000

The much anticipated Canadian federal budget – touted as a key piece of legislation that could make or break the Conservative minority government – was passed in the House of Commons on Tuesday evening. “Stimulus” was the overriding buzz-word for the budget and without hesitation proposed government spending did not overlook Canada’s North. Although considered issolated in terms of location, the reprocussions of the global economic contraction have been felt in Canada’s North; the minning and exploration industry have been hit hard, territoral government surpluses have receded. Here is a breakdown of some of the key spending announcements made in this year’s budget:

- Up to $85 million over next two years for enhancing key Arctic research facilities (also included is $2 million to undertake a feasibility study for proposed development of a world-class Arctic research facility — hub for Canadian northern research)

- $90 million over five years towards the North’s regional economic development program

- $200 million over two years to support social housing projects

- $37.6 million through the end of 2010 to help streamline the decision-making process surrounding the Mackenzie Valley Gas Project

For an in-depth look at the 2009 budget, please visit the following link:

http://www.budget.gc.ca/2009/home-accueil-eng.asp

US Arctic policy

Adam — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 00:17:02 +0000

In a move that could be considered “necessary” in light of the mounting geopolitical arena surrounding the Arctic landscape, and more importantly its vast and relatively untapped natural resources (a recent U.S. Geological Survey report concluded that one quarter of the remaining undiscovered hydrocarbon deposits reside in the Arctic), U.S. president Bush in his final days in the White House has released a new Arctic policy. The new policy comes 15 years after the last revision to the country’s stance on the Arctic.

Of interest in the Canadian context, the U.S. has not deviated from its previous stance on the Northwest Passage –what it considers an international strait and not part of Canadian internal waters. Although this stance has been well documented for many years, the U.S. policy also recommends that the Senate approve and ratify the U.N. Law of the Sea Treaty, which among other things could formally recognize its territorial claim to continental shelf rights (pending sufficient geological data). These remarks might seem mere political rhetoric at present, but as time moves forward and if such measures are approved then pressure between these two allies to resolve this diplomatic dispute will be required. Additionally, the two countries have a territorial dispute over a portion of the Beaufort Sea (hydrocarbon hot-spot) stemming from a disagreement surrounding its boundary separating the two countries.

It will be interesting to see if prime minister Harper adds further funding to bolster Canada’s Arctic sovereign claim in the much anticipated federal budget at the end of January — a confidence vote which could topple the minority government — to curtail the United States’ Arctic policy that butts heads with Canadian interests.

For further interest on the recently released U.S. Arctic policy, please visit the following link:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2009/01/20090112-3.html