Polar Blog » north http://polarwarming.ca/blog Tue, 02 Feb 2010 01:48:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 Northern Watch http://polarwarming.ca/blog/2010/02/northern-watch/ http://polarwarming.ca/blog/2010/02/northern-watch/#comments Tue, 02 Feb 2010 01:48:06 +0000 Adam http://polarwarming.ca/blog/?p=405 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

]]> http://polarwarming.ca/blog/2010/02/northern-watch/feed/ 0 Arctic is part of budget http://polarwarming.ca/blog/2009/02/arctic-is-part-of-budget/ http://polarwarming.ca/blog/2009/02/arctic-is-part-of-budget/#comments Thu, 05 Feb 2009 00:52:00 +0000 Adam http://polarwarming.ca/blog/?p=354 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

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