Conservative leader Harper asserts Canada's Arctic claims

[Flagg]

CONSERVATIVE LEADER HARPER ASSERTS CANADA'S ARCTIC CLAIMS

Received Thursday, 22 December 2005 21:14:00 GMT
OTTAWA, Dec 22 (AFP) - Conservative leader Stephen Harper said Thursday he would assert more strongly Canada's northern territorial claims following reports that a US submarine recently traveled unannounced through Canadian Arctic waters.
In remarks made during an election campaign stop in Winnipeg and posted on his party's website, Harper said he would increase surveillance and deploy more troops, icebreakers and military aircraft over the Canadian Arctic region if elected prime minister.
"The single most important duty of the federal government is to protect and defend our national sovereignty," said Harper, Prime Minister Paul Martin's main challenger in the January 23 election.
"There are new and disturbing reports of American nuclear submarines passing though Canadian waters without obtaining the permission of -- or even notifying -- the Canadian government."
Canada is at odds over parts of the Arctic region with the United States, Russia, Denmark and Norway.
Ottawa and Washington disagree over control of the famed Northwest Passage and the resource-rich Beaufort Sea, which touches both Alaska and Canada's northern territories.
The dispute has grown in importance as scientists believe that global warming could open up the Northwest Passage to year-round cargo shipping by 2050, and could also open up for exploitation resources like oil and natural gas in the Beaufort Sea.

http://www.ttc.org/200512222114.jbmlep323015.htm