The Conservatives have made the historically marginal issues of the North a surprise centrepiece of their re-election campaign, a move underscored by Harper’s recent three-day tour of the Arctic and a series of announcements aimed at asserting greater Canadian control over the disputed Northwest Passage and the North’s potential oil and gas riches, Canada.com reports.
Critics accuse the ruling Conservative party of actively using the questions of Arctic sovereignty in order to win votes in the upcoming elections. However, Mr. Harper and his government’s attempts to create a stronger northern policy line have won significant support.
Arctic policy
Among the supporters are researchers Greg Poelzer from the University of Saskatchewan University of Waterloo historian Ken Coates. They praise the government for having taken concrete steps toward a comprehensive northern policy.
-Canada has avoided acting like a northern nation for generations, Poelzer and Coates say. -We should applaud any government that treats the Canadian Arctic seriously and aims to build a country from sea-to-sea-to-sea, they add, Canada.com reports.
Arctic armament
At the same time, Canada also shows military muscles in the region. Last week, the country’s Minister of Defence announced that a permanent army reserve will be established on the country’s northern coast in order to safeguard sovereignty claims in the Arctic.
A unit with 100 soldiers would be established in Yellowknife. -This reserve unit covers an enormous amount of land mass and they will also work closely with the Canadian Arctic Rangers, Minister MacKay said, the Canadian Press reports.
