Pushed To The Sea Wall
Well, here we are, a response. Prime Minister Stephen Harper is finally making good on yet another election promise. Fully cognizant that Canada has a problem in managing its Arctic sovereignty, the prime minister had indicated that it would be a priority for his government to beef up our presence in our Far North, and not rely solely on the presence of our fine Inuit Rangers to make our presence known and to patrol those far frozen reaches.
The announcement is pending, to take place at Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt, where the prime minister and Minister of Defence Gordon O'Connor plan to give credence to circulating and informed rumours. While the original promise made described the need for icebreakers to assert Canada's Arctic authority, the final decision came down on six ice-strengthened patrol vessels.
This government's Canada First Defence Strategy addresses finally the need for patrol vessels for the Canadian Arctic. They will be represented by patrol vessels especially fitted out with extra-thick ice-breaking hulls. They'll come in less expensive than the initially-planned icebreakers, but will result in an equally reliable strategy in finally establishing a maritime commando unit by 2010.
Canada has been challenged in its Far North sovereignty by the United States and other countries bordering the Arctic Ocean, not the least of which now is Russia, recently claiming that its land mass extends as an underwater shelf encompassing much of the ocean that Canada has long considered its autonomous jurisdiction. Shaking us out of our complacency.
In Nova Scotia the prime minister announced the allocation of 3.1 billion for frigates; a multibillion-dollar refit of a dozen of Canada's Halifax-class frigates to ensure the fundamental structure of the Canadian navy is stronger, safer and more reliable. Mr. Harper termed the planned refits as turning the frigates into "giant floating command posts", enabling the country's military to function more effectively.
What effect all of this will ultimately have on other countries' intention to push the limits of their own Far North jurisdictions is yet to be seen.
Well, here we are, a response. Prime Minister Stephen Harper is finally making good on yet another election promise. Fully cognizant that Canada has a problem in managing its Arctic sovereignty, the prime minister had indicated that it would be a priority for his government to beef up our presence in our Far North, and not rely solely on the presence of our fine Inuit Rangers to make our presence known and to patrol those far frozen reaches.
The announcement is pending, to take place at Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt, where the prime minister and Minister of Defence Gordon O'Connor plan to give credence to circulating and informed rumours. While the original promise made described the need for icebreakers to assert Canada's Arctic authority, the final decision came down on six ice-strengthened patrol vessels.
This government's Canada First Defence Strategy addresses finally the need for patrol vessels for the Canadian Arctic. They will be represented by patrol vessels especially fitted out with extra-thick ice-breaking hulls. They'll come in less expensive than the initially-planned icebreakers, but will result in an equally reliable strategy in finally establishing a maritime commando unit by 2010.
Canada has been challenged in its Far North sovereignty by the United States and other countries bordering the Arctic Ocean, not the least of which now is Russia, recently claiming that its land mass extends as an underwater shelf encompassing much of the ocean that Canada has long considered its autonomous jurisdiction. Shaking us out of our complacency.
In Nova Scotia the prime minister announced the allocation of 3.1 billion for frigates; a multibillion-dollar refit of a dozen of Canada's Halifax-class frigates to ensure the fundamental structure of the Canadian navy is stronger, safer and more reliable. Mr. Harper termed the planned refits as turning the frigates into "giant floating command posts", enabling the country's military to function more effectively.
What effect all of this will ultimately have on other countries' intention to push the limits of their own Far North jurisdictions is yet to be seen.
Labels: Canada, Crisis Politics
posted by Pieface | 5:28 PM
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