Canada to Increase Arctic Military Presence

TORONTO (AP) — Canada announced plans Monday to increase its Arctic military presence in an effort to assert sovereignty over the Northwest Passage — a potentially oil-rich region the United States says is international territory.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper said six to eight patrol ships will guard what he says are Canadian waters. A deep water port will also be built in a region the U.S. Geological Survey estimates has as much as 25% of the world's undiscovered oil and gas.

U.S. Ambassador David Wilkins has criticized Harper's promise to defend the Arctic, claiming the Northwest Passage as "neutral waters."

As global warming melts the passage — which now is only navigable during a slim window in the summer — the waters are exposing unexplored resources such as oil, fishing stocks and minerals, and becoming an attractive shipping route. Commercial ships can shave off some 2,480 miles from Europe to Asia compared with the current routes through the Panama Canal.

The disputed route runs from the Atlantic to the Pacific through the Arctic archipelago. Canadians have long claimed the waters, but their government has generally turned a blind eye to the United States, which has sent naval vessels and submarines through what it considers an international strait.

The U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says the ice cap is warming faster than the rest of the planet and ice is receding, partly due to greenhouse gases.

Harper said the Arctic is central to the Canadian identity.

"Canada has a choice when it comes to defending our sovereignty over the Arctic. We either use it or lose it. And make no mistake, this government intends to use it," Harper said.

"The ongoing discovery of the north's resource riches coupled with the potential impact of climate change has made the region a growing area of interest and concern," he added...

Does our Navy stand a chance?

u r loco bro?

Im going to hop the fence, and buy myself a Hummer to help them burn some of that oil!

are they still accepting beaners?

))))CANADA(((( )CANADIAN MILITARY( )PEES HIS FUR((

What big sexy said.

hey fanta who are these individuals?
where have they been expelled from?

Yeah Big - we do have military - ask my friend who has been in the US Navy for 22 years. According to him our military is small but better trained and effective.


Fanta - I am not sure ... I am thinking half our sub fleet is at the West Edmonton Mall right now- what will the tourists ride around the indoor lake in if we need the little subs for active duty?...

)I LIKE IT ARTGURL((((

there went the coffee all over the monitor





hey Sherrie

LMAO Artgurl, thats funny!

This thread is titled wrong. If Americans are coming into Canadian waters then is it not Americans threatening Canada?

Its not yours, its ours! Damnit!

Take a good look at a map Fanta. Sorry but you're wrong. We had this discussion before, for different reasons. I believe I won by proving to you that Canada was a larger country than the US. Sorry Bro but that northern area is ours.

Well Karma get your sub fleet at the West Edmonton Mall, and try to stop us.
You know we own all the worlds oil. If we dont we just take it.

It took us 42 days to get to Bagdad. How long do you think it would take us to get to Ottawa.

karma!!!!!!!!!! run for yer life!!!!!!!!!!!!


maybe we can watch it all go down from the helichopter rides by the ponies!!

The pic is the response Fanta.

Maybe we can get the British to sell us some more crappy subs. This time maybe they'll at least make it here before they burst into flames.