Posted on 08/09/2007 8:45:48 AM PDT by BGHater
Far up north on the tip of Baffin Island, an abandoned mine is set to play out a crucial military role in Canada's mission to assert its sovereignty in the Arctic.
CBC News has learned that the federal government is proposing to refurbish the former lead-and-zinc mining site into a deepwater docking facility, and also plans to build an army training centre in the North.
Military planning documents, obtained through an Access to Information request, outline plans for a $60-million conversion of the old Nanisivik Mine, which closed in 2002, into a Canadian naval station.
An army training centre is expected to be located in Resolute, Nunavut, one of Canada's most northern communities, sitting on the shores of the disputed Northwest Passage. The international strait remains free to all navigation, although Canada claims ownership over the much-coveted waterway and shipping route.
The prospect of the new, strategically placed military centre is exciting for Pierre Leblanc, the former commander of the Canadian Forces in the North.
"That facility, being a military facility sitting on the Northwest Passage, will also give a very clear political signal to the rest of the international community that we are serious about our sovereignty," Leblanc said.
For years, Leblanc said he campaigned to the government for a large sovereignty centre in Resolute to be operated by the army, navy, air force, and other government departments such as Customs, Immigration, and the RCMP. PM expected to announce Arctic base this week
While the new training centre doesn't live up to Leblanc's ambitious vision, he was pleased nonetheless. "It's important for Canada to be able to say this is ours, and if you want to go in here, these are the rules and standards by which you will abide," he said.
If the planned refurbishment of the mine goes ahead, it would deviate slightly from the Conservatives' promise during the last election campaign to build a new military deepwater port in Iqaluit.
The government of Nunavut pushed for the construction of that port as well as a small craft harbour in the territorial capital. The proposed port would have cost about $50 million.
Nanisivik, however, already has a deepwater dock and a fuel reservoir. It is also closer to the Northwest Passage.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper is expected to announce plans for the Nanisivik site later this week during his stopover in Resolute.
Canadian sovreignty underwritten by Uncle Sugar!
MV
They are planning toward a world with less ice.
No wonder they refuted Kyoto.
Is this base going to eventually become the terminus for the Mexico through the US to Canada super highway?
madvlad, I hope you got your flak vest and helmet on! And you are so right. Rather than CONCENTRATING on the war on terror, canada sends a nominal force to Afghanistan and throws a two-week pity party every time one of them bites the dust. Not that I have no sympathy for troops dying - my son is in the US Army and has been over twice - but this is what they do. And they will hang black crepe all over canada when a few of the Van Doos buy it. Watch them.
No, Moscow is the terminus for that superhighway!
Ice Road Truckers beware!
MV
You could not be more wrong. Canada has sent the same number of troops, relative its population to Afghanistan as the U.S. has. And the casualty rate is higher for Canadians that for the U.S., too. You are oblivious to the fact Cnada is pulling its own weight on this. You are sounding like a liberal who says the U.S. can't be in two places at once. The Arctic Archipelago is Canadian territory. Canada has a duty to defend it's territory as much as the U.S. has. On that basis, why does the U.S. have a military presence in Hawaii when troops are needed for Iraq. That was sarcasm, but you make me sick.
I see, you’d rather let the Russians run rampant over the pole, and have a free-for-all in the NW passage when it is finally open for shipping.
That’s really security conscious of you.
As for the WOT, we’ve been in Ashcan from day one, and the only thing we see your guys doing is bombing OUR troops, with the occasional helo trip.
Get a grip on yourself, FRiend
Woo Hoo! That’s going to be a choice posting.
I just checked, and I’m showing 66 Canadian Armed Forces fatalities in Afghanistan. So how much cheaper is a Canadian (and an ally’s) soldier’s life than, say, an American’s? Discounted 20%? More?
This is good news, what with the Russians trying to claim the whole darn Arctic Ocean. In fact, I’d like to see a joint U.S./Can. effort to defend both sovereignty and international navigation in the region. We could figure something out - we did it for air defense over the Arctic.
I'm saying we ought to resolve that. Two allies ought to be able to figure that out, particularly where division only helps the Russians.
Still enjoying our hospitality?
That what y’all call it?
By the way, the US dollar is now selling at a discount relative to the Canadian dollar in my (border) city.
All I can really do is second what everyone else has said. I’ll point out as well that Kandahar is the MOST dangerous province of A-stan, and Canada is taking all the fire there. Please check your facts so you can at least show some intelligence if you feel you have to dump on your allies and neighbours.
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