Ice Breakers...

[jgg]

...Ha, fooled you, clickbait.

But seriously, why is the Canadian Coast Guard getting six new ice breakers if the ice is melting?

 

[MissingOne]

...Ha, fooled you, clickbait.

But seriously, why is the Canadian Coast Guard getting six new ice breakers if the ice is melting?

Maybe our government thinks the same way as the government of China. From "The Diplomat", July 2018:

"...the Arctic, with its emerging shipping lines, natural resources, and mediterranean geography as a semi-enclosed ocean, justifies the need for a larger and more advanced icebreaker fleet if China wishes to increase its scientific and commercial activities in the region."

China already has more operational icebreakers than Canada, and China doesn't even have an Arctic coastline. If we in Canada want to retain control of our Arctic territory, we're going to need a much greater and more forceful presence there. If we don't make the effort, the US, Russia and China will fill the void. I wonder, though, if most Canadians care enough about the Arctic to be willing to support the cost of a forceful Arctic presence.

 

[badbadboy]

...Ha, fooled you, clickbait.

But seriously, why is the Canadian Coast Guard getting six new ice breakers if the ice is melting?

Would you prefer Russia and USA take over our sovereign waters?

Don’t forget a substantial oil field was proven NW & NE of Tuktoyaktuk. Want the Russians to take our oil via a production rig?

I’d say presence is everything. Besides there is still an active ice sheet west of Greenland that creates havoc in the North Atlantic shipping lanes. Here’s hoping the lack of ice is cyclical.

 

[westwoody]

Want the Russians to take our oil via a production rig?.

Russia is already trying to claim the area around the North Pole that has long been considered Canadian territory.

Many countries are using the Northwest Passage already and Canada has no way to enforce our jurisdiction.
Instead of calling these ships icebreakers, consider them all-conditions patrol vessels.

 

[apl16]

By the time they are built the ice will be gone!

 

[sybian]

When diamonds where discovered, the Americans, and Europeans started claiming the Kimberlite tubes on Canadian soil without permits. They simply flew in on helicopters, and started pounding in claim posts, setting up camp, and shipping ore samples out of our country.
Their attitude was that it belonged to nobody, and they thought they could do as they pleased....of course everyone knew that was bullshit.
In our typical Canadian way,it wasn't looked at as an act of aggression, or invasion .....and they where politely asked to obtain the appropriate Canadian permits.
I've often wondered if we as a nation had done that to Alaska, would they have been so understanding , or would they have deployed their military?

 

[80watts]

The Canadian Navy has a new class to be made for the Arctic. The Canadian Arctic Offshore Patrol Vessels.... The thing they really need up there is plane/helicopter support at certain locations to cover all the NW passage and then some. Current satelite coverage could be better.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_DeWolf-class_offshore_patrol_vessel

Currently with the heat wave in Europe the ice in Greenland is melting at a high rate: have to wonder what its doing to all that permafrost up north in the Canadian Arctic....

Letting go of sovereignty in the Arctic is bad news. There is alot of area above and below the waters that can yield mineral wealth.

As for foreign companies up there mining, the Canadian government will likely impose their rules and regulations on them. ie no industrial waste (has to be treated etc.). which has to do with the lastest political promises of green areas /conservation areas up north.

 

[jgg]

Good to see the discussion. I personally would prefer the money go toward a nuclear submarine(s) and at the very least, finally settling on fighter aircraft and helicopter fleets. If you look at 80watts link, it looks as if this is just a re-announcement from 2007.