My Support for Arctic Sovereignty

In the most recent Federal NDP convention in the great city of Halifax my party discussed and voted on a motion opposing the "militarization" of the arctic. The motion instead supported the developement of the north into a vibrant part of Canada. I did not support the motion for one reason, it was a motion that doesn't take into account the constant threats that have been made against Canadian territory by the Russian Federation, the United States, Norway as well as Denmark. I want to address the funding and developement first before I get to the military part.
As an NDP supporter I believe in keeping people off the streets and put them into affordable housing and what we are seeing in Iqaluit is really quite sad. The people's of the north must be helped and yes funding for housing and local funding for communities is essential. It is all part of the funding package I would like to see the Federal Government provide along with the military aid. Having a minister from the north in the current Governing party should have initiated action earlier from the Prime Minister and his Conservative Party on the plight of the people of the north, not only as a mere publicity stunt. To say "I feel your pain" means nothing if there is no action behind the words.

Getting back to the NDP motion. First to call it militarization is quite empty. How can you militarize something that doesn't have a foundation from the begining. Before the Russians planted their flag at the bottom of the Arctic floor and the Danes threatened Hans island and the Norweigen fishing vessels came out to the east coast and even before the United States began sniffing for oil when they heard the ice caps were melting Canada's Government and the other parties didn't even discuss this outrageous lack of detterant forces in the north. I opposed the motion because even though it supported the poor neglected peoples of the north, I do believe it went too far in condeming at least a small detachment to serve as a deterrant to those external forces that want to annex parts of Canadian soil for their selfish purposes.

My alternative would be to purchase the much needed icebreakers but also to hire people from the north and pay them to protect their land. The peoples of the north are as patriotic as the next canuck, so lets give them the tools to protect and cultivate their lands. That means give them the resources and get out of the way. I do believe the Federal Government has a role to play in the north, but not to intrude when it is politically viable like the Conservatives are doing.

Finally I think my party dropped the ball on this one and I hope our future isn't affected by this decision. My belief as a Canadian Nationalist is that Canada should feed, clothe and protect its own people from all dangers, both internal and especially externally. Although terrorism is a big threat, the threat posed by established nations is greater to Canadian territorial Sovereignty than any bomb strapped terrorist will ever be.