Demilitarizing The Arctic

In July 2009, the Harper Government articulated its Northern Strategy in a major policy document. It began with a strong appeal to identity politics and the North’s central place in emerging domestic and international contexts: 

Canada’s far North is a fundamental part of Canada – it is part of our heritage, our future and our identity as a country. The North is undergoing rapid changes, from the impacts of climate change to the growth of Northern and Aboriginal governments and institutions. At the same time, domestic and international interest in the Arctic region is rising. This growing interest underscores the importance of Canada to exert effective leadership both at home and abroad in order to promote a prosperous and stable region responsive to Canadian interests and values. 

Accordingly, the Government of Canada framed its northern vision around the ideas that: 

• self-reliant individuals live in healthy, vital communities, manage their own affairs and shape their own destinies; 
• the Northern tradition of respect for the land and the environment is paramount and the principles of responsible and sustainable development anchor all decision-making and action; 
• strong, responsible, accountable governments work together for a vibrant, prosperous future for all – a place whose people and governments are significant contributing partners to a dynamic, secure Canadian federation; and 
• we patrol and protect our territory through enhanced presence on the land, in the sea and over the skies of the Arctic. 

Its integrated Northern Strategy emphasized four equally important and mutually reinforcing priorities:

• Exercising our Arctic Sovereignty 
• Promoting Social and Economic Development
• Protecting our Environmental Heritage
• Improving and Devolving Northern Governance

In setting the strategic context, the Northern Strategy stated that: 

International interest in the North has intensified because of the potential for resource development, the opening of new transportation routes, and the growing impacts of climate change. In September 2007, satellite imaging verified that the Northwest Passage had less than 10 percent ice coverage, making it, by definition, “fully navigable” for several weeks. This was well ahead of most recent forecasts. Although the Northwest Passage is not expected to become a safe or reliable transportation route in the near future, reduced ice coverage and longer periods of navigability may result in an increased number of ships undertaking destination travel for tourism, natural resource exploration or development. 

Rather than dwelling on competition and conflict, the document affirmed that “Canada has a strong history of working with our northern neighbours to promote Canadian interests internationally and advance our role as a responsible Arctic nation” and that “cooperation, diplomacy and international law have always been Canada’s preferred approach in the Arctic.”  It highlighted the United States as “an exceptionally valuable partner in the Arctic,” including on safety and security issues (with specific reference to search and rescue). It also emphasized opportunities for cooperation with Russia and “common interests” with European Arctic states, as well as a shared commitment to international law. Implicitly, this confirmed that bilateral and multilateral engagement remained key to stability and security in the region. In reaffirming the central roles of the Arctic Council in circumpolar dialogue and of the Law of the Sea as “an extensive legal framework” providing “a solid foundation for responsible management by the five Arctic Ocean coastal states and other users of this Ocean,” the overall tenor is optimistic and positive.