Harper pledges larger military presence in north

[nds76]

CTV.ca News Staff

Conservative Leader Stephen Harper said his party will defend Canada's sovereignty in Arctic with a beefed up military presence.

Campaigning in Winnipeg Thursday, Harper said a Conservative government would increase underwater and aerial surveillance and enlarge the navy, army, and air force presence.

"The single most important duty of the federal government is to protect and defend our national sovereignty " said Harper.

"There are new and disturbing reports of American nuclear submarines passing through Canadian waters without obtaining the permission of - or even notifying - the Canadian government."

"You don't defend national sovereignty with flags, cheap election rhetoric, and advertising campaigns. You need forces on the ground, ships in the sea, and proper surveillance. That will be the Conservative approach."

Harper said that if he was elected Prime Minister he would make it clear to foreign governments that travelling in Canadian territory requires government consent.

The Conservative plan for defending Arctic sovereignty includes:

Stationing three new armed ice breakers -- to be made in Canada -- in the area of Iqaluit

Building a new military/civilian deep-water docking facility in the Iqaluit area

Establishing underwater listening posts to monitor northern waters for foreign submarines and ships

Building a new Arctic army training centre in the area of Cambridge Bay on the Northwest Passage

Stationing new fixed-wing search-and-rescue aircraft in Yellowknife
The price tag for the plan will be an additional $5.3 billion over five years.

Harper's announcement comes just days after reports that at least one U.S. military submarine had recently patrolled the Arctic and likely passed through Canadian waters.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20051222/harper_north051222/20051222?s_name=election2006

[canoilers]

We do need a stronger presence up north, and having another nation pass through our waters like it was nothing only proves that fact. Thank you for posting this. :D

[SHANIANUTS!]

Somehow I don't think this would create the same reaction in the US if the roles were reversed.

You would think politicians might have their eye on more important objectives than a close neighbor dropping by.

[SHANIANUTS!]

We are your closest ally - we are not "any" country - at least it would seem that way to me - a simple ambassadorial conversation might be more in order than how Harper is suggesting the matter be handled...but again I hate politics and I shouldn't even be here yacking...

[Marine]

Hey, but if China tried to invade us and decided to go over the globe, they'll have to go through Canada. Let them cut down the numbers a little bit for us.

[canoilers]

Somehow I don't think this would create the same reaction in the US if the roles were reversed.

You would think politicians might have their eye on more important objectives than a close neighbor dropping by.If a Canadian ship passed through American waters it would be a big deal. The ship would probably be boarded if not sank out-right. The American coast gaurd would be all over that in a heart beat. Theres no way the Coast Gaurd or the American Navy would allow such a thing without permission. It just would not happen in anyway or form, just like they wouldn't let any plane just come into American Airspace without permission.

[nds76]

NDP Leader Jack Layton takes a dogsled ride with sled owner Grant Beck in Yellowknife, Wednesday, Dec. 23.

http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/pix/layton_sled_cp_9180184.jpg

Jack Layton starts the day north of 60 on Thursday, courting the northern vote and enjoying the ride in Yellowknife.

"I'm as excited as a kid right now," Layton said before heading onto Great Slave Lake. "Ed Broadbent told me what it's like to be in a winter campaign: he says you've got to get on a dogsled, so that's what we're going to do."

Layton arrived in the city in the Northwest Territories on Wednesday, hoping to boost the chances NDP candidate Dennis Bevington can defeat Ethel Blondin-Andrew. The Liberal incumbent has held the western Arctic riding since 1988.

The trip to the North comes a day after Layton released the NDP aboriginal peoples platform in Winnipeg.

NDP native people's critic Pat Martin said the 12-point plan, which is short on specifics, would cost money and that the $5-billion agreement signed last month is just a start.

"I represent the poorest riding in Canada," Martin said. "And I can tell you overwhelmingly the face of poverty in Winnipeg Centre is Indian. And that's by design and neglect. We're saying enough is enough. Canada doesn't move forward unless we move forward together and we're not going to leave aboriginal people behind in the wake of our prosperity."

Layton goes to Edmonton later on Thursday.

Liberal Leader Paul Martin is in Ottawa all day. He'll spend part of the day giving year-end interviews as prime minister.

Conservative Leader Stephen Harper announced his plan to boost Arctic defence on Thursday.

Gilles Duceppe of the Bloc Québécois is in Longeuil.

The Green party's Jim Harris is spending the day in Victoria.

http://www.cbc.ca/story/canadavotes2006/national/2005/12/22/elxn-layton-thurs.html

[canoilers]

We are your closest ally - we are not "any" country - at least it would seem that way to me - a simple ambassadorial conversation might be more in order than how Harper is suggesting the matter be handled...but again I hate politics and I shouldn't even be here yacking...
This isn't just about America entering our waters either, if the Americans are doing it maybe someone else is too. The point is Canadian sovereignty must be protected, and to protect it you need a presence there, otherwise somebody else will do it. It doesn't have too be American, it just happened to be an American ship that went through our waters.

[canoilers]

Hey, but if China tried to invade us and decided to go over the globe, they'll have to go through Canada. Let them cut down the numbers a little bit for us.Oh thanks for that, besides if they came that way they'd have to go though Russia first. I don't think they'd be up for that so it would probably come from the Pacific. :p Even if they did that, Nato would be involved becaue an attack on one is an attack on all.

[SHANIANUTS!]

If a Canadian ship passed through American waters it would be a big deal. The ship would probably be boarded if not sank out-right. The American coast gaurd would be all over that in a heart beat. Theres no way the Coast Gaurd or the American Navy would allow such a thing without permission. It just would not happen in anyway or form, just like they wouldn't let any plane just come into American Airspace without permission.Methinks Canadian ships transverse US territorial waters with impunity especially around Alaska...I have nothing to prove this but I think the US has much more important concerns than a stray Canadian ship in our waters...I get the feeling this politician is simply blowing smoke up your butts getting you to thump yourselves with patriotic pride...that is what these birds do..to get elected...

[canoilers]

A merchant vessel or a fishing vessel, yes maybe accidents do happen, but not a frigate or sub. Theres no country on this planet that would allow that kind of thing, no nation on gods green earth would allow another military vessel from another nation just enter its waters at will, it just doesn't happen. Theres no way in hell a your country would sit by while a nuclear sub went about its merry little way though American waters, it would not happen.

[SHANIANUTS!]

...does Canada have many submarines..nuclear or otherwise?

[canoilers]

No we don't, up until recently West Edmonton Mall had more subs. We bought some used ones from the british but they were kinda old and one of them caught on fire and had to be towed back to Britain. 1 person died in that fire too. Our goverment is really cheap when it comes to our military. When the Gulf War started they had to bring ships out of moth ball just so we could have ships to be in the war.

[SHANIANUTS!]

...and might that have something to do with your neighbor to the south?

[canoilers]

Yeah our goverment used to think you guys would defend us at the drop of a hat, so they figured they didn't have to spend any money on our military. So for years we didn't spend any money of Self-defence. Now they are starting too put money back into it. Its a shame too, because after both world wars we were the 3rd strongest superpower after the Americans and the British in the First war and the Americans and Soviets after WWII. We had the 3rd strongest navy too, but when the Gulf War started we were 48th in that department.