Staff
District residents, enduring yet another bone-chilling cold snap this winter, can be forgiven for perhaps not noticing the thaw in relations between Canada and the United States, but it’s clear our relationship definitely will warm up under incoming president Barack Obama.
First, Mr. Obama announced over the weekend that his first foreign visit as president will be to Canada, restoring a tradition which George W. Bush ignored when he chose to visit Mexico instead shortly after his inauguration eight years ago. Then just yesterday, Secretary of State-designate Hillary Clinton specifically referred to Canada during her confirmation hearing before the U.S. Senate—a sharp contrast to the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks when President Bush failed to even list our country as among America’s staunchest friends.
But while friendlier relations with our neighbours south of the border is welcomed news, we also must not lose sight of the fact that American interests don’t always jibe with our own and no clearer example of that revolves around the Arctic. Ironically, on the same day Prime Minister Stephen Harper was “delighted” that Mr. Obama would visit Ottawa first, and Ms. Clinton actually mentioned us by name, came news that new U.S. policy will pose an outright challenge to Canada’s long-standing but oft-disputed claim of sovereignty over the Far North, including the fabled Northwest Passage.
Defending against this challenge is all the more pressing now given the prospect of an ice-free route between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, at least for part of the year, thanks to global warming; not to mention easier access to the vast resources slowly being loosened from the Arctic’s icy grip.
Frankly, an Arctic free-for-all is looming, which threatens to rob Canada of potential riches while leaving the pristine environment open to pollution and other damage.
To its credit, the Conservatives have taken the strongest stance yet of any previous government on the need to assert Canadian sovereignty over the Arctic. Unfortunately, the bravado and promises have yet to be followed up with any concrete action—nor is anything likely anytime soon given the current economic crisis and potential $40-billion budget deficit.
Nonetheless, it’s clear Canada quickly is running out of time to ramp up our presence in the north to successfully fend off claims to the region from the United States and other countries. It no longer is a matter of “if,” but “when.”
Let’s not be naive to think having a friend in the White House again changes that.
