Prime Minister Stephen Harper is planning a northern tour this summer as part of a broad Arctic sovereignty campaign that will likely intensify a territorial dispute with the U.S. and other countries, reports CBC news.
The government will push ahead with several initiatives designed to assert sovereignty over the Northwest Passage - starting with a prime ministerial visit.
Harper is expected to make several stops and provide details on military projects that include ice-capable ships, a northern naval station, and a training centre for winter combat.
"Northern issues are going to come back to the fore," a senior government official told The Canadian Press.
Officials at National Defence headquarters suggest a high-level trip is also in the works to Hans Island - the football-field-sized rock between Ellesmere Island and Greenland which Denmark claims as its own.
A visit there in 2005 by former defence minister Bill Graham was enough to spark a diplomatic incident that had the Danes calling in the Canadian ambassador for a reprimand.
Canada's PM to make a northern trip
Hans Island may be on the itinerary.
Published: 28.06.2007 02:23
News
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Siku's pause has extended as considered whether to continue this daily circumpolar news round-up In the meantime, we encourage you to consult our archived material, much of which is not accessible elsewhere on the internet.
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