Artic Soveirgnty

[JoS]

For those not familar with the issue here is a brief explanation.

Basically as the ice in the Artic melts more water opens up. Do you think the waters surrounding the norther islands of Canada are Canadian waters or should be considered international waters? The article does abetter job outlining arguements for and against but it basically boils down to these few points

Con:
Territorial boundaries are 22km from your coastline, distance between some of the islands is 90 km leaving big holes
It could be considered an intenrational shipping strait and therefore not bound by this arguement as well

Pro:
World Court ruled that if your coastline is dotted with islands you can draw a baseline around them in a case involving the Netherlands, same should apply to Canada
Inuit have lived on the ice in these waters for hundreds of years, also have hunted there, simply making them an extention of the land
Not an international shipping lane because it is almost never used

So what do you think. If you feel it is Canad's water, shoudl the Canadian military enforce this soveirgnty?

[random8982]

At 2/22/07 12:22 PM, JoS wrote:

So what do you think. If you feel it is Canad's water, shoudl the Canadian military enforce this soveirgnty?

Their army would have a hell of a time...that's a lot of territory to cover and I don't think Canada has enough money to fund their army to stay out there on patrol. They pretty much do enough to get by as it is. (unless of course they patrol it now even though it's mostly ice).

Anyways, if I recall correctly the northern Atlantic, Arctic Ocean areas are pretty rough waters, that coupled with glaciers and ice bergs floating around, it wouldn't seem to be an appealing shipping route.

[JoS]

The Canadian government plans on buying 3 military icebreakers to patrol this region and has looked into also getting some subs to do the same.

[JakeHero]

At 2/22/07 04:24 PM, JoS wrote: The Canadian government plans on buying 3 military icebreakers to patrol this region and has looked into also getting some subs to do the same.

How on, your government buys ships in the singles? But on a serious note I'd agree these waters should be considered territory of Canada. One country is how are you going to settle this with another country called Greenland?

[morefngdbs]

At 2/22/07 04:24 PM, JoS wrote: The Canadian government plans on buying 3 military icebreakers to patrol this region and has looked into also getting some subs to do the same.

This is true, but posted in the Chronicle Hearald (a N.S. newspaper) this week was an article on the submarines that are going to be used on patrol in the Arctic , they don't have the multi beam sonar necessary to detect ice floes.
So as usual the Canadian Armed Forces are being called on to do their job by a government that hasn't given them all the tools they need to do the job.
Even though I believe the waters there are part of Canada!
As a Canadian I believe if their is a navigatable waterway that is open in Northern Canada it should be used for the peaceful transport of goods back & forth from Atlantic to Pacific , by everyone.
Remembering that in the winter time there will still be times that it will become impassable.
At least for the forseeable future.

[YankeeFli]

It's Canadian land is it not?

Now, I don't know how far territorial water claims are, but it's Canadain land.

It would make no difference where it is. It's you land, it's your water.

Use it.

Make a Northwest Passage.

[morefngdbs]

At 2/22/07 04:57 PM, JakeHero wrote: But on a serious note I'd agree these waters should be considered territory of Canada. One country is how are you going to settle this with another country called Greenland?

;
Just a note , Denmark is the country that Greenland is controled by.

[bcdemon]

I say it's ours. And we will use it as a peaceful shipping route, for a nominal fee of course. Just like going around the Horn of South America or going through the Panama Canal, shorter isn't free.

[SolInvictus]

considering the environmental state of the arctic it should be considered Canadian water so as any infractions can be dealt with by Canada.

[Cole]

Where exactly is the Artic? JoS, you really have to start using spell check. I think that Canada should be able to make the decision.

[zendahl]

At 2/25/07 04:27 PM, Cole wrote:

:I think that Canada should be able to make the decision.

No way! DIBS! I have dibs. It's mine. I licked it, it has my germs.

[AIDSextravaganza]

i think it should belong to canada even though this wont be an issue for quite some time
international shipping straights always fail because of piracy and no military to enforce the laws and canada has the icebreakers needed to enforce the laws in the straights

[random8982]

At 2/27/07 06:10 AM, zendahl wrote:

No way! DIBS! I have dibs. It's mine. I licked it, it has my germs.

LOL.

[Boltrig]

At 3/5/07 04:21 PM, AIDSextravaganza wrote: i think it should belong to canada even though this wont be an issue for quite some time
international shipping straights always fail because of piracy and no military to enforce the laws and canada has the icebreakers needed to enforce the laws in the straights

What? When have you ever heard of pirates that far north! =P

Seriously though, I think the waters should be considered Canadian territory. Having control over a group of islands that close to your mainland should allow you to include them and the intervening water as one entity with the mainland. At those kind of short(ish) distances, it shouldnt really be a major issue.

It gets daft when the UK wants all the water between them and the Falklands

[fastbow]

At 2/27/07 06:10 AM, zendahl wrote: No way! DIBS! I have dibs. It's mine. I licked it, it has my germs.

Nasty... Hope you licked it before I peed on it...

[TheSovereign]

Hey, thats our water!

[Memorize]

Alaska is closer north, therefore it is US water... <.< >.>

[bcdemon]

At 3/7/07 11:32 PM, Memorize wrote: Alaska is closer north, therefore it is US water... <.< >.>

As in, Alaska is "closer north" than Canada? Oh god I hope you DID just say that.

[morefngdbs]

At 3/7/07 11:32 PM, Memorize wrote: Alaska is closer north, therefore it is US water... <.< >.>

;
Alaska is a loooong way, from the Atlantic ocean.
See if your teacher will let you go up to the grade 3 or 4 classroom & have a look at a globe.
You will see that Alaska is on the North west side of Canada. It has the Pacific Ocean lapping its southern side & the Beaufort Sea to the North side of it.
The Bering Strait is to it's west (seperates it from the old Soviet Union.)

[SkunkyFluffy]

At 2/24/07 08:27 AM, bcdemon wrote: I say it's ours. And we will use it as a peaceful shipping route, for a nominal fee of course. Just like going around the Horn of South America or going through the Panama Canal, shorter isn't free.

You know we don't own the Panama Canal anymore, right?