Coast guard needs better icebreakers, Senate urges
Updated Mon. Jun. 23 2008 9:07 PM ET The Canadian Press
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OTTAWA -- The Canadian Coast Guard needs better icebreakers, tougher regulations and more Inuit involvement to safeguard the country's interests in the slowly opening Arctic seas, says a newly released Senate report.
The report, released Monday, recommends that all ships entering Arctic waters claimed by Canada should be obliged to tell NORDREG, a registry maintained by the coast guard to monitor who's sailing through the Arctic. Registering is currently voluntary.
"To show that we control the water and that these are Canadian waters, to assert our sovereignty, every ship should report and NORDREG is the tool to do it," said New Brunswick Liberal Senator Fernand Robichaud.
Canada should also implement regulations on the construction, manning and equipping of all vessels in the Arctic, the report said.
The standing committee on fisheries and oceans also said Canada needs go-anywhere, any time icebreakers. Although that echoes a $720-million promise made in the Conservative government's last budget, Canada needs more than one, said Robichaud.
"We expect a lot more traffic is going to happen up there," said Robichaud. "Right now, I don't think we have the capacity.
"The government should have a long-term program of shipbuilding icebreakers."
Ottawa shouldn't ignore the people who actually live in the Arctic either, the report says.
More Inuit should be recruited for the coast guard to take advantage of their unique local knowledge. As well, the government should implement a plan that has been languishing before the federal cabinet for years to build a series of small-craft harbours in Nunavut.
"We believe (Nunavumiut) have not received their proper due with regard to facilities."
One Arctic expert praised the report, saying making NORDREG mandatory is "excellent idea."
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Updated Mon. Jun. 23 2008 9:07 PM ET The Canadian Press
Article Link
OTTAWA -- The Canadian Coast Guard needs better icebreakers, tougher regulations and more Inuit involvement to safeguard the country's interests in the slowly opening Arctic seas, says a newly released Senate report.
The report, released Monday, recommends that all ships entering Arctic waters claimed by Canada should be obliged to tell NORDREG, a registry maintained by the coast guard to monitor who's sailing through the Arctic. Registering is currently voluntary.
"To show that we control the water and that these are Canadian waters, to assert our sovereignty, every ship should report and NORDREG is the tool to do it," said New Brunswick Liberal Senator Fernand Robichaud.
Canada should also implement regulations on the construction, manning and equipping of all vessels in the Arctic, the report said.
The standing committee on fisheries and oceans also said Canada needs go-anywhere, any time icebreakers. Although that echoes a $720-million promise made in the Conservative government's last budget, Canada needs more than one, said Robichaud.
"We expect a lot more traffic is going to happen up there," said Robichaud. "Right now, I don't think we have the capacity.
"The government should have a long-term program of shipbuilding icebreakers."
Ottawa shouldn't ignore the people who actually live in the Arctic either, the report says.
More Inuit should be recruited for the coast guard to take advantage of their unique local knowledge. As well, the government should implement a plan that has been languishing before the federal cabinet for years to build a series of small-craft harbours in Nunavut.
"We believe (Nunavumiut) have not received their proper due with regard to facilities."
One Arctic expert praised the report, saying making NORDREG mandatory is "excellent idea."
More on link
