Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels (MCDVs)

[Furniture]

Canada having a presence in the arctic archipelago is an important part of continental defense. The AOP's give the RCN a real role to play, in what is a all of government responsibility. It is far better to be proactive in showing our commitment, than having to deal with a physical challenge to the territory. Canada's lack of action in much of the area, weakens our claims. A good example of this is now playing out in the conflict between the Philippines and China. The Philippines mostly used the legal claim to it's territory as a defense, which it is now struggling to hold and get back from China.
A AOPS sailing the region and putting parties ashore, research, patrolling, exercising with the locals is cheaper in the long run, than a actual conflict over the region. The rule of law is only valuable when all parties respect it and China uses and discards it at their whim.

It needs to be weighed against the actual threat, and the cost/benefit of putting ships and personnel up there.

We have presence up in the arctic via the Rangers, and the other CAF elements operating in the North all year. Sending a few ships up on occasion is a good use of resources, but sending AOPVs up there just to be there is a waste of resources. We have a limited number of sailors, and limited amount of resources to use for getting ships to sea. We need to manage those resources wisely, and remember that we are a global trade nation, so we have obligations all over the planet.

The arctic is important, but it isn't everything. We have other obligations, and other interests.