Debate: "The United States calls the passage an international strait, open to all. Canada claims control because it considers the passage an internal waterway, like the Mississippi River."
Advantages to the NW Passage: (a) 4,700 nautical miles shorter than via the Panama Canal. "That would save hundreds of thousands of dollars for shipping companies. (b) "It would be a very attractive way to move Alaskan oil to the East Coast."
Historical data: Canada claimed the passage as an internal waterway in 1973. "For Canada, the NW Passage is a symbol of national sovereignty, which Canadians guard fiercely. (National anthem says: "True North, strong and free".
Quotation of U.S. ambassador to Canada, David Wilkins, in 2006: "We don't recognize Canada's claims to the waters."
Quotation of PM Stephen Harper: "We have significant plans for national defense and for defense of our sovereignty, including Arctic sovereignty."
Political fact(paraphrasing): Harper promised in his election campaign an 5,3 billion dollars investment in northern defense.
*This source includes great facts and potential quotations. Moreover, this article has been reused by the University of Western Ontario which confirms it is serious and authoritative. (4.5/5)
Source (2): Charron, Andrea. “The Northwest Passage in Context.” Canadian Military Journal (2005-2006): 41-48.
Purpose of the text: Clarify and context the NW Passage debate, according to the law standpoint.
Quotation of the author: "All indications are that a strictly legal solution to the impasse is unlikely."(41)
Definition of the word sovereignty (concept): "Supreme authority within a territory."(41)
Oposition between Canada and U.S.: "The US has consistenly said "yes", a right of navigation exists, while Canada says "no", such a right does not exist, especially with respect to the Passage."(42)
Important historical data: In 1969, an american vessel, the Manhattan, traversed the NW Passage on two occasions without asking permission and it became "a watershed for the formal declaration of Canada's right of ownership of the Passage". Then, the Canadian government passed a pollution legislation aiming to protect the Arctic.(43)
The "Straight Baseline Method" is explained in this article. It is the method used by Canada to legally defend its sovereignty over the NW Passage.
U.S. viewpoint: "Naval interests of the United States around the world, according to the Canadian Arctic Ressources Committee, prevent the US government from conceding to Canada on the Passage."(45)
Fact: Canada's Arctic Water Pollution Prevention Act (AWPPA) is an act that makes Canada able to exercise jurisdiction over commerce in the Arctic. "Canada argued that this legislation was necessary because of the danger posed by oil-laden tankers that could spill their contents, thus permanently damaging the fragile Arcic environment."
Historical data: 1988's Agreement on Arctic Cooperation faciliate the transit of US vessels. It reminds that a close relationship is of first importance between the Canadian PM and the President of the U.S. in order to perpetuate the status quo.
*This article will help me understand well the legal dispositions that both part have taken or want to take. It will strenghten my analysis. (4/5)
Source (3): Birchall, Jeff. “Canadian Sovereignty: Climate Change and Politics in the Arctic.” Arctic 59.2 (2006): 3-4.
Intriguing idea: "[...] melting ice does not mean no ice, nor does it mean increased shipping."
Quotations: "Often those who predict an ice-reduced or an ice-free Northwest Passage tend to oversimplify the nature of the ice regimes in the archipelago, thus exaggerating the potential for increased shipping and the implied threat to Canadian sovereignty."
"Given the importance of security in a post-9/11 environment, however, it's unlikely that the United States would want to agtate relations with Canada by challenging her sovereignty status in the Northwest Passage."
*This editorial gives original and exclusive opinions on the debate. Those viewpoints could help me to enhance my analysis. (3.5/5)
Source (4): “Americans Disagree over Canada’s Claim to Historic Northwest Passage.” Editorial. Office of External Relations of the University of Alberta 1 Nov. 2006. 22 Feb. 2007 <http://www.uofaweb.ualberta.ca/govrel/news.cfm?story=52223>.
Fact: There is increasing interest in oil and natural gas development.
Canadian government wants to improve its strategy to assure the country's military action in the Arctic area by constructing armed icebreakers.
*This article is weaker. It does not provide a lot of new information and it often refers to Rob Huebert's research, which is one of my important sources in my review of the literature. Therefeore, I would rather concentrate on Huebert's article itself. (1.5/5)
Source (5): Blanchfield, Mike. “Canada’s Arctic Sovereignty Claim ‘tenuous,’ Pentagon Adviser Argues.” Canada.com 15 Feb. 2007. 22 Feb. 2007 <http://www.canada.com/ components/print.aspx?id=b1ce8bb6-a088-4954-a610-ee6a5e3f1>.
Paraphrasing: The Oceans Policy Adviser to the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff, James Kraska, claims that Canada's defense for her sovereignty over the NW Passage is "tenuous" and "excessive" and that Canada should improve its security and environmental issues trough the United Nations. (UN Law of the Sea).
Quotation from James Kraska: "[...] the question is unlikely to cause significant friction between Ottawa and Washington because both countries share a mutual respect for the rule of law and are NATO allies."
Comparison with a similar case: Malaysia vs. Indonesia.
Quotation: "Most military observers agree Canada's ability to defend its vast Arctic is limited."
*Interesting article because it is very recent (15 Feb. 2007). Plus, it brings good quotations. But still it does not provide a complete overall look at the issue. (3/5)
Source(6): “Canada Needs to Stand on Guard.” Editorial. Canada.com 15 Aug. 2006. 22 Feb. 2007 <http://www.canada.com/components/print.aspx?id=502e6951-0000-4909-ac83-9b7cbec0>.
Collective knowledge: "Canadian control over the Arctic Ocean on our northern approach is a given for Canadians."
Quotation: "Legal rights to sovereignty can rest on exercising them."
*This source is poor. It is too short to contain intriguing ideas. Plus it is anonymous which lessens its authoritativeness. (1/5)
Source(7) : Griffiths, Franklyn. “Pathetic Fallacy: that Canada’s Arctic Sovereignty is on Thin Ice.” Canadian Foreign Policy 11.3 (2004): 1-16. Proquest Research Library Feb. 2007
The issue itself: "[...] the undoubted thinning of sea ice in the various waterways that make up the Passage will produce not only an increase in intercontinental shipping, but a shipping-based challenge to Canada's sovereignty over its Arctic warters."
The author's viewpoint: The real problem for Canada is not to prevail its sovereignty as far as commercial navigation is concerned but to get prepared to fight for security and environmental challenges that may come up because of the global warming.
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