Why we must defend our northern sovereignty

Look at a map. The vast white expanse at the top of the world is not empty space; it is the True North strong and free. Yet, as the ice recedes and shipping lanes open, voracious powers like Russia and China are eyeing our Arctic archipelago with hungry eyes. Even our American allies occasionally forget where the maritime borders lie.

Ottawa's neglect of our northern defenses is a national disgrace. We patrol our waters with ships that are aging out and aircraft that belong in museums. Meanwhile, Russia builds nuclear icebreakers and militarizes its northern coast. Strength respects strength, and weakness invites aggression.

We need deep-water ports in the high north. We need persistent surveillance capabilities. And most importantly, we need the political will to say 'No' to any encroachment. The Northwest Passage is internal Canadian waters, full stop. It is not an international strait open to whoever pleases.

Investing in the Arctic is also investing in the Inuit communities who have been the stewards of this land for millennia. Their Rangers are the eyes and ears of our sovereignty, and they deserve better infrastructure and support. Defending the North is the paramount duty of the federal government. If we lose the North, we lose Canada.