Harper would boost Arctic military presenceThursday, December 22, 2005 Posted at 11:04 AM EST
Canadian Press and Globe and Mail Update
Winnipeg â †Stephen Harper said Friday a Conservative government would spend $5.3-billion over five years to boost Canada's military presence in the Arctic, including enhanced underwater and aerial surveillance.
"The single most important duty of the federal government is to protect and defend our national sovereignty," Harper said at a morning campaign stop in Winnipeg.
"You don't defend national sovereignty with flags, cheap election rhetoric, and advertising campaigns," he said, according to a text of his speech posted on the Conservative party Web site. "You need forces on the ground, ships in the sea, and proper surveillance. And that will be the Conservative approach."
The Tories would establish a national sensor system for northern waters and build three heavy icebreakers capable of carrying troops, Mr. Harper said Thursday in Winnipeg.
Mr. Harper also promised to create a combined miltary-civilian deepwater docking facility in the Iqaluit region.
At least 500 sailors would operate the icebreakers and the docking station, said Harper, who estimated the total cost of the icebreakers and the docking facility at $2-billion over eight or nine years.
Mr. Harper's announcement in Winnipeg came after recent reports that at least one U.S. military submarine recently patrolled the Arctic and likely passed through Canadian waters.
Liberal Leader Paul Martin has said his government will do what is necessary to stop American submarines from entering Canadian waters.
Mr. Harper pledged today to do more than talk.
"As prime minister, I will make it clear to foreign governments â †including the United States â †that naval vessels traveling in Canadian territorial waters will require the consent of the government of Canada," said Mr. Harper.
"Only a new Conservative government can provide real action on sovereignty, not just words," he said, according to the prepared text.
The Conservative plan, according to the party website, includes these elements:
Station three new armed naval heavy icebreakers, to be made in Canada, in the area of Iqaluit, which will include 500 regular force personnel for crews and support and will be capable of carrying troops.
Build a new military/civilian deep-water docking facility in the Iqaluit area.
Establish a new Arctic National Sensor System for northern waters, which will include underwater surveillance technologies such as listening posts to monitor foreign submarines and ships.
Build a new Arctic army training centre in the area of Cambridge Bay on the Northwest Passage, staffed by an estimated 100 regular force personnel.
Station new fixed-wing search-and-rescue aircraft in Yellowknife.
Provide eastern and western Arctic air surveillance by stationing new long-range uninhabited aerial vehicle (UAV) squadrons at CFB Goose Bay and CFB Comox to provide continuous Arctic and ocean surveillance and patrol
Revitalize the Canadian Rangers by recruiting up to 500 additional Rangers and increasing their level of training, activity, and equipment.
Provide an army emergency response capability for the Arctic through the new airborne battalion and airlift capacity stationed at CFB Trenton.
Mr. Martin was spreading the Liberal message on Thursday with interviews in Ottawa ahead of the holidays.
He was then to attend a reception in neighbouring Gatineau, Que.
New Democratic Party Leader Jack Layton travelled to Edmonton, hoping to persuade voters in the Alberta capital to opt for the NDP.
Bloc Leader Gilles Duceppe was to speak to the Canadian Auto Workers near Montreal before giving interviews to TV networks in Quebec
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