• Thanks for stopping by. Logging in to a registered account will remove all generic ads. Please reach out with any questions or concerns.

Defending Canadian Arctic Sovereignty

  • Thread starter Thread starter mattoigta
  • Start date Start date
Does Canada really stand much of a chance in stopping the Russians, when we are so short on troops, weapons, air craft, subs etc...?

On our own it is not likely that we could stop them ourselves, especially since we are already in our current Afghanistan mission. But I'm sure we could hold them off long enough until we could get proper support from our allies.
 
Old Sweat said:
Before we go nuclear here, let's get some more information. For starters, how do the Russians expect to extract their jumpers from as inhospitable a place as we are apt to find on the earth?

Wouldnt be too hard to build an austere airstrip with a company of Russian Desantnye troopers (not spetsnaz), and the proper equipment. If they are jumping in then I am guessing they would already have some fairly flat terrain picked out.
 
Canadian Army Journal on this topic in the newest edition (summer 2009) -  http://www.army.forces.gc.ca/caj/documents/vol_12/iss_2/CAJ_Vol12.2_10_e.pdf
 
The first paragraphs pretty well sums up Canada's approach to all international issues, lot's of talk , little action. I agree with the "whole government approach" but keep in mind the legislative map is complex. With 3 territories and 2 Provinces involved there will be a lot of jostling going on. Just in the Environmental review of any project might fall under one or more of the 4 environmental assessment Acts up there and possibly one the 2 Provincial reviews.

Personally I like the idea of small armed patrol boats based near the larger communities. These would be seasonal and would manned by local reserves mainly. They would work in conjunction with the larger Southern based vessels. Keep the small vessel fairly basic and easy to maintain using commercial systems and a simple weapon system. There job is to show the flag, support the local government, custom officals, SAR and police forces and build the expertise in the regions. The patrol vessels should be less than a 100' Vessel would be kept in the Arctic and hauled out for the winter, similar to how ATL operated.
 
Are those papers written for the benefit of civil servants working in DND and foreign office, for higher executive level (members of parliament,...) or for officers in the CF ?
 
I am catching up during Holidays on my reading of CF papers, they are usually well written and many are readable by the general public (includes me).

I don`t read often similar paper (in quality) from civilian journalists (the generalist one) about related topics. Do they read those? Unbelievable, if you want a job well done (such as find good information) you need to do it yourself.
 
Military scientists to study secrets of Arctic living

Canada's High Arctic will double as a scientific laboratory over the next month for two Canadian military scientists studying human behaviour in extreme environments.

Michel Paul, a specialist in fatigue countermeasures, and social psychologist Don McCreary are researchers with Defense Research Development Canada. They are launching a three-year study of daylight and darkness exposure on military personnel.

And starting Tuesday, they are part of Operation Nunalivut, a month-long High Arctic military operation in Alert, Nunavut. The operation is part of sovereignty operations conducted every year by the Canadian Forces in Canada's North.

More on link
 
Dogged diplomats steal the show in Canada-Denmark High Arctic exercise

Charlie is a tad coarse for a Danish diplomat.

He sheds enough hair in a day to knit a sweater, drools when excited and bares his teeth when compatriots try to steal food.

But Charlie, a white and brown Greenlandic sled dog, may have done more over the past two weeks to ease Arctic relations between Canada and Denmark than any human diplomat since 1973 – when the two countries first fell into disagreement in this region over ownership of a rocky outcropping in the Nairn Strait called Hans Island.

A member of the Danish military’s elite dog-sled team, Charlie – along with his 12 shaggy teammates and two ultra-fit human handlers – has mushed and panted alongside the Canadian Forces for the past three weeks as part of Operation Nunalivut, a Canadian sovereignty exercise based here in the northern-most settlement in the world.

While the dogs arrived as a symbol of High Arctic co-operation between Canada and Denmark, they left as the undisputed stars of the massive exercise, which wrapped up Monday with the arrival of dignitaries such as Chief of the Defence Staff General Walt Natynczyk, Defence Minister Peter MacKay and Premier of Nunavut Eva Aariak.

“Just beautiful dogs aren’t they,” cooed Gen. Natynczyk, as he succumbed to the pet-me-please pout of Charlie. “They are an impressive animal.”

As if Canada’s top general wasn’t sufficiently smitten, Charlie rolled over for a belly rub. “Ha, would you look at that,” said the battle-hardened general as he knelt down and began scratching.

More on link
 
Pretty good (and long) piece on the whole "Arctic sovereignty" hoo-hah, including Conservative manipulation:

Uneasy passage: The Northwest Passage is central to Canadian identity, yet its future remains uncertain
http://www.canada.com/technology/UNEASY+PASSAGE/3133386/story.html

Worth the read.

Meanwhile, who's growling now? 
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20100609/arctic-cda-russia-100608/20100609?hub=Canada&s_name=

The Canadian government denounced it as a land-grabbing stunt when Russia planted its flag on the sea floor under the North Pole in 2007. 

But it was all smiles and handshakes at a conference in Norway this week when federal Northern Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl met the man who piloted the flag-planting sub. 

Strahl says the first thing Arthur Chilingarov did was to ask him to return to Russia this fall to discuss Arctic issues, which he calls a sign the bear is finally starting to crawl out of its cave.  Strahl says that despite well-publicized disputes over possible boundaries in the North, Russia and Canada are becoming increasingly chummy. 

Their foreign affairs ministers have met four times this year, and Strahl has signed an agreement with his Russian counterpart on northern economic development.

No joint military or mapping operations are planned, though, and Strahl says Russian intentions in the North can still be a bit of a "cipher.

Mark
Ottawa
 
Antoine said:
I am catching up during Holidays on my reading of CF papers, they are usually well written and many are readable by the general public (includes me).

I don`t read often similar paper (in quality) from civilian journalists (the generalist one) about related topics. Do they read those? Unbelievable, if you want a job well done (such as find good information) you need to do it yourself.

For my culminating in Gr12 International Law my essay was about Canadian arctic sovereignty, and most of my sources were either CF or Parliament. Not really related to the topic, just saying those navy Officers know how to write information papers
 
This from MERX:
.... 1.0    On June 3, 2010, the Government of Canada announced the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy (the Strategy).  Under the Strategy, the Government will establish a long-term, strategic relationship with two Canadian shipyards for the procurement of large ships - one for combat vessels, the other for non-combat vessels. The shipyards will be selected through an open, fair and transparent competitive process. The Polar Icebreaker is one of the non-combat vessels included in the Strategy. This Letter of Interest for the Design Phase of the project is in accordance with the Strategy.

1.1    The Canadian Coast Guard (CCG), an agency of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, has a requirement for a Polar Icebreaker to be designed, constructed, outfitted, trialed and delivered.

1.2    The current Canadian Coast Guard's most capable heavy icebreaker, CCGS LOUIS S. ST-LAURENT, is scheduled to be decommissioned in 2017.

1.3    In February 2008, the Government announced the procurement of a Polar Icebreaker to be introduced into service in 2017.  The new Polar Icebreaker will have an expected operational life of at least forty years.

1.4    The government is considering proceeding with a two phase procurement process for the Polar Icebreaker, known as a "Design then Build" procurement. The first phase will be to contract for design services and the second phase would be to contract for the vessel construction.

1.5    The purpose of this Letter of Interest (LOI) is threefold:
- to communicate the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) initial requirements,
- to solicit information regarding the domestic and foreign industry capabilities for the provision of design services specific to the unique aspects of modern icebreaking
design, and
- to solicit industry feedback on the feasibility of the envisaged polar icebreaker requirements.

1.6    The overall aim is to gain a full appreciation of the ship design industry and identify the Canadian and the global expertise and experience available to deliver a construction specification and Class approved drawing package for building a modern multi-purpose Polar Icebreaker. It also seeks industry's endorsement or comments on the CCG's basic vessel concept assumptions ....
Reference Number  PW-$$NQ-008-20159
Solicitation Number F7013-10POLA/A


More on the proposed role and (at least conceptual) specs in attached.
 
Wanted:  Someone to run/maintain Canadian Arctic underwater unmanned subs....
Under ice Arctic bathymetric Arctic mapping is a challenging task, due to the remoteness of the region and the unpredictable weather and ice conditions. DRDC Atlantic (DEFENCE Research and Development Canada) is collaborating with Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) in mapping the continental shelf in the Arctic Ocean using AUVs.  To support AUV under ice mapping, DRDC is responsible as the scientific authority for the operation and maintenance of the AUVs in Arctic surveys. NRCan and DFO are responsible for logistical support for the Arctic AUV mapping activity.

This requirement is to provide operational support, operator training and general maintenance services for two DRDC Atlantic Arctic Explorer Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV) and associated equipment on an "as and when requested" basis, through a contract with Task  Authorizations. This work is to provide specialized support services for two ISE Research Ltd.  (ISER) designed and built "Arctic Explorer" autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV). These AUVs are under-ice capable, 5000m depth rated, are modular in construction and support both in-water battery charging and a variable ballast system for surfacing under the ice or resting on the sea bottom. The experienced vendor will provide support services related to AUV vehicle operations and maintenance in various locations including the Arctic and other non ice covered waters as required ....

More in the Statement of Work here (PDF at Scribd.com).

Previous "other elements of Arctic strategy" discussion:
- CF Forming "Yellowknife Company" of Loyal Edmonton Regiment
- Navy waters down plans for Arctic patrol ships
- Top sailor defends navy's role in Arctic
- 20 Aug 10: "Canada’s Arctic Foreign Policy Statement" Released
 
.... on the issue:

1)  U.S. has WAY more under-the-ice subs than Canada, Russia, Denmark and Norway, so it has the edge.

2)  "An Arctic war is highly unlikely, at best"

More here ("How the U.S. Wins the Coming Arctic War," David Axe, Wired.com's Danger Room blog) and here ("As Arctic melts, U.S. ill equipped to tap resources," Jacquelyn Ryan, Washington Post).
 
Not much "defending" necessary:

Tories play to misconceptions on Arctic with jet-thundering photo-op (CP by Murray Brewster)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/somnia/article1933244/

It was a thundering display of Canada’s Northern resolve with jet fighters, a frigate and even a submarine, but a recently released poll suggests such exercises in military prowess play to the public’s mistaken belief the Arctic is under threat.

When Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Defence Minister Peter MacKay posed for a photo-op on the deck of HMCS Toronto 18 months ago in Frobisher Bay, internal polling told them a majority of Canadians believed the North was in peril — a view not shared by defence officials.

"Three in five Canadians (60 per cent) living north of 60 degrees, and one-half of Canadians (52 per cent) in the south, believe there is a threat to Canada’s Arctic sovereignty or to the security of its northern border," says a 2009 Environics survey.

The poll was commissioned by the Defence Department and released under the Access to Information Act after long delays.

But a Defence Department briefing note that same year assured the minister there was no real threat.

"There is no longer a conventional military threat in the Arctic," says the Aug. 11, 2009, briefing note, also obtained by The Canadian Press under the access law.

"The resumption of Russian military exercises in the region is more symbolic of Moscow wanting to be taken seriously as a world power than a return to the armed standoff of the Cold War."

The Environics survey found seven in 10 people worried other countries would challenge Canada’s claim in the Arctic and that a military buildup, not diplomacy, was the best way to handle it.

"Increasing military presence receives the most unprompted mentions from Canadians as a way to clearly establish Canada’s claim to Arctic territory," said an analysis accompanying the poll...

Mark
Ottawa
 
I wonder if Gazprom and Rosneft sell whiskey?  Perhaps that would make the "threat" more "real".

From a denizen of Fort Whoop Up.
 
Perhaps this necro thread is the right place to see where all these grand plans have gotten to. The guy in the trailer will make an astounding amount of TD, though:

http://www.nationalpost.com/todays-paper/Short+changing+Arctic/6353066/story.html

Short-changing the Arctic

National Post · Mar. 24, 2012 | Last Updated: Mar. 24, 2012 4:05 AM ET

The Tories have talked a good game about Canada being an Arctic country. Prime Minister Stephen Harper never misses a chance to tag along with the military during Operation Nanook, an annual military exercise in the Far North. Our leaders get touchy when Moscow or Copenhagen calls into question our sovereignty over northern waters. We fret about Russian bombers and American submarines going where they aren't wanted. And so, in the spirit of projecting Canada's power northward, way back in the long-ago era of 2007, the Tories promised a major naval base in the Arctic.

And then we didn't hear much about it. Until now. Turns out the "major" northern naval base will consist of a few trailers and a guy with a satellite phone. And not all the time, of course. Just in the summer.

An examination of the political literature makes for illuminating reading. A statement made in 2007 describes the proposed facility in exciting terms: "The establishment of a docking and refuelling facility in Nanisivik will better enable the Canadian Forces, and in particular the new Arctic/ Offshore Patrol Ships, to maintain a federal presence in Canada's Arctic waters throughout the navigable season. The site selected for this facility is strategically located inside the eastern entrance to the North West Passage, at Nanisivik in Nunavut. ... With its sheltered harbour, nearby jet-capable airstrip, and proximity to the North West Passage, Nanisivik offers an ideal location for the docking and refuelling facility."

The statement of 2007 noted that "construction at the Nanisivik site is expected to commence in the summer of 2010, with an initial operating capability planned for 2012, and full operational capability by 2015." It would have been used to support our proposed patrol ships, and any other government vessel patrolling in the region. A 2009 update confirmed that the base at Nanisivik was "on schedule" - even if that schedule seemed to be in flux.

Then came the recession. And the Libyan campaign - which came on top of the existing deployment in Afghanistan. But with those missions behind us now, you would think the government would be focusing on fulfilling its Arctic promises.

Instead, the government has backtracked, without admitting it. The new plan, just announced, will see a small, temporary facility set up, to be used as needed: "DND [Department of National Defence] will axe all permanent accommodations for personnel and will use 'existing DND trailers' for those brief periods when the site is used for refuelling government vessels," Postmedia reported this week. "DND is cutting plans to install a telecommunications system, saying staff can use handheld radios and satellite phones instead." When a facility is built to be used on an as-needed basis, the government clearly believes it won't be needed very much.

The original plan for the base would have given Canada a real foothold in Arctic waters. The new plan will give us enough to stage the odd show of presence in the region ... which we already do. Rather than being a gamechanger, this will make what we already do moderately easier. Canada is either going to be an Arctic power or it isn't. If the government can't even commit the $100-million it originally wanted to spend on developing a proper naval base in the Arctic region, the answer to that question is clear.

The government's policy here is penny-wise and pound-foolish. Canada's economy is largely resource-based. And for a relatively modest investment - the creation of the planned base, and perhaps others, as well as an investment in new ships - we have an opportunity to establish ourselves as the incumbent power in large swathes of the Arctic. Instead, we are creating a window of opportunity for other powers to play that role.
 
Rather than start a new thread I decided to post this story here. It concerns an assault by JTF2 on a ship that is supposed to be involved in illegal activities in the north. The text is a transcript of the voiceover (is that a word?) for the story that was broadcast by CTV. The comments on the story range from inane to semi-coherent but most share a common thread - lack of knowledge of the subject matter. It is reproduced under the Fair Dealing provisions of the Copyright Act.


Canada’s secret military task force unveiled

CTV National News: Veil of secrecy lifted

Joint Task Force 2, Canada's covert Special Forces, were thrust into the public eye for operation Nanook on Friday. Daniele Hamamdjian reports.

CTVNews.ca Staff
Published Friday, Aug. 24, 2012 10:07PM EDT
Last Updated Friday, Aug. 24, 2012 10:54PM EDT


Canada’s top secret task force isn’t so secret anymore, emerging from the shadows and landing in the public spotlight Friday in an unprecedented show of its specialized military skills.

Members of Joint Task Force 2, an elite group praised for its counter-terrorism operations around the world, participated in a complex simulation exercise in Hudson Bay and Churchill, Man., in front of cameras for the first time, as Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Defence Minister Peter MacKay looked on.

The simulation was part of Operation Nanook 12’s annual summer exercises and involved dropping Joint Task Force 2 operators from Griffon helicopters on a “vessel of interest,” played in the scenario by an oil-and-gas exploration ship from Cape Breton. Other soldiers, clad in black, surrounded the ship on inflatable boats.

The exercise helps special forces prepare for any ships entering Canadian waters illegally and other sea, land or air threats.

Harper, MacKay and Gen. Walt Natynczyk, chief of defence staff, watched Operation Nanook 12 aboard the HMCS St. John’s.

“I was deeply impressed, and frankly, as a Canadian, I was unabashedly proud … of the skill and precision with which you performed,” Harper said later, addressing the Canadian Forces.

Until now, Ottawa hasn’t publicly acknowledged the existence of Joint Task Force 2, which has done work in Haiti, Libya, Afghanistan and reportedly in Iraq, where a Canadian hostage was rescued.

The faces of the special group will never be seen, but officials say it’s important that the world knows they are a significant part of Canada’s military muscle.

“It's important for them to be seen and be contributing to Canada's overall defence because a lot of what they do is in the shadows,” Brig. Gen. Denis Thompson, commander of the Canadian Forces Special Operations Command, told reporters.

“It's more demonstrative today because there's more interest up there in just showing that we have the ability to reach out, anywhere, at any time,” said Maj. Gen. David Fraser, a retired military commander.

In a month or so, the Canadian Forces will be posting a recruitment video for the special task force on its website.
.

Read more: http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/canada-s-secret-military-task-force-unveiled-1.929414#ixzz24e5cURs4
 
On the same ex, from the Postmedia News chain, with an interesting political tid bit:
The Canadian Forces brought out of the shadows its elite special forces unit Friday, putting Joint Task Force 2 on display for Prime Minister Stephen Harper on a day when the prime minister said the military could — and would — be ready to defend the North’s abundant natural resources.

The unprecedented view of and access to the highly secretive JTF-2, whose members’ names and faces are not publicly known, was the first time the elite unit put on a public demonstration of its capabilities, boarding a moving vessel by sea and air in Hudson Bay in a prepared scenario where a suspected terrorist was aboard an ecotourism vessel headed for Canada.

( .... )

The Prime Minister’s Office encouraged the military to have JTF-2 involved in Operation Nanook, and asked the military to allow the media to watch the unit in action. When asked if the Canadian public could expect more displays given how Friday’s event went, Thompson said: “I don’t think that’s necessarily the conclusion I would make.” ....
 
Back
Top