Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - August 27, 2006, Winnipeg, Manitoba Winnipeg free press sunday August 27, 2006 Canada winnipegfreepress.coma9 Canadas sovereignty by Bob Weber h pcs Montreal ? politicians May make big promises about defending Canadas arc tic sovereignty with new military Infra Structure in the North but its col. Chris Rousseau who will actually make them happen. Rousseau director general of military Engineer ing is responsible for analysing Sites for a deep water port and Winter training school proposed by prime minister Stephen Harper and defence min ister Gordon Oconnor. And As he juggles everything from strategic requirements to ice movement to the routes of arc tic Hunters ? not to mention lobbying by eager arc tic hamlets ? he a not unaware of the historic importance of building Canadas first new naval port since the ones at Halifax and Esquimalt b.c., dating More than a Century. I feel a bit like . John by who built the Rideau canal Rousseau said on the Bridge of the frigate hocs Montreal As it plied the iceberg strewn Waters of Lancaster sound during recent manoeuvres in the Northwest passage. ? the canal made a difference in terms of eco nomic development but it was built for military there Are sound strategic reasons to build some sort of naval facility in the Arctic Rousseau argues. By the time a vessel reaches Arctic Waters from Halifax or Montreal it needs to refuel. It can Refu building Arctic port historic task colonel officer compares project to Rideau canal Al from a naval Tanker ? or a coast guard vessel As was done for the first time on the recent exercise ? or it can refuel in Greenland. But that Means organizing a Convoy of vessels instead of just sending one. That costs the Navy time As Well As the element of Surprise and takes resources that could be used elsewhere. You re limiting your flexibility particularly if you re trying to patrol unannounced if you have to organize a Squadron Rousseau said. We Don to want to be in a situation where we have to choose Between a sovereignty thing and an inter National Rob Huebert of the Centre for military and strategic studies at the University of Calgary agrees. He Points out that Canada Only has two Refu Elling ships. We will always have some overseas commit ment which will tie one up and one will always be in Don to expect the Navy to build a full scale port with permanently posted ships and sailors however. All that a needed is a place where ships can safely refuel and resupply and easily move soldiers on and off with Good Access to an Airport. Still the facility would be a huge economic boost to the chosen location and at least seven Nunavut communities Are already jumping up and Down with their hands in the air. Pond Inlet on the top of Baffin Island adjacent to the Northwest passage is one of them. At a Community Day put on by the military and Bob Weber / Canadian press hocs Goose Bay left is refuelled by coast guard icebreaker cogs Terry Fox. Attended by top officers mayor David a mania took the Opportunity to make a half hour speech extolling the Virtues of his Hamlet of 1,400. We want to be the Hub station for the High arc tic he said. We re just next to the Baffin turbot and shrimp fishery As but All the interested communities have both advantages and disadvantages Rousseau said. Iqaluit the territorial capital has Good Infra Structure but is off the route to the passage and suffers from big tides and lingering ice. Kimmirut on the Southern tip of Baffin Island has Good ice but a too Small Airstrip with limited space for expansion. Nan Sivik has port facilities left Over from an old mine already used by the coast guard but they Are aging and the Navy is reluctant to assume any left Over environmental liabilities. The Navy also has to consider social impacts. Reg ular ship traffic could chop up sea ice that Hunters Cross to reach game. There a no Clear Winner that says pick me pick me ? said Rousseau. Other options include hooking up with a territorial Federal plan now under consideration to build seven Small Craft harbours in Nunavut. Several resource companies planning their own facilities to service proposed mines have also approached the defence department. They be suggested the Navy could join their projects and use the facilities for a certain length of time every year in an arrangement Rousseau compared to a time share. Rousseau expects his analysis on the Best site to be Complete Early this fall. ? Canadian press ends August 31 St 2006 jeep Liberty sport 4x4 3.7l v6, Auto air tilt cruise pad Podl trailer Tow grp., Security Gap. More. Srp $33,870 less savings $4,969 employee $332/Mth lease Price 2006 Dodge ram 1500 Quad cab 4x4 4.7lv6, Auto air tilt cruise , Chrome wheels & More. 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