Arctic Sovereignty and the Northwest Passage

How shall we respond to statements such as "global warming could be beneficial for Canada"?
As per the press release yesterday, Elizabeth will shortly be participating in a Manhattan debate over Arctic Sovereignty. There are challenges to Canadian sovereignty over the ocean territory surpassing 20kms offshore (the limit under international ocean law). In the past, the ice pack was such that it was considered land, and inarguably Canada's. With rising ocean temperatures and more direct sunlight melting the ice pack, more and more of the ice is melting. Consequently, more frequent American and Russian ship and submarine activity in the area is made possible, posing perhaps more of a symbolic challenge, nevertheless one that needs addressing. To complicate the situation, the Arctic melt makes it easier for ships of all origins to navigate their way through the Passage. Scientists estimate that the passage will be easily navigable in the next ten years.

Back on land, there are many voices and many issues vying for attention; Inuit, environmentalists, developers, the Ministry of National Defence, and more. Some of these voices need desperately to be heard and others are almost terrifying.

A member of the government recently suggested that global warming might be a "good thing" for Canada - citing economic benefits of access to oil under the ocean floor and shipping coming through the Northwest Passage. Admittedly, there are arguable benefits to the Canadian public from this position. Simultaneously, the government position must necessarily recognize the threat to sovereignty over the Arctic waters as a result of warming.

The biggest problem with the comment mentioned above is that it disregards a huge factor in the whole Arctic debate - the livelihoods and culture of the Inuit who are adversely affected by the Arctic melt. They are fearful for the very real threat of cultural extinction, not to mention the physical dangers they are exposed to as ice becomes thinner and more perilous. Incidentally, the government is trying to persuade them that they will 'profit' from industrial and commercial (not to mention military) activities in the North.

see:
http://inuitcircumpolar.com/index.php?auto_slide=&......
as opposed to the government position:
http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/library/PRBpubs/......

The government position states:
"The Northern Dimension of Canada’s Foreign Policy lists four objectives:
* to enhance the security and prosperity of Canadians, especially northerners and Aboriginal peoples;
* to assert and ensure the preservation of Canada’s sovereignty in the North;
* to establish the Circumpolar region as a vibrant geopolitical entity integrated into a rules-based international system; and
* to promote the human security of northerners and the sustainable development of the Arctic.

Stephen Harper announced all the way back to 2004-2005 a "northern strategy" that would "protect the northern environment and Canada’s sovereignty and security". The government perspective on protecting the northern environment, it seems, is predominately concerned with defence and the economy – not that this is necessarily a bad thing – but forgoes internal environmental and cultural protection. It is known that there is oil in the Arctic, and the government policies make little mention of solid steps indicating care for the environment - except perhaps what can be extracted from it.
Not coincidentally, the Arctic ice melt means that the Northwest Passage will be open for ship traffic - possibly a source of income from levies?

Security and prosperity, in the definitions of the Green Party, I think, consider more than just military, law, and economics. Security and prosperity include the protection of cultures, ecosystems, livelihoods, and dignity. The Green Party will need to voice its positions on sovereignty and military enforcement of it in the North. I think the Green Party has a whole lot of significant, holistic commentary that the discussion cannot do without and it seems symbolic that Elizabeth will be presenting the Canadian position tomorrow in Manhattan.