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This article was in the Ottawa Sun this morning.
Who really owns it? Several countries are claiming ownership.
Fri, January 27, 2006
Arctic belongs to us: HarperPM-to-be blasts U.S. over belief waters are international
By KATHLEEN HARRIS, PARLIAMENTARY BUREAU
Prime minister designate Stephen Harper points as he emerges from a meeting with Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean yesterday. Harper vowed to defend Arctic waters. (Fred Chartrand, CP)
STEPHEN HARPER flexed his political muscle against the Bush administration yesterday, vowing to defend Arctic sovereignty.
After campaigning to improve strained relations with Canada's neighbour to the south, the incoming PM delivered a stern dressing-down to U.S. Ambassador David Wilkins for dismissing Canada's claim to the northern waterways.
"The U.S. defends its sovereignty. The Canadian government will defend our sovereignty," Harper told reporters gathered for his first news conference since Monday's election.
"I've been very clear in the campaign that we have significant plans for national defence and for defence of our sovereignty, including Arctic sovereignty. We believe we have a mandate for those from the Canadian people and we hope to have it as well from the House of Commons. But it is the Canadian people we get our mandate from -- not the ambassador of the United States."
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Who really owns it? Several countries are claiming ownership.
Fri, January 27, 2006
Arctic belongs to us: HarperPM-to-be blasts U.S. over belief waters are international
By KATHLEEN HARRIS, PARLIAMENTARY BUREAU
Prime minister designate Stephen Harper points as he emerges from a meeting with Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean yesterday. Harper vowed to defend Arctic waters. (Fred Chartrand, CP)
STEPHEN HARPER flexed his political muscle against the Bush administration yesterday, vowing to defend Arctic sovereignty.
After campaigning to improve strained relations with Canada's neighbour to the south, the incoming PM delivered a stern dressing-down to U.S. Ambassador David Wilkins for dismissing Canada's claim to the northern waterways.
"The U.S. defends its sovereignty. The Canadian government will defend our sovereignty," Harper told reporters gathered for his first news conference since Monday's election.
"I've been very clear in the campaign that we have significant plans for national defence and for defence of our sovereignty, including Arctic sovereignty. We believe we have a mandate for those from the Canadian people and we hope to have it as well from the House of Commons. But it is the Canadian people we get our mandate from -- not the ambassador of the United States."
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