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Comment by jacquesm | Hacker News Reader

Canada does not have the resources to defend against any scenario. That does not mean that it should be walked over like this either.

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I agree with you that countries shouldn't be walked over like this.

However, our territorial claims will be ignored if we don't boost funding in a navy fleet, coast guard fleet and/or ports to assist with patrolling. Unfortunately, it's easier said than done given our lack of appetite for even higher taxes which would probably come in the form of a GST hike.

It seems our options are:

1) Raise funds to patrol or enforce our territory;

2) Partner with other countries and attempt to negotiate minerals, resources or access in exchange for adherence and continued international recognition of Canada's territorial claims; or

3) Do nothing.

Canada is simply too big. Infrastructure and defence are a function of the GDP divided by the area. Too small a GDP or too large an area and you can't properly wire, put roads in or defend a country. Even so, we have these borders that were agreed upon in the past, a change of the weather shouldn't cause such a border to be redrawn.

>a change of the weather shouldn't cause such a border to be redrawn.

look at climate changes during last 2-3 thousand years and how whole empires/civilizations got appeared and disappeared as a result.

On the [kind of] positive side [for high-tech industry i mean] Canada will become a big customer for air-, ground-, navy- and submarine drones :)

Does this count as a protection racket if the US military provides support? :)

The US is the prime opponent in this battle. They are the ones claiming the right to use the Northwest Passage as an international shipping lane. In my opinion, their position is weak as there is no historical tradition of the passage being used as such. Of course, I am Canadian, so I may be biased.

At the close of WW II Canada had the world's second most powerful navy. It may not be able to take on Russia or the US, but there's no reason for the modern Canadian navy to be this weak.

You don't need to patrol the entire length of the passage, just the egress points.

When it comes to international trade, there simply is no substitute for a strong navy. Friendly relations and treaties with countries possessing strong navies can only go so far.

How is it being walked over?

We're talking shipping that's not coming from or going to Canada. According to Canadians in this discussion, we're talking about that shipping going through remote, unsecured areas where the Canadian government struggles (or fails) to provide services like search and rescue.

All fringe interest in banning shipping through these waters aside (as Canada will not actually do that), the Canadian claim here seems to be a naked grab for money. It can't provide services in that area and it can't meaningfully regulate shipping activities there. All it can do is sit at a few choke points and collect fees.

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