Sovereignty In The Northwest Passage

2007 will be remembered as the year the average Canadian began to realize the dramatic changes that were taking place in the Arctic, especially the physical changes resulting in challenges to Canada’s sovereignty. Sovereignty means the authority of a state to govern itself or another state. In today’s society, claiming sovereignty has become has become a major factor in causing international conflicts and disputes. To ensure security in this day and age, Canada’s government must continue pursue its jurisdiction over the Arctic, due to increased interest in the area. The attention the Arctic receives has circulated for many years, and recently it has increased because of the declining ice mass in the Arctic, freeing up the Northwest Passage. The scramble for claim has made Russia, The Faroe …show more content…
Canada should embrace the nationalistic perspective reflected in the source. The government should spare no effort in claiming sovereignty; because with the ice capacity declining rapidly, the Northwest Passage is causing more harm than good; to protect the Canadian citizens who reside in the Arctic Archipelago; and Canada also has the potential to obtain a greater territory. To embrace the perspective, Canada must oppose all other competition in claiming sovereignty, regardless of any cost.

The newly ice-free Northwest Passage in the Arctic has had more adverse effects than constructive. Canada’s ownership of the Northwest Passage is clear. With this claim comes sovereignty and jurisdiction. Canada gets to open or close the Northwest Passage to any foreign navigation. However, with the fact of contending countries disagreeing, there is the threat of unauthorized foreign navigation, which, in itself, is a very unfavourable situation. For a long time, the Northwest Passage was a dream. It is a route between the