>*An actual military presence in the Arctic — which makes up 40 per cent of Canada — plus transportation infrastructure and resource development that benefit local Indigenous populations are necessary to counter growing incursions by Russia, China and others, the experts said.*
>*But there’s little sign the Trudeau government is committed to giving more than lip service to such challenges, they said.*
>*An updated defence policy the Liberals released in the spring, along with promises to buy new fighter jets and submarines, is the right idea, but must actually be implemented, said retired U.S. Gen. Glen Vanherck, who until early this year commanded the North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD).*
>*“I look forward to seeing those actions but there’s not a history of (Canada) taking those actions,” Vanherck said in an interview before giving the conference’s key note address.*
>*“There is no sense of urgency, for the most part, from the leadership of the government of Canada,” he said. “It is easy to say we’re going to buy F-35 (fighter jets), we’re going to buy submarines. But with that comes a lot of requirements to build infrastructure, set up logistics pipelines, set up training pipelines. And my question is, is Canada ready to do that?”*
>*…*
>*That said, speakers argued that it’s unlikely Russia or China would actually try to invade the Canadian Arctic, or otherwise attack North America. Their goal is more to impose themselves in the region with resource development and infrastructure like ports and roads, they said.*
>*There are reports of Indigenous organizations and other authorities in the North, for instance, being offered major funding from Chinese interests, said Brian Hay, the Mackenzie president.*
>*“The actions that are ongoing are for influence — Russian influence, Chinese influence,” said Vanherck. “They’re seeking to change international law norms, get after resources through claims that put them in a better position globally, economically, diplomatically, than they are today. … This is about influence and changing the world order.”*
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>*An actual military presence in the Arctic — which makes up 40 per cent of Canada — plus transportation infrastructure and resource development that benefit local Indigenous populations are necessary to counter growing incursions by Russia, China and others, the experts said.*
>*But there’s little sign the Trudeau government is committed to giving more than lip service to such challenges, they said.*
>*An updated defence policy the Liberals released in the spring, along with promises to buy new fighter jets and submarines, is the right idea, but must actually be implemented, said retired U.S. Gen. Glen Vanherck, who until early this year commanded the North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD).*
>*“I look forward to seeing those actions but there’s not a history of (Canada) taking those actions,” Vanherck said in an interview before giving the conference’s key note address.*
>*“There is no sense of urgency, for the most part, from the leadership of the government of Canada,” he said. “It is easy to say we’re going to buy F-35 (fighter jets), we’re going to buy submarines. But with that comes a lot of requirements to build infrastructure, set up logistics pipelines, set up training pipelines. And my question is, is Canada ready to do that?”*
>*…*
>*That said, speakers argued that it’s unlikely Russia or China would actually try to invade the Canadian Arctic, or otherwise attack North America. Their goal is more to impose themselves in the region with resource development and infrastructure like ports and roads, they said.*
>*There are reports of Indigenous organizations and other authorities in the North, for instance, being offered major funding from Chinese interests, said Brian Hay, the Mackenzie president.*
>*“The actions that are ongoing are for influence — Russian influence, Chinese influence,” said Vanherck. “They’re seeking to change international law norms, get after resources through claims that put them in a better position globally, economically, diplomatically, than they are today. … This is about influence and changing the world order.”*
>
yeah good luck with that.