When it comes to Arctic resource development, Russia is on fire while Canada is cold as ice

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Canada and the Russian Federation have pursued different strategies for security and economic development in their respective circumpolar regions. These policies have resulted in very different northern strategic outcomes, with Canada at the short end of the stick. While Canada and its circumpolar neighbours have advanced their polar resource claims through the United Nations, Russia has taken additional bold steps to secure its polar resources. Events since 2000 have demonstrated a fierce Russian political resolve to secure its economic independence from the West and to achieve a prominent place on the world geopolitical stage. In a steadily warming Arctic, Russia has recognized the potential economic and strategic significance of a Northern Sea Route and has become the foremost military and shipping power in the circumpolar region. The largest Russian military buildup in the polar region since 1991 provides an indication that, consistent with its geopolitical aspirations, Russia is prepared to assert and defend its Arctic resources and northern sea routes. This accelerating Russian presence and military capability, paralleled by certain Chinese initiatives (China increasingly views itself as a “near-Arctic state”) have caused not just re-evaluations, but a reinvigoration of certain Arctic defence postures among circumpolar allies in NATO. Indeed, some authors have observed that securing Russia’s integration into the international community is fast becoming one of the most ambitious challenges for the West in the 21st century. Material differences in geography, population distribution, and histories have significantly influenced northern development policies in Russia and Canada. A warming Arctic, and the associated potential for enhanced maritime access in northern latitudes, has focused global strategic and commercial attention on Canada’s Northwest Passage and most particularly on Russia’s Northern Sea Route. As a result of policies that reflect environmental, investment, and market priorities, after decades of Arctic offshore exploration and development, Canada has, at least temporarily, suspended offshore energy exploration there. Although the current Canadian government is approaching the end of its mandate, it has yet to formulate a formal Arctic policy. Meanwhile, without any significant prior northern consultations or studies of the socio-economic consequences for northerners, the federal government unilaterally implemented a five-year moratorium on Arctic offshore energy development. With diminished icebreaking capabilities and no pipeline or shipping access to “stranded” northern hydrocarbon resources, Canada faces a critical need to pursue beneficial economic and resource development policies for its northern peoples. By comparison, Russia has aggressively pursued the development of enhanced Arctic gas pipelines, icebreaking freighters, and transhipment facilities for natural gas and liquefied natural gas. These, and other emerging developments, are of global economic and strategic significance as Russia assumes a position of strategic military and commercial dominance throughout the circumpolar region. While the implications of this for Canada and the world may not yet be entirely clear, a more bellicose, self-assured Russia has demonstrated a willingness to achieve its political ambitions and defend territorial ambitions with military force. It remains for policy analysts and defence planners to monitor and determine whether Russia’s actions in the Arctic signify potential aggression or are designed to express “aggressive isolationism.” Nonetheless, because there are significant consequences that result from an increasingly destabilized circumpolar region, Canadians should be concerned about our current northern policies. Search-and-rescue or related air-sea operations are currently operated from distant southern Canadian bases. This, combined with a flagging capability for icebreaking assistance and a policy shift away from offshore resource development, has direct consequences for Canadians. Hence, any future considerations of northern sovereignty must include a re-examination of our Arctic military and icebreaking capabilities. Equally as important is the development of enhanced roles for northerners in decision-making. Indeed, such reconsiderations are long overdue. For far too long, the issue of sovereignty has been used to offset and distract attention away from Canada’s ongoing neglect of its northern heritage and its circumpolar responsibilities. These distractions have hampered consistent economic development, self-determination, and political autonomy for Canadian northerners. By comparison, Russia’s determination to integrate deeply its Arctic resources into the economic fabric of not just the European Union but of Asia may serve as a useful future guide for Canadian northern economic development policies aimed at bolstering our sovereign Arctic claims and providing secure futures for northerners. Ron Wallace is a published scientist, former CEO, and corporate director, having served with federal, provincial, and territorial energy and environmental regulators, including several governmental advisory boards. His corporate experience includes senior executive management positions with Petro-Canada, the CanStar Oilsands Joint Venture, and as EVP Agra Earth & Environmental Ltd, a major Canadian engineering company. He is a fellow of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute. The Hill Times

When it comes to Arctic resource development, Russia is on fire while Canada is cold as ice

Russia is in a position of strategic military and commercial dominance in the circumpolar region. Meanwhile, Canada has instituted a five-year ban on offshore energy exploration. Canadians should be concerned about our northern policies.

How can Ontario achieve net zero, with greater energy reliability and resilience? Roadmap to a clean energy future

Gun control is a women’s issue

A lost opportunity for ‘pragmatic diplomacy’

Dyslexia was my superpower as a staffer on Parliament Hill

A ‘no-Nazi’ policy for our military partners should be a low bar to clear

Just war and the Gaza Strip

Biden-Putin Arctic co-operation gives Canada an opportunity

Co-operation, pragmatic engagement the path forward for Canada’s Arctic foreign policy

Strengthening Canada’s Arctic: why Canada needs to prioritize dialogue and cooperation in the North

U.S. should recognize Arctic waters as Canadian

Is the nature of Arctic co-operation about to change?

News

Get free news updates

Opinion

Submit a guest opinion article

resources

Advertise

subscribe

get help

When it comes to Arctic resource development, Russia is on fire while Canada is cold as ice

Russia is in a position of strategic military and commercial dominance in the circumpolar region. Meanwhile, Canada has instituted a five-year ban on offshore energy exploration. Canadians should be concerned about our northern policies.

Get The Foreign Policy and Diplomacy Newsletter