Cannon chides Russia for “playing games” in Arctic

Canada’s foreign minister again lashed out at Russia Thursday accusing the country of “playing games” in the Arctic with a plan to land paratroopers on the North Pole.

Cannon visited the High Arctic last week to view a remote camp where Canadian scientists are using unmanned submarines to map the sea floor.

The work is part of efforts by Canada to prepare a geographic claim of offshore territory in the Arctic Ocean beyond the usual 200-mile limit. Canada has until 2013 to submit its territorial claims to a United Nations commission that will resolve claims by Canada, Russia and other Arctic nations.

“I thought the contrast was striking,” Cannon told reporters in Ottawa. “We take our job seriously and it seemed to me that the Russians were just pulling stunts.”

Cannon’s comments echo those made by former foreign affairs minister Peter MacKay in August 2007, when the Russians sent two mini-subs to plant a Russian flag on the seabed beneath the North Pole.

At the time, MacKay, who is now defence minister, dismissed the move as a “show” and said it would have no effect on Canadian sovereignty.

Cannon praised the scientists’ work, saying they’re helping to define “the last border of Canada.”

“At some point in the future there will be another line on the map of Canada showing the outer limits of the continental shelf,” he said.

Those territorial claims are important because there could be large deposits of minerals, oil and natural gas under the seabed.

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea grants countries the exclusive right to exploit those resources up to 350 nautical miles off their coasts.

Canada’s claim under the treaty is due by 2013.

Cannon’s trip ended as Operation Nunalivut kicked off on Ellesmere Island April 7. The sovereignty operation will include patrols by Canadian Rangers and regular forces around Canadian Forces Station Alert, Ward Hunt Island and Alert Point.

With a report from Andrew Mayeda, Canwest News Service.