Canada joins plan to improve Arctic shipping, sovereignty with Finland, U.S.

Canada, Finland and the U.S. have agreed to work together to build more icebreakers to improve shipping in Arctic waters and strengthen the countries’ sovereignty in the North.

The Icebreaker Collaboration Effort, or ICE Pact, announced Thursday is also expected to create jobs related to shipbuilding and strengthen maritime industries, according to a joint statement by the three countries.

“In the Arctic, new, faster shipping lanes hold the potential to create new economic opportunities and drive down shipping costs. And in the Antarctic, our partnership can also foster increased scientific research and international collaboration,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement Thursday.

The agreement will ensure collaboration and information sharing to develop “best-in-class Arctic and polar icebreakers and other Arctic and polar capabilities” in each country, the joint statement said.

Over the next six months, they will jointly develop a plan “to build these highly complex and critical vessels for our allies and partners with interests and responsibilities in the Arctic and Antarctic regions,” according to the joint statement.

Leaders from NATO members, including Canadian Prime Minister , have been in Washington, D.C., since Tuesday for the organization’s annual summit which wrapped up Thursday.

Among the topics discussed there is strengthening Arctic sovereignty as China and Russia also press for greater control there.

“This partnership builds on Canada’s commitment to asserting its sovereignty in its Arctic and Northern regions,” according to documents provided by the federal government.

Nunavut MP Lori Idlout and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami were contacted for comment on the new pact but were not available on Thursday.