The true north, our anthem says, is strong and free.
In fact, it's neither, but Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced that it will be a little bit stronger once it has six to eight Arctic patrol vessels and a deepwater refueling port.
The ships will cost in the region of $3 billion.
The Star reported that the region is becoming more accessible because of global warming, and the area, presumably the Northwest Passage, "may be readily navigable by 2015."
The U.S. have sent ships through there in the past, saying it's an international waterway. Harper wants to be clear that it's not.
Protecting our sovereignty in the north is important for several reasons, though protecting our right to natural resources in the region could be the most important.
It's expected that 25 percent of the world's undiscovered oil and gas reserves are in the area. That's big money.
In defending his decision to defend the Arctic, Harper said, "Canada has a choice when it comes to defending our sovereignty over the Arctic. We either use it or lose it."
I agree with him.
If we want to keep something, we must use it.
Which brings me to Hans Island (see photo of said Island above), a 1 sq. km. rock between Ellesmere Island and Greenland. The government of Denmark thinks its their rock, but we know it's our rock.
In 1984, Tom Hoyem, then-minister of Greenland (which is a Danish colony), took a helicopter trip to Hans Island, planted a bottle of cognac and erected the flag of Denmark.
In 2005, Bill Graham, then-Defence Minister here in Canada, erected a Canadian flag on the barren, useless rock that is surrounded by potentially useful water (and resources below that water).
Despite all the aggressive flag-erecting, the status of Hans Island is still in limbo.
Following Harper's logic, that if "we either use it or lose it," I am suggesting to the Prime Minister's Office that they build a house on the island, set up some Internet service, stock the house full of supplies for a year-long stay, and appoint me the journalist laureate of Hans Island.
For the cost of just $100,000, I will happily live on the island, use the island, and swing my hockey stick recklessly if the Danish try to invade the island.
I will even make an effort to dig up that bottle of cognac Hoyem buried there and dispose of its contents.