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Michel Maisonneuve: Canada must defend the North to keep it

We need military bases, ports and transportation corridors to truly remain sovereign

“Mon pays, ce n’est pas un pays, c’est l’hiver,” Gilles Vigneault sings — my country is winter. Canada is shaped by cold, distance and northern regions inhabited by resilient people. Whether we embrace it or not, we are a polar nation.

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Sovereignty over nearly 10 million square kilometres must be demonstrated: we must prove we can protect the vast North, develop its resources and create opportunities for its people. We must stop thinking small.

Michel Maisonneuve: Canada must defend the North to keep it Back to video

The North holds immense underdeveloped resources coveted by other nations, yet Canada has limited means to monitor the region, deter adversaries or respond to incursions.

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A northern strategy needs four priorities:........

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