Maria Canton
Northern News Services

NNSL (May 31/99) - The ice in Canada's Northwest Passage is 40 per cent thinner than in previous years.

This is due in part to global warming, said Col. Pierre Leblanc, commander of Northern Area Forces, at a symposium on Arctic Security Issues last week in Yellowknife.

"It is possible that in 10 to 15 years, the Northwest Passage could be open for navigation for up to eight months of the year."

Repercussions from open waters and increased water and air traffic criss-crossing the North were brought forward for discussion at the two-day symposium at CFNA headquarters.

The idea behind the discussions was to create a co-ordinated awareness among federal departments of the on-going changes in the Arctic.

Maintaining Canada's sovereignty in the Arctic was also a point of discussion as an influx of traffic will result in ships, planes and people regularly entering Canada through the North.

"We want to make sure that everyone knows these changes are happening now," said Leblanc.

"We'll use this symposium as a crystal ball to prepare for what may happen 10 or 15 years down the pipe." Federal delegates, military and RCMP personnel attended the symposium and gave specific presentations on how the changes occurring in the Arctic will affect their agency's ability to handle the metamorphosis of the North.

The opening of waters that have historically been frozen means there will be an increased risk of human and environmental disasters as more boat traffic begins to use those waters as a main route.

A direct effect will also be felt by customs and immigration departments.

"Immigration and customs have to be able to handle the increase in traffic," says Leblanc.

"The open waters will make the North more accessible to foreign traffic, all of which we want to check in with us."

Canada's air space development has also been on the rise since the end of the Cold War, with the creation of new commercial air and water ways for foreign airlines and cruise ships.

"Because we now have frequent direct flights between New York and Tokyo flying over the Arctic, there is an increased demand on our search and rescue operations," says Leblanc.

"Right now we are very limited in our resources."

The regular commercial air and water traffic amplifies the need for comprehensive emergency plans and demands large physical and human resources capable of responding to potential disasters and sudden influxes of people -- many of whom may be injured.

Last year, there were 11 flights between Whitehorse and Frankfurt, Germany, as compared to zero from the year before. Five foreign cruise ships also entered the Northwest Passage.

"If, for example, a large passenger plane went down, we would have to be able to evacuate 500 people from the Arctic very quickly," said Leblanc.

Likewise, if a cruise ship runs aground or becomes stranded, Northern personnel have to be equipped and prepared to respond with the appropriate emergency measures.

Most likely, Northern communities will not be stocked with enough supplies for stranded cruise ships, nor will they have medical facilities or supplies to treat masses of people.

Preparing agencies, like the Coast Guard, customs, immigration, security and intelligence, and the RCMP is the approach that Canadian Forces is taking to combating potential disasters.

"The geo-strategic situation of the Arctic has changed significantly over the last five to 10 years," says Leblanc.

"Right now we are making sure we are in a good position to handle things, as opposed to being blindly surprised by them."