IQALUIT - Indian and Northern Affairs Canada is now apparently the lead government department on Arctic sovereignty.

That marks a shift by the Conservative government, which was touting armed icebreakers, deep-water ports and high-tech underwater sensors less than a year ago.

Last month, CanWest News Service reported that a leaked draft of the strategy backs away from the port, icebreakers and sensors promised by the Conservatives during the last election campaign and an August visit to Iqaluit by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor. - NNSL File Photo

The shift came to light with little flourish during a meeting of the standing committee on national defence Feb. 8.

"My understanding is that INAC has been determined to be the lead department for the development of the strategy, but several government departments also have roles to play in that," said Major General MJ Ward, DND's chief of force development.

Ward's remarks come as confusion exists over what the Conservative government is planning on the Arctic sovereignty file. Arctic sovereignty falls under the "Canada First" defence strategy being formulated by defence department officials in Ottawa.

Last month, CanWest News Service reported that a leaked draft of the strategy backs away from the port, icebreakers and sensors promised by the Conservatives during the last election campaign and an August visit to Iqaluit by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor.

It isn't clear what role INAC would play defending Canadian sovereignty in the North, and O'Connor wasn't available for an interview last week.

An INAC spokeswoman couldn't say what exactly the department would do as the lead agency on sovereignty.

But responding to a question from Western Arctic MP Dennis Bevington, O'Connor said National Defence will share the file with INAC, Natural Resources, and Foreign Affairs.

"Our government takes the North as a very important element of our country, not only our sovereignty but also to protect the environment and the people up there as well," O'Connor said. "Any action we take, no matter which department, we will always consult the people up there."

The apparent takeover of the Arctic sovereignty file by INAC serves as a sort of vindication for Bevington, who tangled with O'Connor during Parliament's question period last week.

Bevington said he favours an approach on sovereignty that emphasizes scientists over soldiers.

And he doesn't think the military needs icebreakers in the Arctic at all.

"Sovereignty is maintained by stewardship," he said from Ottawa, "doing research, occupying land, engaging in pursuits on the land."

"If we don't understand the impact of climate change on our Arctic, then we relinquish moral authority in that regard."

But he says it's worrying that the government appears not to know who's in charge.

"It was such a big part of (the Conservatives') election platform that they were going to have this strong, aggressive approach to Arctic sovereignty," Bevington said. "To find that they've now switched departments as to who's in charge and also have abandoned most of their plans, it's quite shocking."