SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Global warming has opened up Canada's Arctic to a raft of threats - that is according to representatives from the RCMP and the Canadian Forces as they announced a joint Arctic sovereignty operation at Yellowknife's RCMP headquarters on Tuesday.

"As the pack ice melts the Northern passage becomes more and more accessible, it's becoming a viable commercial shipping route now ... We have a lot more tourism," said the RCMP's Chief Supt. Tom Middleton.

According to a communique put out by the Department of National Defence, seven cruise ships operated in the Arctic in 2003; by 2008 there were 15. Additionally, about 115,000 commercial flights travel across the Arctic annually.

He said it was crucial not to leave the "back door" to Canada open to everyone.

"The vastness of this territory and the resources that we have up there - it's pretty wide open space - and anybody who has intent to get into Canada, it's a pretty attractive area to try and target," said Middleton.

Operation Gateway, or Nunakput, will commence on Aug. 1 when an RCMP patrol vessel leaves Hay River to head up the Mackenzie River, to eventually emerge at the Beaufort Sea.

The operation will combine the resources and man power of the RCMP, the Navy and Coastguard auxiliaries, Joint Task Force North, and several other organizations and government agencies such as the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

Operation Nunakput is one of three sovereignty missions operating in Canada's Arctic, and this is the seventh year such missions have taken place in the area.

Because of increased traffic in the region, the risk of criminality also escalates - with the illegal entry of people and goods, human and drug smuggling, and foreign military activities becoming more of a threat.

Lt.-Col. Gino Chretien said the operation will also provide an opportunity for the various organizations involved in the operation to learn to co-ordinate their activities efficiently.

"We need, in the North, to have a good picture and share it with all other government departments ... We're trying to get an over all picture so we'll be able to react together," he said.

The services of the Canadian Rangers will also be utilized during the mission, thanks to their superior local knowledge and contacts.

"We've got a good mix with the Canadian Rangers living in the communities, knowing what goes on there, and being able to point out when there are abnormalities that warrant investigation," said Chief Supt. Tom Middleton.