Climate Politics
Arctic Sea Traffic Is Rising. Canada Isn’t Ready for It
- Auditor sounds alarm on ability to monitor maritime activities
- Situation may worsen due to delays and aging equipment
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The Canadian government’s ability to track foreign vessels through the Arctic is woefully inadequate and the situation may get worse, according to a new report by the Auditor General of Canada.
Domestic surveillance of the region is incomplete, data that’s collected is insufficient, and there is no effective way of sharing information on maritime traffic, the watchdog said. Meanwhile, new icebreakers, aircraft, satellites and infrastructure required to fix these problems have been delayed to the point where some equipment likely will be retired before it can be replaced.