Canada’s Arctic is central to our national identity as a northern nation. For thirteen years, previous Liberal governments were asleep at the switch and did nothing to assert Canada’s domain over the North.

Since coming into office, Conservatives have developed a four-pronged Arctic agenda – economic development, national sovereignty, Northern input and control, environmental protection - that will help Canada extend and defend its Arctic sovereignty.

Conservatives are establishing sovereignty over the Arctic to build a stronger, safer, better Canada.

The Conservative Record

A four-pronged Arctic Agenda:

	Economic development – unleashing the resource-based potential of the North;
	National sovereignty – protecting our land, airspace and territorial waters;
	Northern input and control – ending paternalistic federal policies of past governments;
	Environmental protection – protecting the unique Northern environment;

With concrete results:

	Construction of eight Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships;
	Construction of an Arctic deep water port;
	Increased northern surveillance by the Canadian Forces;
	Invested $20.5 million into climate change research in the Arctic; and
	Contributed $150 million for scientific research to coincide with the International Polar Year.

The Liberal Record

	Liberals gutted military funding and reduced Canada’s capability to patrol the North.
	Between 1993 and 2002, the Liberal Government did not send a single Canadian Forces ship into Arctic waters.

The NDP Record

The 2006 NDP platform did not contain a single mention of the Arctic.

For Canadians, the choice is clear: strong leadership and the strengthening of Canada’s Arctic sovereignty with the Conservatives or weak leadership and a weakening of Canada’s Arctic sovereignty with the Liberals.