In the dark icy waters off Canada’s most northerly island coasts, a small yellow submarine called Discovery and a team of researchers in helicopters are busily building the case for drawing a new line, a line Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon calls the “last border of Canada.” Although the work takes place in one of the most remote locations on earth, the researchers are not alone. Americans, Norwegians, Danes and Russians are all rushing to do the same. Canada has until 2013 to submit its research to a United Nations body that reports on the legitimacy of international border claims. The high-stakes race has long-term financial implications as the melting arctic opens up to resource development and new shipping routes.Is the government of Canada deep in denial? Or are they mentally ill? On one hand, they acknowledge that Arctic ice is melting - and that that fact may give rise to an opportunity to obtain resources now under Arctic ice. On the other hand, they refuse to take serious steps to reverse climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The answer to both questions is no. Why then the discrepancy? There is none - both sets of actions benefit the oil and gas industry. Refusing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions benefits tar sands producers right now. Staking out Canada's claim on oil and gas reserves under Arctic ice may benefit the same in the future. Canada's motto may be Sarah Palin's - "Drill, baby, drill."
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