CANADA'S FM SPEAKS ON ARCTIC, AFGHANISTAN

UNCLAS TORONTO 000294

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV CA AF XQ
SUBJECT: CANADA'S FM SPEAKS ON ARCTIC, AFGHANISTAN


1. (SBU) Summary: In a November 23 speech in Toronto that had few
surprises, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lawrence Cannon laid out
Canada's foreign policy priorities, highlighting Afghanistan and a
plan for the Arctic. While Afghanistan topped Cannon's list of
foreign policy priorities, the promotion of Canada's Northern
Strategy in the Arctic was the clear focus of the speech. Canada's
plan for the Arctic rests on four principles: (1) exercising
Canada's sovereignty; (2) promoting economic and social
development; (3) protecting Canada's environmental heritage; and
(4) improving and devolving governance. Though he strayed little
from his prepared remarks, Cannon did respond to a question about
the Northwest Passage by strongly emphasizing the view that it is
the "Canadian Northwest Passage," and is "no doubt within Canadian
sovereign territory." End Summary.




2. (SBU) In a luncheon speech to a small but influential crowd,
Minister of Foreign Affairs Lawrence Cannon invoked the lyrics,
"the True North strong and free" of the Canadian national anthem,
devoting the majority of his speech to promoting Canada's Northern
Strategy for exercising its "sovereign rights and jurisdiction" in
the Arctic. He outlined the "four pillars" of the Northern
Strategy: (1) Exercising Canadian sovereignty; (2) promoting
economic and social development; (3) protecting Canada's
environmental heritage; and (4) improving and devolving governance.





3. (SBU) Cannon focused most heavily on "exercising sovereignty,"
by emphasizing the Canadian military commitment to demonstrating
control over the Arctic. In particular, he noted the establishment
of a Canadian Forces Arctic Training Centre in Resolute Bay, the
expansion of the Canadian Rangers, and the development of a
deep-water docking and refueling facility in Nunavut. Cannon also
referred to ongoing efforts to map the extended continental shelf
in the Arctic (in cooperation with the U.S.)in order to bolster
efforts to obtain international recognition of its claims of
sovereignty, pointing to a 2013 target of making the data public.
Although Cannon nearly steered clear of mentioning specific
contentious claims during his prepared speech (aside from a
reference to Russia "challeng[ing]" Canada's security),he
responded to a pointed question from a journalism student about the
Northwest Passage by strongly emphasizing the view that it is the
"Canadian Northwest Passage," and is "no doubt within Canadian
sovereign territory." He added that, while arctic ice is
shrinking, scientists predict that currents will take melting ice
toward Canada's territory, thus making probable exploitation of the
Northwest Passage for commercial traffic up to 40 years away. He
said settling arctic shelf claims under the law of the Sea was a
more pressing issue than discussions over the Northwest Pasasge.





4. (SBU) Regarding the principles of promoting economic and social
development, protecting the climate and improving governance,
Cannon included few details, though he reiterated Canada's position
to "vigorously" defend the practice of seal hunting and the GOC's
intention to challenge the current ban at the World Trade
Organization. He also noted that Canada continues to "require"
foreign vessels entering what it claims to be Canadian Arctic
waters to report to the Canadian Coast Guard.




5. (SBU) Playing off his recent visit to Afghanistan last week,
Cannon also praised President Karzai's recent commitments to
establishing a stable and democratic government, but noted the
"significant problems" with the recent presidential election. In
particular, Cannon admonished Karzai to appoint cabinet ministers
and governors based on merit and to take steps to reform the
justice system. Cannon also mentioned Canada's continued
commitment to Afghans and allies to combat threats of global
terrorism, stating that they "can count on Canada for help."
Nevertheless, he reiterated Canada's own commitment to withdrawing
its troops in 2011.
JOHNSON