The Arctic as it is known today is almost certainly gone
Global warming aside, as a Canadian, I'm disappointing in what our government has down to protect our sovereignty in the Canadian northern archipelago.<p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Arctic_Archipelago" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Arctic_Archipelago</a><p>Had we invested in a navy base in the north, and a few ice breakers, then we could have been the owner of the "panama canal of the arctic".<p>We would have a monopoly on what traffic goes through the Canadian archipelago which would help offset the cost of policing the north.<p>We would be able to do things like prohibit oil tankers and other hazardous materials if we wanted.<p>At this point I think we've all but given away any claim to being able to dictate who travels through our northern islands.  The arctic will be policed by the American's and Russians, and used heavily by ships travelling to the east coast of the US and Europe from China.<p>Hopefully at the least, we'll be able to push for things to protect the arctic waters like no resource mining, think offshore oil rigs, and no oil tankers travelling through those waters.