The Arctic Vacuum in Canada's Foreign Policy

Asserting sovereignty and jurisdiction in the Arctic is a recurring theme in Canadian history, and Stephen Harper has repeatedly and unequivocally shown his commitment to assert Canada’s full jurisdiction over the Northwest Passage since he became Prime minister. Notwithstanding, say Terry Fenge and Tony Penikett, “the northern foreign policy vacuum suggests that Canada is neither fully prepared or well equipped to influence and shape international debate on the future of the region.”