Course 000 degrees: The maritime enforcement of Canada's Arctic sovereignty and its potential implications for the Canadian Navy

Canada's sovereignty concerns are maritime and predominately relate to the interpretation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). With climate change rapidly opening the Arctic for regular foreign maritime activity, the Canadian Navy has undertaken northern operations since 2002 aimed to solidify Canada's ownership and building a naval capacity to operate in northern waters. But, these operations fail to address whether foreign vessels are legally entitled to an international right of passage under UNCLOS guidelines.;It remains uncertain whether the Navy will maintain its Arctic presence. Historically it has remained reluctant to do so, while displaying a preference for overseas activities. Furthermore, the Canadian Coast Guard may be better suited for conducting maritime enforcement. Although the current Conservative government has announced plans to procure a new class of naval icebreakers, this decision may impede the Navy's current plans to renew its fleet capabilities.