25 November, 2022
In a recent report, Canada’s Auditor General has highlighted some significant deficiencies in Canada’s presence in the Arctic Region. As other Arctic and near-Arctic nations invest heavily in infrastructure and capabilities, Canada is increasingly falling short. Simply put, due to this lack of investment, the various government departments which have jurisdiction over this area are increasingly unaware of what is occurring there. Canada must do better. RAUSI encourages its members to read this report and engage with their local elected officials in this discussion.
Quotes from the Report:
"Overall, the federal government has not taken the required action to address long-standing gaps affecting its surveillance of Canada’s Arctic waters. As a result, the federal organizations that are responsible for safety and security in the Arctic region do not have a full awareness of maritime activities in Arctic waters and are not ready to respond to increased surveillance requirements."
"The long-standing issues include incomplete surveillance, insufficient data about vessel traffic in Canada’s Arctic waters, poor means of sharing information on maritime traffic, and outdated equipment."
"Action is needed to close gaps and put equipment renewal on a sustainable path to provide a full picture of what happens in the Arctic, which is essential to developing the actions needed to monitor maritime activities and respond to threats and incidents."
Report 6—Arctic Waters Surveillance | Reports of the Auditor General of Canada