by CanadianSailings | Feb 26, 2020 | Business and Economy, Government and Regulation, Joseph Spears, Ocean, Other
By K. Joseph Spears As anyone involved in the transportation industry knows, the past month has been challenging for Canada’s national transportation network. Rail transportation has come to a standstill for both commercial and passenger traffic in Eastern Canada, as...
by CanadianSailings | Jun 10, 2019 | Corporate events & profiles, Joseph Spears, Ocean, Other
By Joe Spears and Monica Ahlroos The Finns know a thing or two about icebreakers, having constructed Arctic-capable icebreakers for well over 150 years even for the Russians, and it is not every day that they award medals for ice navigation to Canadians. In April 2018...
by CanadianSailings | Jun 10, 2019 | Gateways and Corridors, Government and Regulation, Joseph Spears, Other, Shipbuilding and Repair
By K. Joseph Spears Since Canada is an Arctic nation, there is a strong requirement for icebreaker capability in our Arctic waters. The Canadian Coast Guard, operating within Fisheries and Oceans Canada, is tasked with providing the necessary icebreakers in support of...
by CanadianSailings | Jun 10, 2019 | Gateways and Corridors, Government and Regulation, Joseph Spears, Other
By K. Joseph Spears What is old is new again. United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at the recent ministers meeting at the Arctic Council in Helsinki, Finland, talked about Canada’s claim to the Northwest Passage, and stated: “We recognize that Russia is not...
by CanadianSailings | Jun 10, 2019 | Government and Regulation, Joseph Spears, Ocean, Other, Safety and Security
By Joe Spears In an April 2016 article, Breaking Bread and the Ice in Washington, I examined Canada’s evolving Arctic policy under the then new and shiny Trudeau government. The Joint Arctic Statement communique was unveiled with great fanfare at the Obama White House...
by CanadianSailings | Jun 10, 2019 | Gateways and Corridors, Government and Regulation, Joseph Spears, Ocean, Other, Safety and Security
By K. Joseph Spears During the long running Cold War, the Arctic Ocean Basin had strategic military significance: The airspace was potentially important for overflights of strategic bombers and later, intercontinental ballistic missiles – the ocean space for...
