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The Conservative Party of Canada's reluctance to address climate change is on a collision course with reality in the country's high north. At present, the Canadian Coast Guard scientific icebreaker Amundsen is sailing east through Bellot, Fury and Hecla Straits smoothly and easily - something it shouldn't be able to do at this time of year. "There was absolutely no ice," exclaimed the ship's captain. Now this spells big trouble for the ecology of the region and the Inuit people who depend on it, no doubt, but that doesn't appear to trouble Prime Minister Harper and his gang, if their so-called "Clean Air Act" is to be taken as any indication. No, what's getting their attention is the US-led assertion that the Northwest Passage is international water, not internal waters over which Canada has sovereignty. What's at stake here is a potential reduction of some 7,000kms for shipping between Europe and Asia. The same prize that so obsessed early explorers in the 17th century. No longer would supertankers too large to slip through the Panama Canal have to undertake the long and dangerous trip around the tip of South America. Of course, this would also mean an increased risk of oil spills given that much of the shipping is done in single-hulled "rust-buckets" sailing under international flags. An ice-free Northwest Passage also opens up the possibilities for increased exploration of precious metals and diamonds, increased access to northern fisheries and increased opportunities for ecotourism and adventure travel. All of which pose significant environmental and social threats if not managed carefully. At present, these activities fall under Canada's jurisdiction, but all of this would change, and dramatically so, if the Northwest Passage becomes international waters. So what is the Canadian federal government's response to this situation? Certainly not to deal with climate change in any meaningful way. Rather, to promise the presence of armed Coast Guard dships to strengthen the country's claim to the region. However, no solid commitments in this regard have been made yet. "From what I've seen I'm convinced that Canadian policy-makers are living in a complete state of denial when it comes to the dangers of international (Arctic) shipping and the kind of timeframe involved," says Michael Byers, a University of British Columbia law professor specializing in global politics and international law and who is on board the Amundsen. "Because it's coming fast. It's now, from what I've seen, a question of years rather than decades." Earth calling Conservatives, did you copy that? References: Sevunts, Levon. "Northwest Passage redux" The Washington Times. June 12, 2005. Retreived on Oct. 27, 2006 from www.washingtontimes.com Vanderklippe, Nathan. "Warming climate opens late-season Arctic routes" Edmonton Journal. Oct. 27, 2006. Retrieved on Oct. 27, 2006 from www.canada.com.