Polar Epsilon to Assert Canada’s Arctic Sovereignty

OTTAWA: With the successful launch of Canada’s RADARSAT-2 on December 14, 2007, the Department of National Defence’s Polar Epsilon project took another step towards strengthening Canada’s sovereignty in the Arctic. 
 
Reinforcing the Government of Canada’s integrated Northern Strategy, the $60 million space-based initiative will rely on RADARSAT-2 to provide enhanced land and sea surveillance capabilities for the Canadian Forces (CF) at home and abroad. 
 
“Polar Epsilon will support Canadian Forces sovereignty patrols and operations, and strengthen Canada’s presence in the North,” said the Honourable Peter Gordon MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. “Improved surveillance capabilities will allow a more efficient and timely Canadian Forces response to domestic and foreign crises and search and rescue operations.” 
 
“Our Government is committed to advancing an integrated Northern Strategy, a key component of which is to strengthen our sovereignty in the Arctic,” said the Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and non-Status Indians. “This initiative, to improve our surveillance capabilities in the Arctic, is another clear demonstration of this commitment.” 
 
Polar Epsilon will improve the CF’s surveillance of Canada’s Arctic, including its ocean approaches, and reinforce Canada’s ocean monitoring and environmental sensing capabilities. Polar Epsilon augments the Canadian military presence in the Arctic. This presence underscores the Government’s objective of fostering a healthy and prosperous northern region within a strong and sovereign Canada. 
 
Approved in May 2005, Polar Epsilon serves as a stepping-stone for the CF to maximize the use of space in order to meet Canada’s surveillance requirements. The project enhances awareness in areas where other means of surveillance are limited or unable to operate. 
 
The Arctic surveillance capability of Polar Epsilon will be operational in the summer of 2008, and the entire project is expected to be complete by March 2011.