Canada To Create Geologic, Subterranean Maps Of Arctic Region

Ottawa, Ontario (AHN) - Canada will implement a large-scale expansion of a national mapping program of the Arctic region to plot the energy and mineral development potential of Canada's Arctic portion.

According to Prime Minister Stephen Harper researchers on the ground and high-tech planes with powerful sensors will gather data on the geography of its northern territories. To fund the project, Ottawa allocated an extra $100 million for the next five years on top of a previous $34-million two-year budget for the creation of geologic and subterranean maps.

Once the location of the energy and mineral and energy resources has been identified, it is expected to generate $500 million worth of exploration contracts among oil, gas and mining firms, said Natural Resources Minister Gary Lunn.

Harper added northerners, including representatives of aboriginal communities, will provide advice to the research team. Aside from identified gas reserves at the Beaufort Sea, oil in the eastern Arctic Sea and diamonds in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, the prime minister said there are still other precious resources underneath the sea and the tundra of the Mackenzie Valley.

He said Canada is rushing to map the resources under the "use it or lose it" first principle of Arctic sovereignty. The Geological Survey of Canada is pitting against time to finish the mapping project because by 2013 the international boundaries of the far North will be set under a United Nations treaty.

Harper said at a news conference, "Managed properly, Canada's share of this incredible endowment will fuel the prosperity of our country for generations. And geo-mapping will pave the way for the resource development of the future."