Great White Nothing: How Harper’s naval station became an Arctic white elephant – National
Eighteen years ago, Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued a rallying cry for Canadians.“Canada has a choice when it comes to defending our sovereignty over the Arctic,” he said on the shores of Esquimalt Harbour, B.C., while announcing plans for a fleet of new Arctic offshore patrol ships (AOPS) and a deep-sea port to be used as their base.“We either use it or lose it.”
Prime Minister Stephen Harper announces the construction of Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships at CFB Esquimalt on July 9, 2007. (CP PHOTO/Deddeda Stemler) Canada.
Canadian Press
But two decades later, amid a flurry of Arctic-focused announcements, one project still languishes unfinished, more than a decade past its completion date — an unwelcome reminder of the challenges...










