Military plans Arctic pipeline security

Gary Park

Canada’s military is anxious to ensure any Arctic natural gas pipeline will be protected from any terrorist threats.

Col. Kevin McLeod, commanding officer of the Canadian Forces Northern Area, told a one-day meeting in Whitehorse that more research is needed to assess the potential threat to the security of a northern pipeline and how the system can be protected.

“It’s a long, strategic resource that’s carrying a natural resource,” he said. “It’s a natural resource that’s fuelling our country and our economy and it needs to be protected.” He said there are a number of ways an Arctic pipeline could be protected, including the obvious option of burying the system.

“It would also run through uninhabited areas,” said McLeod. “It would be very difficult to get to, so that right away gives it some protection.”

He said it would be easy to monitor the line by using manned or unmanned aircraft. The military, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, eight federal departments and agencies and the governments of Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut were involved in the discussions.