Canada plans Arctic military base to control route

In another sign of potential friction in the warming Arctic, Canada has warned that it will step up patrols of the North West Passage.

Record summer melting of sea-ice has cleared the passage for the first time; and immediately escalated a dispute over who controls the route.

Canada maintains the waterway that connects the Atlantic with the Pacific lies within its territorial waters.

It has backed that up with plans for a new military base in the Arctic.

Source:  BBC News