(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Adults in Canada are divided on the way their current federal administration will deal with the Arctic, according to a poll by Angus Reid Strategies. 44 per cent of respondents express confidence in the government of Stephen Harper to secure Canada's Arctic sovereignty, while 43 per cent do not.

Canadians renewed the House of Commons in January 2006. The Conservative party—led by Stephen Harper—received 36.3 per cent of the vote, and secured 124 seats in the 308-member lower house. Harper leads a minority administration after more than 12 years of government by the Liberal party.

Earlier this month, Russian president Vladimir Putin congratulated a team of explorers who planted a Russian flag on the Arctic seabed—in what was deemed as a symbolic claim to natural resources—saying, "Your work was interesting, crucial, important for the country and not without risk." 53 per cent of respondents think Russia represents a bigger threat than the United States to Canada in matters related to Arctic sovereignty, and 51 per cent want Canada to plant a flag on the Arctic seabed.

On Aug. 7, Liberal lawmaker Bryon Wilfert expressed disappointment with the current situation, saying, "What Russia was able to do last week should be a wake-up call for our government. We should be leaders in this region. Instead, our government is letting our country fall behind." 75 per cent of respondents think Canada should invest heavily on securing sovereignty over its Arctic territory.

On Aug. 10, Harper announced the construction of a deep-water port on Baffin Island, and an army training centre in Resolute Bay. The prime minister explained his rationale, saying, "Canada's new government understands that the first principle of Arctic sovereignty is use it or lose it. Today's announcements tell the world that Canada has a real, growing, long-term presence in the Arctic."

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