Our PM was absolutely delighted to announce the Canada Parks expedition to locate the sunken shipwrecks of the HMS Erebus and HMS Terror. He is trying, as Stan Rogers sang, “To find the hand of Franklin reaching for the Beaufort Sea.”
Sir John Franklin was searching for a Northwest Passage through the Canadian Arctic when his two ships were frozen solid in the sea ice near King William Island. Unlike our melting arctic seascape today, in 1848 the ice remained frozen for years until Franklin’s two ships were finally crushed and sunk to the bottom of the sea.
The truth about Franklin’s doomed expedition came as a colossal shock to the folks back home in England including his widow Lady Franklin.
This maritime tragedy has been called the Victorian equivalent of the Challenger space shuttle disaster. There were 38 expeditions sent in the last half of the 19th century alone, searching for clues to the fate of the Captain and his crew.
Many artifacts and remains, human and otherwise, have been found over the years but the ships have always been elusive.
This could be the prime minister’s opportunity to become part of the historical record as the one who found the boats.
Wouldn’t that be a nice addition to his legacy? No wonder he’s psyched about this new search.
I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised to see and hear Stephen Harper excited about something historically and culturally significant to the country. He was absolutely giddy when he spoke about unraveling the mystery that has captured Canadian imaginations for well over 100 years. Could this be a glimpse of his long-awaited human side?
Mr. Harper made his announcement while he was on his annual good will tour to bolster the morale of Canadians north of the Arctic Circle. Their numbers are small but luckily for the residents of Nunavut, Yukon and the Northwest Territories the PM has taken a liking to them or at least the resource-rich land they live on.
While he was in a generous mood the prime minister also announced the boundaries of a new national park called Naats’ihchoh (pronounced NATS-ee-cho) and talked about plans to build a new arctic research station.
He continues to push the notion that Canada’s future lies in the great white north.
Surely this is the future Franklin was looking for.
But not everybody is convinced. Even though the PM seems to be genuinely enthusiastic about funding and finding the remains of Franklin’s ships it all seems a little too convenient. When did Stephen Harper turn into a history buff?
Well, it just so happens that a Conservative study group found Canadians to be very fond of all things arctic and they really appreciate efforts to enhance and celebrate historical milestones and achievements.
And one more thing – Canadians also approve of asserting Arctic sovereignty.
That might explain why we’ve seen the PM dancing on ice floes with Inuit elders and Canadian military personnel. And when it comes right down to it, what better way to assert Arctic sovereignty than dragging sonar missiles through the water behind a coast guard vessel.
And if they really do find those ships, so much the better. Canadians will love it.
The plans for the new Arctic research station are still a bit sketchy.
Interestingly enough, another research station on Ellesmere Island was recently shut down.
Its job was to track ozone depletion, air quality and climate change.
The Conservative government does not consider these things important and has still not accepted its responsibility for global warming.
How ironic. The real reason Mr. Harper is there in the first place is because that same global warming is melting the Northwest passage.
Luxury liners, sailboats and private yachts are already cruising the passage looking for touristy things to do. There is money to be made.
Buried under the defrosting tundra and at the bottom of the Arctic Ocean is another fortune in oil, gas and minerals. Canada’s road to economic prosperity leads north. Harper leads the charge.
I’m just worried that before the PM is finished up north there will be a huge stain left on the ice, the tundra and in the ocean just like the embarrassing blemish forming in northern Alberta around the tar sands.
I hope Mr. Harper finds John Franklin’s ships and puts that mystery to rest.
As for the rest of the story, it remains to be seen whether this will be Harper’s delight or Canada’s folly.
