Ottawa to buy Arctic patrol ships with limited range

The Conservative government will spend more than $3-billion on new ships to patrol the Arctic, with the Prime Minister saying it is "urgent" that Canada do more to assert its claims to the North.

"Canada has a choice when it comes to defending our sovereignty over the Arctic," Stephen Harper said. "We either use it or lose it. And make no mistake, this government intends to use it."

The patrol vessels are described as a class below the armed Arctic icebreakers the Conservatives had promised in the last election. The Prime Minister had said the government would supply the navy with icebreakers in order to enhance Canada's northern sovereignty claims, but the proposed vessels won't be able to operate in the region year-round.

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