The Royal Canadian Navy's top officer says Canada could defend the Arctic in the event Russia or China used the coveted Northwest Passage without permission, reported the National Post. “We wouldn’t need the allies to come to our aid," said Angus Topshee during an interview on Sunday at the Halifax International Security Forum."We could deal with it ourselves. We have the capacity to deploy our ships up there right now to stop them.”The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) provides security along the Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic coasts. It is tasked with preserving Canada's sovereignty over the Arctic archipelago, and protects Canada's maritime interests around the world.The RCN has around 8,400 regular force members, 4,100 Reservists, and 3,800 civilian staff. Its fleet includes approximately 12 frigates, four patrol submarines, four Arctic and offshore patrol ships, 12 coastal-defence vessels and eight unarmed patrol and training vessels.Canada's Arctic and offshore patrol ships are equipped with 25–mm cannons, but Topshee said they may be fortified with other weapons, reported the Post.“They’re not intended to be front–line combatants,” said Topshee of the ships. “They have everything they need for the missions that we anticipate they’ll do. Were we to get into a wartime environment where we felt they could come directly under threat, then there’s the capacity to install other weapons in sort of an ad hoc manner – very similar to how you would defend an army forward operating base.”Topshee's comments appear to contradict a video statement published in 2023 where he warns the Navy is in a "critical state," with ships that are past their expiry dates and too few sailors, reported CBC."Topshee said the force may not meet its readiness commitments next year and beyond, though he tried to strike an optimistic tone about its very bright future," wrote CBC."Historically, we have risen to every challenge, so I am confident we will find a way to get through this," Topshee said in the video..The RCN faced controversy in recent weeks over what some call DEI culture and its weakening of the Canadian Armed Forces under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The Navy made headlines when it was announced its official Heart of Oak march would be replaced with "more inclusive" music, reported the Globe and Mail."The Royal Canadian Navy plans to replace its official march with a new composition after deciding the lyrics, which celebrate British military victories in the colonial era and sing of men but not women, are disrespectful and outdated," reported the Globe.Some analysts say the Canadian Armed Forces should focus on fighting instead of woke social justice initiatives and frivolity. The Globe reported in June the Navy led Conga lines in Havana as part of deterrence visit to Cuba that included Russian warships earlier in 2024.
