If I may add to that--and this question should probably be directed to DFAIT--the Northwest Passage is within Canadian territory. There is no question of sovereignty there in the sense that every country in the world recognizes that the Northwest Passage belongs to Canada. The difference within the U.S. that people refer to--and here again I would urge you to double-check with DFAIT--is the definition. Is it an international passage that they can use at their convenience? It's not about the sovereignty. Do they have to ask permission when they come through it? It's that type of regulation, but it's not a question of sovereignty. Nobody questions who owns the Northwest Passage.
On April 27th, 2009. See this statement in context.