Nation to map Arctic resources

Canada plans to map energy and mineral resources in its Arctic region in a bid to encourage development and assert its sovereignty in the far north, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said.

Harper said field workers and specialized aircraft will use state-of-the-art science and technology to search for mineral and energy potential.

The information gathered will be used to create geological models and subterranean maps to help companies find resources.

Arctic sovereignty has moved to the forefront among northern countries as global warming melts Arctic ice and opens new shipping routes and access to untapped, potentially rich resources.