North to get search-and-rescue aircraft from Liberals

Last Updated: Wednesday, January 18, 2006 | 2:56 PM ET

CBC News

Prime Minister Paul Martin has told northern premiers a Liberal government would station new search-and-rescue aircraft in the North.

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In a letter to the premiers of Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut, Martin says a Liberal government would station four of the soon to be acquired aircraft in Yellowknife and in Iqaluit. Each location would receive two aircraft.

Martin says it's part of his government's plan to boost sovereignty in Canada's Arctic.

Martin's announcement, contained in the letter responding to northern leaders' concerns, comes weeks after Conservative Leader Stephen Harper announced his plans for sovereignty in the North.

In December, Harper said his government would set up an Arctic national sensor system.

• FROM DEC. 22, 2005: Tories plan to bolster Arctic defence

His plan would also include spending $2 billion over eight years for new military icebreakers and a deep-water docking facility in Iqaluit.

Harper says he'd also put new search-and-rescue aircraft in Yellowknife.

Both the Liberal and Conservative plans call for an expansion of the Canadian Rangers.

The NDP have no specific plans on Arctic sovereignty.