HALIFAX - Prime Minister Stephen Harper will get a close look this month at Canada's efforts to beef up its military presence in the Arctic.
He'll drop in -- almost literally, by helicopter -- on the patrol frigate HMCS Toronto as it takes part in a month-long exercise off Baffin Island to reinforce Canadian sovereignty in the eastern Arctic.
He'll also make a brief tour of the submarine HMCS Corner Brook that is also participating in the exercise, codenamed Operation Nanook.
Harper's naval pit stops are just part of a five-day tour of the three northern territories, aimed at underscoring the importance the prime minister puts on protecting Canada's Arctic sovereignty.
Government officials announced details of the Harper's Aug. 17-21 tour, amid mounting tensions with Russia over Arctic territorial claims.
A Russia general disclosed earlier this week plans to drop paratroopers on the North Pole next spring.
Earlier Friday, Defence Minister Peter MacKay said the government is closely monitoring the Russian plans. He warned that Canada will "protect our sovereign territory" and is always ready "to meet any challenge to that territorial sovereignty."
International interest in the Arctic has intensified in recent years as global warming thaws waterways that used to be choked with ice almost year-round and polar countries scramble to lay claim to seabed resource rights.
Russia, the United States, Canada, Sweden, Finland and Norway have all beefed up their military presence in the region.
Harper has made an annual summer pilgrimage to the North since becoming prime minister but this year's visit is the most extensive he's taken yet.
He'll visit all three territories, hold a cabinet meeting in Iqaluit and is expected to make several announcements related to his government's environmental, economic development, national sovereignty and defence agenda for the region.
"It's an opportunity to highlight a large and important part of our country that often Canadians don't get to see much of," a senior government official said at a briefing Friday.
"I think it will be interesting to overlap with Operation Nanook to see some of the work that our Canadian Forces are doing there first-hand."
The official said protecting Arctic sovereignty is central to the government's agenda and of "deep personal interest" to the prime minister.
Harper will be joined Aug. 19 by MacKay and Chief of Defence Staff Walter Natynczyk in observing Operation Nanook. The exercise, which runs for most of August, involves naval, Coast Guard and land forces.
Naval forces, including HMCS Toronto, will be patrolling the waterways. Canadian Rangers, a reserve force of northern residents, will be conducting an amphibious landing on an island near Iqaluit while civilian agencies test emergency response plans.
He'll also visit Pangnirtung, where the government has pledged to build a commercial fisheries harbour.
Harper's Arctic agenda originally included promises to build three armed, heavy ice-breakers and at least six patrol vessels but construction has fallen behind schedule.
