Canada to open new Arctic station at Cambridge Bay

The facility will be a "world-class, year-round, multidisciplinary facility exploring the cutting-edge of Arctic science" Mr Harper said in a statement.

The announcement comes at a time when melting ice has opened the territory up to shipping and mineral exploration.

Correspondents say the move is designed to bolster Canada's claims to disputed parts of the territory.

At the start of his annual summer tour to the region, Mr Harper shrugged off an incident earlier this month when Danish tourists planted Danish and Greenland flags on a disputed islet called Hans Island, saying Canada had bigger fish to fry.

Canada says the facility is part of a new four-part strategy in the north.

It also said other parts of the plan include protecting the Arctic ecosystem, developing a strong Northern economy and encouraging greater local control; Kazinform cites BBC.

See www.bbc.co.uk for full version.