When Russian explorers planted a flag on the Arctic seabed earlier this year, they set off a chorus of howls from Canada, Denmark, the United States and Norway — all making claims of ownership. But if Canada really wants the maple leaf taken seriously in the Great White North, we must drop our ‘baby steps’ strategy and do somethingÂ… sensibly Canadian. Coincidentally, one such sensible strategy to build our presence in the Arctic would do more than open the door to untold billions in trade between Canada and the rapidly emerging economies of Eurasia. It would also provide a clear route — through Churchill, Man. — for the integration of Afghanistan and the rest of Central Asia into the global economy. That economic integration would do more to stabilize the region than Canadian forces ever can. The Churchill-to-Kandahar route is not an easy one to see at first glance, but each leg of the journey makes sense locally and fits into a global context that can result in the greatest geopolitical and economic advance of the 21st century. Churchill is Canada’s only Arctic deep-water seaport; a crucial shipping point for goods between North America, Europe and Asia. […]