AP Photo

We Canadians need a complete overhaul in the way we think about, and act in, the Arctic as a region. No longer can we afford to view this part of the world primarily through the optic of concern for sovereignty and assured possession of what's ours. Instead, we must move forward into the polar Mediterranean that is opening up before our very eyes.

Other players such as the United States, Russia, Norway and even the European Union have recently come forward with Arctic strategies. They are positioning themselves for advantage in a region whose strategic significance is near-universally understood to be on the rise. Sharpened interest in the Arctic is a response to climate change, new prospects of maritime access and transit and the expectation of...