> Those towns are filled with indigenous people and Canada pays many to be part of a para military force in case of invasion or just to provide ground level information .
Okay but that's not about claiming the territory.
> Hans island is in dispute between Greenland and Canada and both countries visit every year to plant a flag. Having a settlement if possible year round would make the claim stronger.
Okay, that's a tiny island. Far over 99% of the land is not in dispute, and doesn't need towns to stop it from being in dispute. And even there, they don't bother to have anyone live on it! I feel like this island supports the idea that these populations are disconnected from land claims.
Also wow it super does not matter who owns this island when the strait is already split right down the middle.
> The northwest passage is seeing Russian / US subs crossing without permission. Having a population creates a stronger claim for situations like this.
How so? I could see how an active port could physically get in the way of sneaking through, but I don't see at all how a town gives canada a better claim for keeping those subs away.
Okay but that's not about claiming the territory.
> Hans island is in dispute between Greenland and Canada and both countries visit every year to plant a flag. Having a settlement if possible year round would make the claim stronger.
Okay, that's a tiny island. Far over 99% of the land is not in dispute, and doesn't need towns to stop it from being in dispute. And even there, they don't bother to have anyone live on it! I feel like this island supports the idea that these populations are disconnected from land claims.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Nares_strait_border_(Kenn...
Also wow it super does not matter who owns this island when the strait is already split right down the middle.
> The northwest passage is seeing Russian / US subs crossing without permission. Having a population creates a stronger claim for situations like this.
How so? I could see how an active port could physically get in the way of sneaking through, but I don't see at all how a town gives canada a better claim for keeping those subs away.