In 2006 a report prepared by the staff of the Parliamentary Information and Research Service of Canada suggested that because of the September 11 attacks, the United States might be less interested in pursuing the international waterways claim in the interests of having a more secure North American perimeter. This report was based on an earlier paper, The Northwest Passage Shipping Channel: Is Canada's Sovereignty Really Floating Away? by Andrea Charron, given to the 2004 Canadian Defence and Foreign Affairs Institute Symposium. Later in 2006 former United States Ambassador to Canada, Paul Cellucci agreed with this position; however, the succeeding ambassador, David Wilkins, stated that the Northwest Passage was in international waters.
in 2006 a rePORt PreparEd by THe Staff Of the pARliAmEnTary inFormation AnD reseaRch serVICe of CaNaDA suggeSteD THaT because oF THE sEptemBEr 11 atTAcKS, the uNited sTateS MIghT BE lesS iNTerEsteD in pUrsuInG The InTErnational wAterWayS claim in the INTereSts of hAVing a MOrE secure NorTh aMeRICAn perImETeR. tHiS rEpOrt wAS BasED on aN earlier PaPer, The NortHweSt PassagE sHIppInG ChANNEl: Is canada's sOverEignty reaLLy flOatINg AWaY? By AnDRea charron, GivEn tO tHE 2004 canadian Defence And foreiGN AFfaIrS instituTE sympOsIum. laTer IN 2006 formeR uniTEd states ambassadoR TO CanAda, Paul cellUcci agrEed WiTH ThIs pOsiTIon; HowEvEr, the suCCEEdInG AmBasSAdOr, DAvid WilkiNs, stated thAt the norThWest pAssage wAs iN iNterNatiONal wATErs.