ST. JOHN’S, N.L.—Coast guard officials say Atlantic Canada is on track to see an uptick in sea ice this winter, with cold temperatures and high winds contributing to early ice growth.

Brad Durnford, superintendent of ice operations for the Atlantic region, told a media briefing Tuesday that the Canadian Coast Guard’s icebreaking operations have already assisted vessels trapped in ice.

“The freeze up is occurring three to four weeks ahead of normal,” he said, adding that ice around Labrador is so far this year above the 30-year average.

While long-term trends show a reduction in the Arctic ice pack and sea ice in general, Durnford said it’s still possible to have a “bad ice year” in Atlantic Canada.

“We do see a downward trend for sure ... but you can still have a really bad ice year,” he said.

However, Durnford cautioned that weather in the region can “change on a dime” and that an extended warm-up could slow ice formation.

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“It could all stop next week or it could continue to grow as it’s growing,” he said. “It’s very hard to predict. I think it will be above average this year, but it may slow down, it depends on weather.”

Meanwhile, coast guard officials said they are aware of the naming controversy surrounding the icebreaker CCGS Edward Cornwallis.

Brian LeBlanc, acting assistant commissioner for the Atlantic region, said the federal agency will be discussing the vessel’s name in the future.

“The name as everyone knows is controversial and we are looking at the name of the vessel,” he said. “We haven’t really had the formal discussion or made a decision on it yet but it is something that we will be looking at in the future.”

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Earlier this year, Halifax’s city council removed a statue paying tribute to Cornwallis, who founded Halifax in 1749, due to his infamous decision to issue a bounty on Mi’kmaq scalps.

Indigenous communities have long called for the removal of tributes to Cornwallis, with some calling his actions a form of genocide.

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