Canal, the Arctic or Doomsday?

A South African environmentalist is trying to become the first person in the world to paddle to the North Pole. If he achieves his objective he will have first hand proof that the ice cap is melting at a rate far faster than the the most extreme original projections. Some estimates put the summer long opening of the North West Passage as only 10 years away. That’s when the Canal widening is scheduled to be completed. A North West Passage would reduce the distance to Japan and China by thousands of kilometers with transient ships paying no fees and faced with no waiting time. Was this possibility considered when the widening plans were put to the vote? Those who predict a doomsday scenario say that if global warming continues it won’t matter anyhow.