I know a guy who spends a few months in a cabin in Alaska every year. He always has a loaded 10mm with him when he's outdoors because, like you say, if you run into a polar bear odds are it will try to eat you.Hahaha...and you Yanks think all of us Canadians are a bunch of limp-wristed sissies!
But seriously, polar bears are no joke.
My dad learned from the locals while flying in the Northwest Territories that if you see a polar bear following you out on the tundra, you'd better shoot it or get outta Dodge right quick, because it's stalking you to eat you.
A buddy of mine spent some time up in Churchill, Manitoba and he was saying they have an unwritten rule to never lock your doors because if a polar bear comes walking down the street, you need to be able to run to safety in the nearest house...
...bad news bears...
It's very hard in Canada to obtain an Authorization to Carry for a handgun...guys whom I've known from Up North who carry rifles for bear defense have recommended .300 Win Mag or larger...I know a guy who spends a few months in a cabin in Alaska every year. He always has a loaded 10mm with him when he's outdoors because, like you say, if you run into a polar bear odds are it will try to eat you.
A little.@tikkasakko by your username I take it you know a thing or two about firearms