Canada will spend more than C$30 (A$31) billion on northern Arctic security as that country continues to divorce itself from US strategic interests.
Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a funding package of more than C$40 (A$41) billion to upgrade transport, military and energy infrastructure in its Arctic North.
“In this new era, we cannot rely on other nations for our security and prosperity,” he says in a press statement.
While acknowledging decades of public neglect by previous governments, Carney says they are acting with “a scale of ambition worthy of this vast region”.
“We are securing every corner of this terrain, unlocking its vast resources, and delivering the strong, connected network of communities that Northerners deserve.”
DEFENDING CANADA
The Canadian government intends to spend:
C$32 (A$33) billion to upgrade three forward operating sites (Yellowknife, Inuvik and Iqaluit) and a deployed operating base (Goose Bay). Work will include upgrading airfields; new or repurposed hangars; ammunition and fuel facilities; accommodation and warehousing.
C$2.7 (A$2.79) billion to set up two new northern support hubs (Whitehorse and Resolute), and two new northern support nodes (Cambridge Bay and Rankin Inlet) that will allow the Canadian military to deploy rapidly year-round.
C$294 (A$303) million on Arctic airports, including a new runway overlay, modernising Rankin Inlet Airport and upgrading Inuvik Airport so it can handle larger aircraft.
Infrastructure projects
- Mackenzie Valley Highway. C$100m-plus (A$103-plus) to upgrade this 800 km-long highway to year-round access, connecting Yellowknife to Inuvik.
- Grays Bay Road/Port and the Arctic Economic and Security Corridor: connecting the Arctic province of Nunavut to a national highway system and creating the first overland connection between mines and a deepwater Arctic port. The Grays Bay Road and Port is a proposed all-season road of about 230 km from the Nunavut border to a deepwater port and airfield at Grays Bay with export terminal for minerals and dual-purpose airstrip. The Corridor is a proposed all-season road of about 400 km through Slave Geological Province to the Nunavut border, where it will connect with Grays Bay Road. These projects are expected to build the infrastructure for new copper, gold, and zinc mining projects, and boost mining exploration.
- Taltson Hydro Expansion Project: This will add 60 megawatts to the country’s hydro system, doubling capacity to 70% of residents.
“These investments will continue to build the Defence presence and responsiveness across the Arctic and the North, reinforce our ability to assert sovereignty, support community benefits where feasible, and contribute to NATO’s deterrence and defence priorities,” National Defence Minister David McGuinty says.
He says this spending is proof of their commitment to the US-Canada defence command known as NORAD (North American Aerospace Defence Command).
“We are at a turning point where national security, energy sovereignty, and economic independence meet,” Energy and Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson says.
“In an era of increasing global instability, Canada’s Arctic – and the vast deposits of critical resources and energy it holds – is vital to our future.”
Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon says Canada’s Arctic security “depend on our ability to move people and goods safely and reliably across our vast north”.
“… we will work with Indigenous peoples, governments and industry proponents to build the dual-use airports, seaports and all-season corridors essential to reinforcing Canada’s supply chain resilience and opening new gateways to the world.”
The announcement follows a string of defence, infrastructure and development projects to secure Arctic Canada.
These projects include a $6.5 billion deal to buy Australia’s Jindalee Operational Radar Network (JORN), an over-the-horizon system that can detect potential threats that are out of sight; Canadian soldiers are expected to start training on it in Australia by mid-2026, Carney says.
NEXT PAGE: Carney’s visit to Australia
