Question Period Note: Arctic sovereignty and security

What is National Defence doing to protect Canada’s sovereignty and security in the Arctic?

• National Defence is committed to the sovereignty and security of Canada’s Arctic.
• Strategic competition, climate change, technological advancements and economic interests are making the region strategically vital.
• That is why, National Defence, alongside its government partners, is focused on defending the Arctic and its approaches against threats to Canadian interests.
• Responding to these threats requires collaboration across government, with Northern and Indigenous communities, and among Allies and partners.
• For its part, the Canadian Armed Forces maintains a year-round Arctic presence through operations, exercises, and training, including Operation NANOOK.
• Further, National Defence is building a satellite ground station in the Arctic and establishing Northern Operational Support Hubs.
• National Defence will also acquire specialized maritime sensors for Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessels and procure additional conventional, ice-capable submarines.
• These assets will strengthen the presence and the responsiveness of the Canadian Armed Forces in the Arctic.
• Internationally, Canada will continue to work through multilateral fora such as the Northern Defence Dialogue, to address shared Arctic security concerns.
• National Defence remains committed to securing our North and developing strong partnerships in the Arctic.

CAF Presence in the Arctic:
* The CAF’s permanent presence in the North is anchored by Joint Task Force North (JTFN) in Yellowknife with detachments in Iqaluit and Whitehorse, along with 440 Transport Squadron, 1 Canadian Ranger Patrol Group Headquarters and a Company of reserve infantry.
* In December 2024, National Defence and Yukon signed a Letter of Intent to establish an RCN Reserve presence in Whitehorse, with RCN members set to explore viability and develop options for the presence in the summer of 2025.
* The Canadian Army’s Arctic Response Company Groups conduct sovereignty operations, facilitate disaster response support, and provide general assistance to other government departments in Canada’s North.
* The CAF’s footprint in the North also includes:
* Canadian Forces Station Alert, the northernmost CAF outpost;
* CAF Arctic Training Centre in Resolute Bay, Nunavut, which provides a permanent location for training and operations in the Arctic; and,
* Assets used by the North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD), including the North Warning System, three Forward Operating Locations in Yellowknife, Inuvik, and Iqaluit, and one Deployed Operating Base in Goose Bay.
* National Defence supplements its capabilities in the North and Arctic through collaboration with intergovernmental and Indigenous partners, including with the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee, which meets three times annually, and briefings to northern Premiers and Indigenous leaders.
* Canada will further bolster its presence in the Arctic with $2.672 billion over 20 years for Northern Operational Support Hubs. These hubs will better ensure Canadian sovereignty by establishing a greater year-round presence across the Arctic and the North, and investing in multi-use infrastructure that also meets the needs of the territories, Indigenous peoples, and Northern communities.
* Further, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) Northern Basing Infrastructure project, part of the NORAD Modernization program, will upgrade legacy and new infrastructure to support NORAD capabilities and RCAF domestic operations.
* National Defence is enhancing CAF infrastructure at Inuvik, Yellowknife, Iqaluit, and 5 Wing Goose Bay. The investment covers recapitalization, modernization, replacement or addition of new critical infrastructure, airfield rehabilitation, as well as upgrades to security, information management/information technology and electrical systems.
International Cooperation:
* National Defence maintains strategic-level collaboration with Arctic Allies and partners through regular multilateral policy dialogues such as the Northern Defence Dialogue at the Defence Ministerial level, the Arctic Chiefs of Defence meetings the Arctic Security Forces Roundtable, and the Arctic Security Policy Roundtable.
* National Defence is also committed in increasing information sharing and joint training opportunities with Arctic and non-Arctic partners, including through the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
* Defence Research and Development Canada is an active participant in the International Cooperative Program for Polar Research with several Arctic nations to advance our scientific knowledge of the evolving Arctic.
* In July 2024, Canada, the United States and Finland announced an enhanced trilateral partnership called the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort, or ICE Pact, to build best-in-class Arctic and polar icebreakers.

Responsible Principals: Assistant Deputy Minister (Policy), Assistant Deputy Minister (Infrastructure and Environment), Canadian Army

May 14, 2025

Quick facts

Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Arctic Presence:
* There are approximately 300 military personnel in the North.
* There are approximately 5,640 Canadian Rangers that maintain a meaningful presence in 205 remote and isolated communities, including over 1,500 in 60 Arctic communities
* On March 18, 2025, Prime Minister Carney announced $420 million in new funding to boost the presence of the CAF in the Arctic.
* The CAF is planning to expand its Northern and Arctic operations.
* This expansion anticipates including more CAF personnel and the potential for increased inclusion of forces from Allied nations with an Arctic interest.
* New activities aim to support a near year-round military presence through exercises and training to assert Canada’s presence and sovereignty as well as refine information-sharing processes.
* Enabling increased Northern and Arctic operations will allow the CAF to better detect, deter, and defend against threats to Canada and North America.
Investments with an Arctic Nexus in Canada’s Defence Policy:
* $2.672 billion over 20 years to establish Northern Operational Support Hubs.
* $29.099 billion over 20 years to acquire a more modern, mobile, and effective tactical helicopter capability.
* $7.556 billion over 20 years for airborne early warning aircraft.
* $2.085 billion over 20 years to acquire specialized maritime sensors to conduct ocean surveillance.
* $985 million over 20 years to build a new satellite ground station in the Arctic.
* National Defence is acquiring additional conventionally powered, ice-capable submarines to enable the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) to project a persistent deterrent on all three coasts, including in the Arctic.
Exercises and Operations:
* CAF presence and responsiveness in the Arctic is maintained through regular unilateral, bilateral, and multilateral exercises and operations. Notable recent examples include:
* Exercise ARCTIC FORGE 25 (February 17 – 28 2025); Operation NANOOK-NUNALIVUT (February 23 – March 9, 2025); Canadian Army Northern Exercise (NOREX 25) (March 21 – 30 2025).