VICTORIA 鈥 Russia鈥檚 invasion of Ukraine is a wake-up call that security and sovereignty in the Arctic must be a national priority 鈥 and that Canada must be better prepared, say the premiers of the three northern territories.
On top of more support for the Canadian Rangers and organizations like the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), the federal government needs to bolster northern communities 鈥 a sentiment all premiers at the Council of the Federation meeting here fully supported.
鈥淵ou can鈥檛 have security there if there鈥檚 nobody living in the land,鈥 Northwest Territories Premier Caroline Cochrane said in an interview.
鈥淵ou can鈥檛 make communities safe without making sure that the communities have the infrastructure and the supports to be able to provide that safety net, and the services that they need for their safety,鈥 she said, citing roads and broadband access as examples.
Concerns about the Arctic touch not only on security, but other urgent matters such as climate change, she added.
鈥淚 think every Canadian has concerns about Russia and what鈥檚 going on in Ukraine,鈥 she said. 鈥淗owever 鈥 I think it鈥檚 almost a new way of doing business throughout the world. We鈥檝e been naive, in my opinion, to only focus on Ukraine.鈥
Canada needs 鈥渢o be more aware of the vulnerability of the Canadian north in the Arctic. Specifically, our sea is opening up 鈥 before we were protected by the ice, and that is now melting,鈥 she said.
鈥淭here will be more people looking towards the Arctic because we have a lot of resources up there. And, like I said, if there鈥檚 no one living in the communities, then there is a perception in countries that it鈥檚 open territory.鈥
Cochrane, Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok and Yukon Premier Sandy Silver have written to the prime minster, and Cochrane has already met with Defence Minister Anita Anand and other federal officials to press the issue.
鈥淭he strategic importance of the Arctic has been increasing, due to climate change and the opening of Arctic waters, as well as the wealth of resources the Arctic holds,鈥 Cochrane said. 鈥淭his heightened interest is not only from Russia, but other world powers like China, the United States and other Arctic nations. It is paramount northerners are involved in decisions that impact the North.鈥
In May, the three northern leaders met in Whitehorse to not only call for an end to Russia鈥檚 invasion and war in Ukraine, but also noted that 鈥渇or many years, foreign countries have pursued objectives in the Arctic region that run counter to Canadian interests. Northern premiers are committed to working with the federal government and Indigenous partners to strengthen Canada鈥檚 position in the region.鈥
The Canadian Rangers 鈥 鈥渢he eyes and ears of the North鈥 in the military 鈥 not only support security but also provide jobs, especially for youth in the Junior Rangers, but they 鈥渟tretch themselves more and more thin,鈥 said Silver, adding the leaders are looking to Ottawa for 鈥渟pecific funding for sovereignty.鈥
In a statement to the Star, a spokesperson for Anand said the federal government is 鈥渟trongly committed to defending Canada鈥檚 Arctic sovereignty and security 鈥 and we are making the necessary investments to keep Canadians safe,鈥 including an unprecedented $4.9 billion investment over six years, and $40 billion over 20 years, to modernize NORAD.
鈥淥ur NORAD modernization plan has five areas 鈥 one of which is investment in new infrastructure and support capabilities in Canada鈥檚 north鈥 including improvements to Canadian Armed Forces鈥 facilities, said Daniel Minden, Anand鈥檚 senior communications adviser.
鈥淲e are making these investments in partnership with Indigenous communities, provinces, territories, and other government departments, so that new infrastructure can meet the needs of our military and local communities by fulfilling a dual purpose wherever possible.鈥
Akeeagok鈥檚 relatives were uprooted along with other Inuit families and forced to relocate to Grise Fiord in the 1950s to help boost Canada鈥檚 presence in its northernmost community, and his parents, aunts and uncles still live there. 鈥淵ou are only as strong as your people,鈥 he said.
He urged provincial leaders to approach the issue with a 鈥渦nified voice coming from Canada, from the confederation, from coast to coast to coast鈥 will make the difference.
鈥淚f we are divided 鈥 then Canada is still, in my opinion, vulnerable,鈥 added Cochrane. 鈥淲hat we do to protect the Arctic will impact the whole of Canada, and so it鈥檚 important that all premiers recognize that.鈥
And they did. A statement issued Tuesday by all 13 provincial and territorial leaders said that 鈥渢he Russian invasion of Ukraine has important implications for peaceful co-operation in the Arctic. Significant strategic investments are needed to improve Canada鈥檚 Arctic sovereignty through strengthened resiliency of northern communities in collaboration with concerned partners and governments.鈥
They added that 鈥減rosperous, healthy, vibrant communities and people contribute to the sovereignty of the Canadian Arctic.鈥
锘縋remier Doug Ford told the Star in an interview that Ontario 鈥渨ill always support smaller provinces and the territories 鈥 especially the territories 鈥 and to make sure that we have security up in the north鈥 and the Arctic.
鈥淚 will always stand beside them any way we can,鈥 Ford said.
鈥淲e encourage the federal government to make sure that they鈥檙e there as well.鈥
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