Minister Blair visits Inuvik to highlight Our North, Strong and Free

Inuvik – Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, is in Inuvik for a three-day visit to highlight Canada’s Arctic-focused defence policy update, Our North, Strong and Free, and to meet with municipal, territorial, and Indigenous officials. Minister Blair is accompanied in Inuvik by Dan Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs..

In his conversations, Minister Blair has made clear that as a growing community and central transportation hub in the Western Arctic, Inuvik is an increasingly important strategic location for the defence of Canada – and the federal government is committed to continued defence investments in the town. Indeed, earlier this month, members of the Canadian NORAD Region CF-18 Hornet detachment completed training exercises in Inuvik to demonstrate readiness in defence of North America against potential threats. Deploying assets at Forward Operation Locations (FOLs) such as Inuvik increases NORAD’s reach and boosts its ability to defend North America from threats in all approaches in the High North.

Yesterday, Minister Blair visited the Green Hangar at Inuvik (Mike Zubko) Airport, highlighting that earlier this year, the Government of Canada invested $8.6 million to acquire the hangar. Minister Blair reiterated that following an appraisal and analysis of the hangar’s strategic value, the Government of Canada found a clear interest in acquiring the facility, which is in close proximity to NORAD Forward Operating Location (FOL) Inuvik. This 21,000 square-foot aircraft hangar will be used by federal departments and agencies, including the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). The facility provides the RCAF with greater ability to operate aircraft in the Arctic, in support of the objectives outlined in Our North, Strong and Free.

Minister Blair also provided an update on progress to extend the Inuvik airport runway. As announced in January 2023, National Defence is investing $230 million to extend the Inuvik Airport’s main runway from 6,000 to 9,000 feet (2,743 metres) and to modernize its lighting, navigational systems, and military aircraft arrestor system. Minister Blair affirmed that progress is well underway, including site excavation, production of material, and widening of the taxiway. This project will improve the airfield’s suitability to operate larger and heavier aircraft, which is an important enhancement to the ability of NORAD and the RCAF to operate in the North and Arctic. Minister Blair noted that construction is expected to be completed in 2027 and is made possible through collaborative efforts between the Department of National Defence, the Government of the Northwest Territories, and the Inuvik airport. These upgrades will have a dual purpose, as Inuvik’s Mike Zubko Airport is designated as a Forward Operating Location for the Royal Canadian Air Force – and it also operates as a civilian airport.

Minister Blair highlighted that through Our North, Strong and Free, Canada is making a focused series of investments to better protect the Arctic and North, including:

• $218 million over 20 years for Northern Operational Support Hubs to support a greater year-round presence across the Arctic and the North, and invest in multi-use infrastructure that also meets the needs of territories, Indigenous Peoples, and Northern communities where feasible.
• $18.4 billion over 20 years to acquire a more modern, mobile, and effective tactical helicopter capability that will provide the CAF with the speed and airlift capacity to assert Canada’s sovereignty and respond to natural disasters and emergencies throughout the country.
• $307 million over 20 years for airborne early warning aircraft that will vastly improve Canada’s ability to detect, track, and prioritize airborne threats sooner, ensuring a faster, better coordinated response with the United States when required.
• $1.4 billion over 20 years to acquire specialized maritime sensors to conduct ocean surveillance. They will be used to monitor Canada’s maritime approaches, including in the Arctic and North, and will be a critical component of the CAFs’ ability to defend Canada from a growing range and sophistication of underwater threats, including vessel-launched missiles, underwater systems, ships, and submarines, on all three coasts.
• $222 million over 20 years to build a new satellite ground station in the Arctic. This ground station will improve our ability to detect, deter and respond to malign activities and to communicate those threats quickly with our most trusted partners.

To further build on the strategic priorities in Our North, Strong and Free, Canada, along with the United States and Finland, also launched the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort (ICE Pact) in July 2024 at the NATO Summit in Washington, D.C. Through the ICE Pact, our three countries are committing to a collaborative effort to continue building best-in-class Arctic and polar icebreakers and other Arctic and polar capabilities in each of our respective countries by sharing expertise, information, and capabilities. This strategic partnership will deepen existing co-operation among these three key Arctic countries by strengthening the marine industries in each country and allowing new equipment and capabilities to be produced more quickly.

Yesterday, Minister Blair met with the Mayor of Inuvik, Clarence Wood, Senator Dawn Anderson, members of the 1st Canadian Rangers Patrol Group, the Inuvik Native Band, and the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, the Honourable Gerald Kisoun. Minister Blair also met with the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation today and toured the Inuvik Satellite Station Facility. Minister Blair will be participating in additional meetings today.

In his meetings, Minister Blair reiterated that as Our North, Strong and Free is implemented, National Defence will engage closely with Territorial and Indigenous governments and Northern communities, whose homes and lifestyle are directly impacted by the evolving Arctic security environment. In defending the region, Canada will continue to support the Arctic and Northern Policy Framework’s principle of “nothing about us, without us,” and is committed to ensuring that the economic benefits of defence investments are felt by Indigenous and Northern communities.

Our Arctic and North is an integral part of our country, home to 150,000 Canadians and generations of Indigenous communities. Canada will continue to work with these communities to protect our Arctic sovereignty, as committed in Our North, Strong and Free.