Climate change clashing with human speed limit
LONDON, U.K.—I’m writing this on a plane to Greenland—well, actually, on a plane to Denmark, because there’s no way to get to Greenland by a civilian airline without going through Copenhagen first—and it has occurred to me (not for the first time) to wonder where everybody else is. My wife and I are on our […]
Stoltenberg’s visit opens questions about Canada’s Arctic strategy
OTTAWA—Jens Stoltenberg’s recent visit to Canada’s North was unprecedented. From Aug. 25-27, NATO’s top bureaucrat was fêted by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the manner normally reserved for visiting heads of state, full of ceremonial-style military inspections, photo-ops, and joint press conferences. There are two possibilities for giving Stoltenberg the royal treatment. It could be […]
Canada’s Arctic is warming faster than expected
CHURCHILL, MAN.—Hudson Bay, second in size only to the Bay of Bengal, brings the Arctic deep into Canada. I live in Churchill, a tiny community of about 800 on the tundra beside the bay. Churchill is the Polar Bear Capital of the World. In October and November, tourists flock here from around the world to […]
Are we adequately prepared for emerging infectious diseases in the Canadian Arctic?
Imagine that the Canadian beef herd declined by 75 per cent because of some unknown disease, and then the same happened to the pork herd. Although at a higher cost, you likely would still have access to your preferred meat. And, purchased from the local grocery store, you’d be confident that the Canadian food inspection […]
Canada supports rapid accession of Sweden and Finland to NATO, but experts say it needs to improve its Arctic defences
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly repeated again on Monday that Canada will push for the quick accession of Sweden and Finland to join NATO after Russia’s invasion and bombing of Ukraine and says she consulted with the Conservative, NDP, and Bloc Québécois foreign affairs critics to gain unanimous House consent for the decision. “Canada is […]
Let’s make sure we get Canada’s critical minerals strategy right
Given the context of this year’s federal budget—surging energy prices, post-COVID economic stabilization, and a war in Europe—the Government of Canada was understandably more focused than perhaps in any of the Trudeau government’s previous budgets. It was not Christmas morning with a bauble for everyone. It was a disciplined and focused approach to the challenges […]
Northerners think feds are ‘out of touch’ with the North, data suggests
Northerners say the federal government is “out of touch” with the North, does not meet their needs, and does not fairly represent them, according to a convenience sample study conducted by the Angus Reid Forum. The data, while anecdotal in nature, offers a glimpse into the frustrations and issues facing those living in Canada’s territories, […]
Spotty internet access puts North at serious disadvantage
You’re reading this article right now, and you probably didn’t have to wait more than a second for the page to load. You might be cheekily scanning it while stuck on a boring Zoom call, and, if you’re like me, with a dozen other tabs open in your browser. It’s a nice privilege to have […]
Time to retool Canada’s Arctic strategy in the face of Russian aggression
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has Canada, its NATO allies, and foreign policy scholars looking to the Arctic region as the potential next site for future Russian aggression—with good reason. Russia’s buildup on the borders of Ukraine took place over a period of months. The buildup of Russia’s Arctic military capacity has been underway for years. […]
It is time to reconsider the development of Resolute Bay
OTTAWA—The Russian invasion of Ukraine has amplified the need for Canada to review its security posture in the Arctic. Even the territorial leadership is now concerned with the government’s ability to provide security in the Arctic, and have requested a meeting with the prime minister. Although our critical arctic domain awareness has improved over the […]
