Strengthening Canada’s Arctic: why Canada needs to prioritize dialogue and cooperation in the North
Despite the Arctic comprising 40 per cent of Canada’s landmass, the government has long lagged in efforts to address the region’s domestic and foreign challenges. For much of Canada’s history, the Arctic took a back seat to other policy priorities. It was only the dawn of the Cold War that ultimately prompted Canada and the […]
Collaborative effort needed to bridge the digital divide
Many Canadians in remote northern communities cannot depend on the internet for essential tasks for school or work, or for leisure activities like entertainment or social media. There is, in short, a deep digital divide between remote communities and the rest of the country. Historically, internet service providers (ISPs) have been the primary stakeholders tasked […]
Addressing high rates of assault in the North ‘daunting’ as Senators press feds to support shelters, address housing gaps
More than half of Canadians living in the territories have been victims of physical or sexual assault at least once since they were 15, a “daunting” reality that has northern Senators and advocacy groups redoubling requests for more shelters and housing as an essential safety net. In the territories, a little more than half of […]
Canada’s security is languishing under the Trudeau government
As the COVID-19 pandemic ravages the Canadian economy, it also lays bare Canada’s vulnerability to increasingly hostile foreign actors. The Liberal defence plan, Strong, Secure, Engaged, left Canada ill-prepared for the real world. The new reality of COVID-19, the return of great-power rivalry, and interrupted supply chains for critical equipment, is causing Canadians to doubt […]
A less attractive Northwest Passage is good for Canada
OTTAWA—Back in 1998, when I was the commander of the Canadian Forces Northern Area, I became concerned with the impact of global warming and the disappearance of the ice in the Canadian Archipelago. Although there were no apparent military threats to the Canadian Arctic at the time, there was nevertheless a concern with increasing risks […]
U.S. should recognize Arctic waters as Canadian
OTTAWA—The Arctic’s capacity as a strategic buffer is eroding rapidly, with the disappearance of ice making it an avenue of threat to the U.S. homeland. With the power competition between China, Russia, and the United States growing in the Arctic it may be wise for the latter to recognize the Northwest Passage as internal waters […]
Competing designers named for Canada’s national monument to Afghanistan mission
The five groups that are competing to design Canada’s national monument to the Afghanistan mission have been revealed. The five potential design groups come from all across Canada. Potential bidders include a group led by Montreal-based architectural firm Daoust Lestage, which is joined by former Supreme Court justice Louise Arbour, who is serving as a […]
Canada needs to protect Arctic sovereignty to confront emboldened Putin, say MP and expert
As President Vladimir Putin has solidified his grip on Russian leadership for the next 16 years, a Liberal MP says that Canada needs to prepare for the threat of Moscow’s influence in the Arctic, while a former aide to past foreign affairs minister Stéphane Dion says Canada needs to begin dialogue with Russia. A referendum […]
The lessons of COVID-19 and international co-operation in the Arctic
The COVID-19 pandemic has become a game changer in many aspects. Firstly, this epidemiology drama has tested our practical resilience to tangible global threats. The leaders and national health systems of various states were prepared (or unprepared) differently for dealing with new realities; and the figures of those infected, tested, recovered, and deceased speak for […]
Open and honest dialogue with Indigenous communities guide COVID-19 response
First Nations, Inuit, and Métis face unprecedented and unique challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Significant socio-economic and health gaps put them at greater risk during these hard times. Regular, open, and honest dialogue with Indigenous leaders has guided and strengthened Canada’s approach to this pandemic, starting with the National Health Emergency Management Network, which was […]
