Our report emphasizes the importance of the Government of Canada working with territorial and Indigenous governments in order to tackle infrastructure deficits in Arctic communities. Upgrades in critical military infrastructure in the Arctic should include dual use benefits such as broadband technology, clean water and clean energy.

However, it was also clear that defence spending alone is not going to address the myriad social and economic needs of communities in the Arctic. These gaps must be jointly identified and addressed by dedicated funding arrangements.

Our study was carried out in an ever-changing geopolitical environment. Shortly after we began our study, Russia invaded Ukraine, triggering upheavals in Europe unprecedented since the Second World War. We have learned that this invasion, despite the high human and material cost, has not weakened Russia’s capabilities in the Arctic.

We find ourselves in a volatile and turbulent period. The importance of the Arctic in military defense and security cannot be overstated. However, it is equally important to note that while the Arctic is viewed as a strategic location, it is also my home and the home of the Inuit people. We live there. Thus, it is crucial to ensure that moving forward decisions include the voices of those most affected from the Arctic strategic location and natural resources to the accessibility of the Northwest Passage and the Northern Sea route, sovereignty and territorial claims, environmental security and military presence and deterrence. These factors contribute to the region’s increasing significance in the global security landscape.

We need to recognize that the Arctic is a border that requires our attention, our investment and our protection. The Arctic is no longer an isolated landmass. It is increasingly visited and we have to be increasingly present. If we don’t occupy it, others will. The Canadian Armed Forces are excellent, but they have huge challenges. They have insufficient equipment. In order to continue to serve, we need to improve equipment and pay and recruit and retain staff.