In Canada’s North, Arctic Sovereignty Must Be Seen Through a Climate Lens

Northerners across Canada’s territories were informed that three major communities in the region—Iqaluit, Inuvik, and Yellowknife—were to become “operational support hubs” through an $81.1 billion defense policy launched by the federal government last March.

While the announcement held mass appeal in the wake of growing concerns about Arctic sovereignty, residents of these communities have their own concerns, especially given the impacts of climate change they’re living with in real time: What would increased military presence in Iqaluit look like given the city’s growing water scarcity? Is the Inuvik airport—built entirely on permafrost—prepared for more personnel traffic? What do new infrastructure announcements mean for Yellowknifers who continue to struggle with one main road out of the city during wildfire season?

At a time when new infrastructure projects are being continually announced through the proposed defense funding, this series will look at existing climate-related infrastructure challenges that Northerners believe need to be better supported.