Canada strengthens Arctic presence as climate change, global tensions, and Greenland threats highlight urgent need for northern infrastructure investment.
Canadian Troops Brave Extreme Arctic to Secure North
YELLOWKNIFE — Just steps from Yellowknife Airport, behind a plain grey fence, sits a key outpost of Joint Task Force North (JTFN), one of Canada’s six regional military task forces. Here, soldiers train in some of the harshest conditions on Earth, preparing for missions that cover nearly half of Canada’s land mass and most of its coastline.
This Friday, the mercury will drop to -30°C, feeling like -40°C with the windchill. Yet, the soldiers continue to test their skills, mastering snowmobiles and other two-stroke vehicles designed to handle the Arctic’s relentless cold.
“These vehicles may be tough to start in this weather, but they’re reliable,” explained Maj. Alexandre Munoz, a JTFN public affairs officer. “With pull cords, they can operate anywhere—critical in this environment.”
Global Tensions Spotlight Canada’s Arctic Readiness
Recent headlines have thrust the Arctic into the international spotlight. U.S. President Donald Trump’s remarks about Greenland sparked concerns about Arctic sovereignty, highlighting how thinly stretched Canada’s military presence remains compared to rivals like Russia, the United States, and even Norway, which operates 15 military bases in its Arctic territories.
Brendan Bell, CEO of Inuit-owned West Kitikmeot Resources Corp., stressed the urgency: “We can’t rely on others to protect our interests. If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu—and northerners feel like we’d be the main course.”
Bell and others are calling for more federal investment in northern infrastructure—not just for industry, but to strengthen national security.
Investment Key to Arctic Security
Canada’s fall budget pledged $1 billion over four years for Arctic development, funding deepwater ports, airstrips, and all-season roads.
Bell added, “We don’t have a choice. Canada has fallen behind both our allies and our adversaries. Investing in infrastructure isn’t optional—it’s essential to safeguard our sovereignty.”
Gaëlle Rivard Piché, executive director of the CDA Institute, echoed this, noting that Arctic security requires a “whole-of-society” approach, involving Indigenous communities, governments, and local stakeholders.
Persistent Presence: JTFN Expands
For JTFN, the focus is clear: a constant, visible presence across Canada’s northern frontier. “We’re increasing both the number of personnel and the operations each year,” said Munoz. “It’s about showing that Canada is in control of its Arctic and securing our territory for the future.”
With climate change opening new routes and resources, northern security and infrastructure have never been more critical. For Canada, the Arctic is no longer a remote frontier—it’s a strategic priority.
