Ottawa Reveals Sites for First Three Arctic Military Bases
The federal government has announced that Iqaluit, Inuvik, and Yellowknife will be the locations for three planned northern operational support hubs.
Defence Minister Bill Blair is currently in Nunavut’s capital to deliver the news.
These hubs are a crucial part of the federal government’s Arctic security strategy, with over $2 billion allocated over 20 years to establish them and enhance the military’s presence in the region.
Although not military bases, the operational support hubs provide support for military operations through communication and transport infrastructure and secure storage for supplies, according to the Department of National Defence.
Canada presently has operational support hubs in four locations globally, including Germany, Kuwait, Jamaica, and Senegal.
This announcement will be welcomed by Iqalummiut, with promises from the military to upgrade infrastructure in the city for hub operations, including enhanced communications, water, and power facilities.
Related Stories
Northern premiers have been advocating for tying infrastructure improvements to military spending to aid nation-building efforts and help Canada reach its NATO spending goal of two percent of national GDP.
Although the plans for these hubs were unveiled almost a year ago, federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre recently pledged to construct a military base in Iqaluit if he is victorious in the upcoming election.
