The Arctic is an incredibly diverse and rich region making up about 40 percent of Canada’s landmass. There you’ll find an extensive range of Canadian industries and capabilities and operating successfully requires local knowledge and experience. A diverse, robust economy is growing north of 60, from traditional hunting and fishing, to scientific research, sustainable resource development and innovation.
Essential to this continued growth is ensuring Arctic sovereignty and security, by strengthening the defences of North America against threats from competitor nations. Modernizing NORAD and the North Warning System is an integral part of a joint US-Canada effort to do just that.
Modernizing NORAD and Continental Defence
In August 2021, former Minister of National Defence of Canada, the Honourable Harjit Sajjan, and Secretary of Defense of the United States, Lloyd James Austin III, issued a joint statement on NORAD modernization, reaffirming their commitment to moving this agenda forward. Modernization includes eventually replacing the aging North Warning System with next-generation radar systems, communications infrastructure, and bases.
True partnership with the people on whose land much of this infrastructure will be built, is key to the success of this ambitious venture. Action 92 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action calls for Indigenous communities to “gain long-term sustainable benefits from economic development projects”. Inuit must play a key role in planning, constructing, and operating these facilities in order to maximize northern benefits from this once-in-a-generation opportunity.
Recently, the Government of Canada announced it would be taking “new and immediate measures to increase federal procurement opportunities for Indigenous businesses across Canada.”
A Model for the North
We don’t have to look far to find a successful business model that prioritizes Indigenous equity participation, employment, training, and business and infrastructure development. Nasittuq Corporation, a 20-year-old commercial partnership between Pan Arctic Inuit Logistics Corporation (PAIL) and Calgary-based, ATCO Frontec Ltd, is a majority-Inuit owned and controlled company and is registered as an Inuit Firm in Nunavut. The partnership blends Inuit values, knowledge, experience, and northern presence with the capacity and reach of major Canadian companies.
Nasittuq successfully delivered the North Warning System (NWS) Operations and Maintenance contract from 2001 to 2014, providing maintenance, logistics, environmental, engineering and project management services at 47 radar sites and five logistic support sites across the Canadian Arctic.
Today, we provide site support and management services at CFS Alert on the northern tip of Ellesmere Island, Nunavut.
Nasittuq truly is a Canadian Inuit success story. We plan to build on that success as we seek to operate the North Warning System once again. In an era of reconciliation, we’re well positioned to help Canada meet many of its strategic arctic and Indigenous priorities. Action 92 of the TRC points the government to the best award decision.