OTTAWA, Ontario
Nasittuq Corporation, an Inuit majority-owned corporation, has been awarded a Government of Canada contract to operate and maintain the North Warning System (NWS). The seven-year contract, which will begin on April 1, 2022, is valued at $592M and there are four two-year option periods.
Between 2001 and 2014, Nasittuq successfully operated and maintained 47 remote NWS sites in the Canadian Arctic, in addition to three facilities in Ontario. Under this contract, Nasittuq will be responsible for remote site operations including helipads, gravel runways, more than 100 buildings and over 300 bulk fuel storage tanks. The work involves maintenance, logistics support, airlift coordination, environmental systems management, systems engineering and project management.
“We’re thrilled to bring the North Warning System contract home,” said Jody Langelier, President, Nasittuq. “The team is ready to deliver world-class technical and logistics services for this critical defence infrastructure.”
“This contract represents incredible opportunity for Inuit economic development in the North,” said Harry Flaherty, Chairperson, Pan Arctic Inuit Logistics (PAIL), majority shareholder of Nasittuq. “As a majority Inuit-owned corporation, Nasittuq will deliver long-lasting benefits to our Inuit shareholder corporations and Inuit beneficiaries including earnings, employment, sub-contracting opportunities, and training to Northerners.”
“Together, PAIL and ATCO Frontec have deep knowledge and understanding of operating in the North,” said Jim Landon, President, ATCO Frontec, which holds 49% interest in Nasittuq. “With its technical expertise, Nasittuq has once again proven it’s the right choice for Canada.”
The NWS is a chain of radar sites and support facilities that forms part of Canada’s North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) agreement with the United States. It was established in 1985 to detect and allow for an early response to potential threats entering North American air space.
In Canada, the NWS consists of 47 radar sites located along the Arctic Ocean, including 11 long-range radar sites, and 36 short-range radar sites. The Canadian facilities are remotely monitored and controlled from North Bay, Ont. on a 24-7 basis.
Further details about the North Warning System can be found on the Government of Canada website.
