Canadian Design and Construction Report staff writer
The Department of National Defence has announced plans to build Northern Operational Support Hubs in Iqaluit, Inuvik, and Yellowknife, to increase the Canadian Armed Forces’ presence and responsiveness across the Arctic and the North.
As previously announced in Our North, Strong and Free: A Renewed Vision for Canada’s Defence, Canada will commit $2.67 billion over 20 years to establish a network of Northern Operational Support Hubs with airstrips, logistics facilities and equipment.
“This milestone will provide the Canadian Armed Forces with critical infrastructure to enhance its presence and responsiveness across the Arctic and the North,” said Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence. “It marks significant progress in the Northern Operational Support Hub initiative and advances our commitment to working hand-in-hand with federal partners, the provinces and territories, Indigenous peoples, and Northern communities to enhance the Canadian Armed Forces’ footprint in the Canadian Arctic.”
Hubs will function as a dispersed network of logistical stations, which will extend the Canadian Armed Forces’ operational reach, reduce logistical constraints, and enhance support for military operations in the Arctic.
The Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces and other federal partners will identify additional hub locations, working with territorial governments and local Northern and Indigenous partners.
“The Arctic’s strategic importance is rapidly increasing. This initiative will provide the Canadian Armed Forces with the infrastructure and capabilities needed to maintain a year-round presence in the North so that we can respond swiftly to challenges, deter threats or defeat them when necessary,” said Lieutenant-General Steve Boivin, Commander, Canadian Joint Operations Command.
The goal is to create scalable infrastructure that can be quickly activated, allowing for swift military operations when needed, increased military responsiveness, and the ability to address challenges in remote Northern regions on shorter notice and for longer periods, when required; and enable the military to better support Canadian sovereignty by establishing a greater year-round military presence across the Arctic.
