Northerners, experts question Conservatives' pledge to build military base in Iqaluit

Some northerners and Arctic security experts say the federal Conservatives' pledge to build a permanent military base in Iqaluit is a move in the right direction, but they also have questions about how it'll be done. 

On Monday, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre unveiled what he calls his plan to "take back control of the Arctic," inside a hangar at Iqaluit airport. 

He sees Iqaluit as a strategic location amid increasing Russian activity in the Arctic, with a functional airport and seaport that can accommodate both the navy and the air force. He also pointed to increasing shipping opportunities in the Arctic.

"Canada still doesn't have a permanent military base in the Arctic, while at the same time Russia has reopened Soviet bases and expanded its navy's northern fleet," Poilievre said.

Former Nunavut senator Dennis Patterson said Poilievre's announcement is timely, adding that there's a need to work more closely with the U.S. Part of that, he says, means beefing up Canada's defence spending. 

Canada is among eight NATO allies out of 30 that are estimated to be falling short of their NATO spending target and has faced persistent criticism from allies. According to a NATO report from last year, Canada was estimated to spend roughly 1.37 per cent of its GDP in 2024.

The NATO benchmark is two per cent of GDP. 

"It's in our mutual interest in defending and protecting our northern and southern border from threats increasingly coming from the Soviet north, bristling with military bases, airstrips and hypersonic missile capability — and China, which calls itself a near-Arctic state," Patterson said. 

"We should be looking for win-win ways to secure cooperation with the U.S. rather than through a trade war." 

In a written statement, Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok said he's heartened to see political attention on the North, though he reminds Poilievre that northerners must have significant input into any decisions about the North. 

He said he found out about Poilievre's announcement on Monday morning.

"I look forward to Mr. Poilievre's explicit recognition that should he become Prime Minister, his plans for the Arctic will be made in partnership with Northerners to reflect our rights, needs, and perspectives," Akeeagok said.

'It's going to be overwhelmed almost overnight'

Ken Coates, a northern security expert at the University of Saskatchewan's school of public policy, thinks it's "sad and embarrassing" that it's taken pressure from the U.S. for Canadian politicians to make "incremental" promises or commitments on Arctic security. 

"Canada has a terrible, woeful record on national defence. We are under-prepared in every aspect … we're on the verge of pulling out of some of our overseas commitments because we can't supply them." 

Coates said Poilievre's announcement about an Iqaluit military base — which is likely to cost billions of dollars — is bare on details. 

"You've got a massive problem with housing [in Nunavut]… so you're going to add a couple hundred soldiers to that environment. You have to have water for them, you have waste management systems for them," he said. 

"You have a lovely brand new airport in Iqaluit… but if you put the military base there, it's going to be overwhelmed almost overnight." 

He said Canada should be looking to countries like Australia, Norway, Sweden, where they've built civilian infrastructure alongside military infrastructure. 

In a statement to CBC News, Scott Aitchison, Conservative shadow minister for housing, said his party would ensure there is additional housing to accommodate Canadian Forces personnel and their families – without driving up the local housing market.

"This would be enabled by removing red tape and opening up federal Crown land for home construction," he said.

The lack of existing infrastructure in the North, plus the short shipping and construction seasons, could prove to be a challenge. The Nanisivik Arctic refuelling station which was announced by the Conservatives in 2007, for example, is still not open. It is currently 10 years behind schedule.

Rob Huebert, a professor of political science at the University of Calgary's Centre for Military, Security and Strategic Studies, believes Poilievre is making the right move by focusing on a maritime and aerospace response. 

"This isn't about putting troops to repel an imaginary Russian invasion … but rather to be able to have the aerospace capability that are required for a proper NORAD organization," Huebert said. 

But he also said military bases that launch and land F-35 fighter jets – which Poilievre is proposing – have more requirements than some other bases. 

He adds that the North faces many social issues which require significant investment – but said politicians must not take the pedal off military spending. 

"This really requires our politicians to basically be the adults in the room and to be able to say we've got to spend this on the military. We also have to spend this on the human security side."