The mayors of Iqaluit, Yellowknife, Whitehorse, and Inuvik met in Inuvik this week to advance a coordinated northern approach to Arctic security, defence readiness, and community resilience, recognizing the urgent and rapidly evolving nature of northern defence and infrastructure requirements.
The meeting built on recent memoranda of understanding among northern municipalities and focused on immediate and practical next steps related to Department of National Defence, NORAD, and Canadian Armed Forces investments, municipal capacity, and federal advocacy. The meeting took place on the margins of the Arctic Development Expo, during which the mayors held a panel discussion about Arctic security on the front lines.
The mayors reaffirmed that northern municipalities are essential partners in Arctic sovereignty and defence readiness. They emphasized that communities require timely engagement and sustained investment in core infrastructure, including water, wastewater, transportation, communications, energy systems, and infrastructure to support housing, to ensure northern communities remain strong, livable, and operationally ready.
The mayors also stressed the importance of ensuring that federal investments generate tangible local benefits through community-informed planning, local procurement, and workforce development. They agreed that a unified northern voice is needed now to advance coordinated, transformative investments that reflect the realities and priorities of northern communities.
Moving forward, the mayors are engaging territorial and federal leaders to accelerate work on shared priorities and ensure municipalities are involved in the planning and decision-making around federal investments to bolster Arctic sovereignty and security.
Quotes
“The federal government’s focus on building up the North presents significant opportunities for our citizens. If we want to advance Arctic security and sovereignty, we need strong, resilient, healthy communities in our territories. The way to do that is to engage locals, involve them in planning, and ensure that federal investments and initiatives are aligned with the plans and priorities of the communities that will be impacted. Beyond much-needed infrastructure, we need to make sure that these decisions lead to a positive and sustainable transformation for our communities. We will continue to work collaboratively across the North to ensure long-term alignment on priorities and sustainable benefits for our communities.”
- Mayor Kirk Cameron, City of Whitehorse
"Arctic security begins with strong northern communities. The people who live here understand what it takes to build a strong future in the North. By working together and keeping northern communities part of the conversation, we can build stronger communities and a more resilient Arctic"
- Mayor Solomon Awa, City of Iqaluit
"Arctic communities play a key role in Arctic Security and need the resources to ensure that role is fulfilled to its full potential for security of all Canadians"
- Mayor Peter Clarkson, Town of Inuvik
“The Town of Inuvik’s leadership as host of the Arctic Development Expo shows the importance of municipalities in Arctic Security discussions in the Arctic, by the Arctic for the Arctic. Our communities are heard within and beyond the three territories when we work together. We are creating relationships between our communities that will exist for years into the future.”
- Mayor Ben Hendriksen, City of Yellowknife
