Canada’s Arctic security depends on more than defence — here’s how immigration could help

A Canadian Ranger patrols the frozen landscape near Eureka, Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, on a snowmobile bearing the Canadian flag. (Kevin Paul/The Arctic Institute), CC BY

Canada is facing a new reality: Arctic security is no longer just about military presence. It’s increasingly about whether communities in the North have the people, infrastructure and capacity to sustain sovereignty in a rapidly changing region.

In February 2026, the Arctic Summit in Whitehorse brought together policymakers, defence experts and Indigenous leaders to address emerging challenges in the North.