Torys On Defence: Implementing Canada's Arctic And Infrastructure Goals

Canada's first Defence Industrial Strategy (the Strategy) places a strong focus on strengthening Arctic defence capabilities. Receding sea ice has opened new routes in Canada's Arctic region, tripling vessel traffic between 1990 and 2015¹, and has given the Canadian Security Intelligence Services (CSIS) reason to believe that adversaries are actively seeking to exploit the region². Increasing geopolitical tensions may further accelerate the urgency to establish Arctic defence for projects of national importance³. At the same time, the Strategy frames Canada's defence policy as an industrial opportunity—one that requires government and industry to collaborate and jointly invest in capabilities that advance sovereignty, economic prosperity, and northern and Indigenous community resilience.