Foreign Affairs and International Development

The House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development met to study Canada's Arctic foreign policy, hearing from the Honourable R.J. Simpson, Premier of the Northwest Territories, and the Honourable John Main, Premier of Nunavut.

Premier Simpson argued that Arctic sovereignty must be built through presence, partnership and sustained investment, not merely declared. He emphasized that thriving communities, reliable infrastructure and economic opportunity are essential to security, and identified the lack of transportation corridors and high costs as key barriers. He specifically recommended advancing the Mackenzie Valley Highway as a priority project that would lower costs, connect communities and enable resource development.

Premier Main stressed that Arctic security must include human security, noting that one in four Nunavummiut are hidden homeless and 44% are severely food-insecure. He called for sustained, balanced investment in basic infrastructure such as roads, ports, drinking water and energy, and urged the federal government to adapt programs like the clean fuel regulations to northern realities. He also highlighted the need for dual-use infrastructure that benefits both defence and communities, and warned against repeating the mistakes of the Cold War era.

During questioning, both premiers agreed that the federal government has recently engaged them more effectively, but cautioned that the current focus on the Arctic must not be a passing moment. They underscored that decades of underinvestment cannot be undone quickly, and that foundational projects like the Mackenzie Valley Highway and marine ports in Nunavut are ready to proceed. On geopolitical tensions around Greenland, both noted a mix of concern and solidarity among northerners, while Premier Simpson added that daily life concerns such as food prices and housing remain paramount. On youth and addictions, Premier Simpson cited intergenerational trauma and organized crime as growing challenges, and Premier Main pointed to Nunavut's youthful demographic and suicide crisis, calling for a multi-faceted response including economic opportunity. The committee also discussed water and wastewater infrastructure, with Premier Main estimating a $600-million need in Nunavut and Premier Simpson noting the high cost of replacing aging systems built in the 1960s and 1970s. No procedural motions or votes occurred during the meeting.