Poilievre Vows to Strengthen Arctic Defense with Military Base in Iqaluit
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has made a bold pledge—if his party forms the next government, Canada’s Arctic will see a major military expansion. Speaking from Iqaluit, Poilievre announced plans to establish a permanent military base in the city, bolster the Canadian Rangers, and acquire new naval icebreakers to reinforce Canada’s presence in the North.
At the heart of this announcement is the proposed Iqaluit military base, which Poilievre envisions as a key strategic hub for Arctic defense. It would be equipped to support a full Royal Canadian Air Force wing, including F-35 fighter jets and Poseidon P-8 surveillance aircraft, enhancing Canada’s ability to patrol, defend, and respond to threats in the region. He emphasized that this move is necessary to counter "growing threats from China and Russia" and maintain strong ties with the United States.
The pledge also includes doubling the size of the Canadian Rangers' 1st Patrol Group, increasing its numbers from 2,000 to 4,000. These lightly armed reservists play a crucial role in monitoring remote and coastal areas, assisting in search and rescue operations, and providing intelligence on unusual activity in the Arctic.
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In addition, Poilievre plans to purchase two new naval icebreakers for the Royal Canadian Navy, separate from the two already under construction for the Canadian Coast Guard. These Polar Class 2 icebreakers would be capable of year-round operations in moderate multiyear ice, enhancing Canada’s ability to navigate and control Arctic waters. He has set a timeline for delivery by 2029.
To fund these initiatives, Poilievre has proposed cutting foreign aid, arguing that much of it is wasted on “dictators, terrorists, and global bureaucracies.” His party has previously pointed to organizations such as the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees and the Chinese-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank as examples of aid spending they would slash.
This commitment comes amid growing concerns about Arctic security. In recent years, Russia has been reopening military bases in the region, while China has declared itself a “near-Arctic state” despite being over 1,500 kilometers away. With Canada currently lacking a dedicated Arctic military base, Poilievre argues that the country must act swiftly to secure its northern borders and resources.
While Canada has several military installations in the North, including Forward Operating Locations in Iqaluit, Yellowknife, Inuvik, and Goose Bay, these are largely used for temporary deployments. There is also the Canadian Forces Station Alert, a signals intelligence post on Ellesmere Island, and the Joint Task Force North headquarters in Yellowknife. However, Poilievre’s plan marks a significant shift towards a more permanent and robust Arctic defense strategy.
With Arctic sovereignty becoming a growing geopolitical issue, this announcement sets the stage for a major debate on Canada's military priorities. If elected, Poilievre has promised that the Iqaluit base will be operational within two years. Whether this plan will come to fruition remains to be seen, but one thing is clear—the Arctic is becoming an increasingly important frontier in Canada’s defense strategy.
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