Issue
Northern & Arctic Sovereignty
Federal jurisdiction over the three territories (Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut) operates under their respective enabling acts; territorial governments hold delegated powers, not constitutional ones. The 2019 Arctic and Northern Policy Framework set Canada's stated 8-pillar strategy. Active 2024-2025 files: the Nunavut Devolution Agreement transferring jurisdiction over Crown lands and resources from Ottawa to Nunavut (signed January 18, 2024, with implementation through 2027), the proposed Commissioner for Modern Treaty Implementation (Bill C-77 of 44-1, lapsed), and the federal defence and sovereignty investments tied to NORAD modernization (~$38.6 billion over 20 years, announced June 2022). Climate-change adaptation is the most urgent file: thawing permafrost, food security in fly-in communities, and the loss of seasonal sea-ice driving the federal-Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami Inuit Nunangat Policy of 2022.
Where parties stand
Compare side-by-side- Bloc QuébécoisBLOC
The Bloc Québécois recognizes Northern and Arctic sovereignty as a primarily federal jurisdiction but advocates for the territorial integrity of northern Quebec (Nord-du-Quebec, Nunavik with its 11,000 Inuit residents under the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement of 1975). Supports increased federal funding for the Plan Nord infrastructure corridor, strengthened Canadian Coast Guard presence in the St. Lawrence and Eastern Arctic, and the Quebec position that Hudson Strait and Hudson Bay are Canadian internal waters. Supports defence spending at the NATO two-percent threshold if achieved without cutting transfers to Quebec.
Source - Conservative Party of CanadaCONSERVATIVE
The federal Conservative Party under Pierre Poilievre commits to meeting the NATO two-percent-of-GDP defence spending target by 2030 (Canada at approximately 1.4 percent per NATO data), expansion of the Joint Arctic Operations Centre, completion of the Nanisivik Naval Facility on Baffin Island (a Harper-era project still partially incomplete), faster procurement of the polar icebreakers under the National Shipbuilding Strategy (the John G. Diefenbaker still to be delivered 2030+), and Canadian rejection of US claims that the Northwest Passage is international waters rather than Canadian internal waters under the Arctic Waters Pollution Prevention Act (R.S.C. 1985, c. A-12).
Source The federal Green Party calls for Indigenous-led conservation in the Canadian Arctic, expansion of the Tallurutiup Imanga National Marine Conservation Area, full Canadian participation in the Arctic Council's working groups, a stronger Canadian Coast Guard presence on the Northwest Passage, and rejection of US claims that the Northwest Passage is international waters rather than Canadian internal waters. Opposes new fossil-fuel exploration in the Beaufort Sea and supports renewable-energy investment in Nunavut, Northwest Territories, and Yukon communities currently dependent on diesel generation.
Source- Liberal Party of CanadaLIBERAL
The federal Liberal Party under Mark Carney committed approximately $38 billion over 20 years to NORAD modernization (announced June 2022, including Arctic Over-the-Horizon Radar systems and the F-35 fleet replacement of the CF-18), expansion of the Nanisivik Naval Facility on Baffin Island (a Harper-era project still partially incomplete), procurement of the John G. Diefenbaker polar icebreaker under the National Shipbuilding Strategy (delivery now 2030+), Canadian rejection of US claims that the Northwest Passage is international waters rather than Canadian internal waters under the Arctic Waters Pollution Prevention Act (R.S.C. 1985, c. A-12), and Indigenous-led conservation through the Inuit Nunangat Policy.
Source The federal NDP under Jagmeet Singh calls for Indigenous-led Arctic conservation, expansion of the Nunavut Inuit Wildlife Secretariat funding, transition of Northern communities from diesel-generation to renewable energy (currently 28 isolated Northern communities rely on diesel per Natural Resources Canada), legislated end to long-term boil-water advisories on First Nations reserves with binding federal timeline (the Trudeau government missed its 2021 commitment, 28 advisories remained active January 2025), federal funding floor for Nunavut housing (Nunavut faces a 6,000-unit core-housing-need gap per Statistics Canada), and stronger Canadian Coast Guard Arctic presence including the John G. Diefenbaker icebreaker delivery.
Source
Bills affecting this issue
- C-77Federal44-1First reading
An Act respecting the Commissioner for Modern Treaty Implementation
Statutory Commissioner for Modern Treaty Implementation. Many modern treaties cover northern and Arctic territory.
- C-401Federal44-1First reading
An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (northern residents deduction)
Tax relief for northern residents. Most claimants live in territories or designated northern zones.
- S-273Federal44-1Third reading
An Act to declare the Chignecto Isthmus Dykeland System and related works to be for the general advantage of Canada
Federal jurisdiction over the Chignecto Isthmus affects only the maritime corridor, but the precedent applies to other federally significant works.
- C-326Federal44-1First reading
An Act to amend the Territorial Lands Act
Territorial Lands Act updates for the North.