Americas News
Report: Canada Should Invest in Arctic Infrastructure
A new think tank report calls for the Canadian government to help build new infrastructure, including refuelling facilities, in Arctic areas that could benefit from melting ice.
The report, by the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI), says basic maritime transport infrastructure is needed in the far north territory of Nunavut, which, it says, "has a long way to go to fully participate and take advantage of its natural geographic and human strengths in the New Arctic."
Among the area's needs are a network of Arctic ports and refuelling facilities, infrastructure support for mining, oil, and gas facilities, and rules and regulations for cruise tourism and other industries.
"Federal infrastructure investment in Nunavut is a continuing obligation, and should be seen as nation building like we have done for centuries in Southern Canada," said CIGI Senior Fellow John Higginbotham.
The melting of Arctic ice is encouraging increasing economic activity, including on the Northern Sea Route (NRS), where the number of voyages is rising sharply.
