Policy

A Pubinar hosted by NAADSN Emerging Leaders’ Node and the NATO Association of Canada on Nov 10 2026 in Ottawa will examine Arctic geopolitics and Canadian Arctic security, focusing on military infrastructure gaps and defense spending.

Eight Russian vessels, including five LNG carriers and three ice‑class ships used for Arctic LNG export, were targeted by UK sanctions as part of a 31‑measure package aimed at curbing Russia's shadow fleet and sustaining gas exports under Western restrictions.

Seven large Alaska copper projects totaling nearly 94 billion pounds face varied development barriers, including the proposed Ambler Road for Arctic and Bornite, regulatory challenges at Pebble, and ongoing drilling at Sun, Alaska Range, and Whistler.

NPCA and partners have filed an appeal in Alaska Superior Court to overturn the state’s approval of an easement for the Ambler industrial road, arguing the decision violates the Alaska Constitution and would damage the Gates of the Arctic Preserve and caribou migration, with broad opposition from Alaska Native communities.

Finland celebrated the delivery of its first two F‑35 fifth‑generation jets at Rovaniemi Air Base, a step that bolsters Arctic air‑defence capacity ahead of full operational capability by 2030.

Dene leaders at the National Assembly urged the NWT government to step out of housing provision, and called for the Dene Nation to take over medical travel, including executive support for elders and cancer patients, along with direct funding to Indigenous governments.

Typhoon Halong’s remnants struck western Alaska on Oct 12 2025, producing up to two metres of flooding in Kipnuk and displacing over 1,600 residents, underscoring how rising sea levels, retreating sea ice, and thawing permafrost are amplifying storm surge threats in the Yukon‑Kuskokwim Delta.

Premier RJ Simpson signed a memorandum of understanding on nuclear energy with Alberta and Saskatchewan, though the NWT has no immediate plans to invest, while Indigenous groups have voiced concerns over consultation and environmental impacts.

The United Kingdom has sanctioned five Russian LNG carriers, including three new ice‑class Arc7 vessels, to curb the expansion of Russia’s Arctic LNG shipping capacity.

The Government of Greenland rejected Greenland Minerals' 2026 application to renew the Kvanefjeld exploration licence, underscoring regulatory and infrastructure constraints that could limit the region’s rare‑earth supply to Western markets.

The U.S. Senate blocked S. 5438, a bill that would have opened oil and gas leasing in the Arctic Refuge and National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska with reduced oversight.

The Alaska Department of Natural Resources announced it will surrender up to 5.7 million acres of Statehood Act land claims to stay within the 125 percent federal limit as the state approaches its 105‑million‑acre goal.

The Northwest Territories government has pushed back the rollout of Indigenous language service standards, initially slated for spring, citing new considerations on delivery models, interpreter capacity, and implementation support.

Prime Minister Mark Carney announced $1.2 billion in federal funding for ocean protection, including measures to reduce underwater noise, expand Coast Guard monitoring, and support Arctic marine life conservation.

The Government of the Northwest Territories is studying an arm‑length agency—akin to a Crown corporation—to deliver its 800‑km Mackenzie Valley Highway, with construction hoped to begin in 2028.

Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Lisa Murkowski urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to keep the Arctic Indigenous Exchange Program and TechWomen program unchanged, arguing that altering or cutting these initiatives would harm diplomatic, economic, and gender equity goals in the Arctic.

Garry Bailey is re‑elected president of the NWT Metis Nation for a sixth term, adding four years to his 14‑year tenure.

The article argues that permafrost thaw poses severe risks to Arctic infrastructure, carbon dynamics, and mercury contamination, and proposes a focused Arctic Council initiative to address these challenges during Denmark’s chairship.

Sen. Dan Sullivan declined to push the Trump administration to restore the Arctic Report Card, even after a constituent urged him to act, citing a lack of substantive plans and limited engagement with NOAA on the issue.