Arctic defence might be part of Carney-Trump trade talks
U.S. and Canada should reach a trade deal in 30 days: report
Prime Minister Mark Carney announces investments in Arctic defence during a stop in Iqaluit earlier this year. (File photo by Jeff Pelletier)
Arctic security might be a cornerstone of negotiations between Canada and the U.S. as Prime Minister Mark Carney and President Donald Trump put a 30-day deadline on reaching a deal for a new “economic and security relationship” between the two countries.
“I’m looking forward to continuing this work at this summit and in the weeks ahead,” Carney said on social media about the negotiations, which occurred Monday during the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Alta., before Trump’s early exit to deal with a war between Iran and Israel.
As part of the negotiations, Canada might commit to building more Arctic security infrastructure and beefing up its overall defence spending, CBC News has reported.
It’s “natural” that Arctic defence is part of those conversations, said retired Col. Pierre Leblanc, a commander of the Canadian Forces Northern Area from 1995 to 2000.
For the U.S., an increased military presence in the Arctic would make a bigger and more effective Golden Dome over North America — a Trump-proposed missile defence system that Canada is in talks to join, Leblanc said.
“Trump is doing us a service by squeezing us to do more on defence,” Leblanc said, noting that for years different U.S. administrations have been “irritated” by the lack of defence spending in Canada.
In the past few years, the federal government made several commitments to national and specifically Arctic security. Arctic operational support hubs were key pillars of the government’s $81.1-billion defence policy that was introduced in April 2024.
Then-defence minister Bill Blair announced on March 6 that those hubs will be built in Iqaluit, Inuvik and Yellowknife at a total cost of $2.67 billion over 20 years.
But Leblanc said these projects won’t compensate for years of federal underspending in defence.
“There are no ifs and buts. Right now, it is time to increase our defence,” he said.
Relations between the U.S. and Canada have deteriorated since Trump was elected in November. The president has mused several times about Canada becoming the 51st state and imposed several packages of tariffs on Canadian goods, including 25 per cent on Canadian automobiles, steel and aluminum; and 10 per cent on energy and potash.
Canada responded with its own retaliatory tariffs, including 25 per cent on $30 billion worth of American imports and another 25 per cent on steel and aluminum.
When asked last Thursday, Premier P.J. Akeeagok declined to comment on the talks between Trump and Carney as he “was not a part” of those conversations.
MP quiet as usual.
And doing good things… The other day, Nunavut MP, Idlout voted Yes to support the conservative motion to get taxpayers’ money back from $64 million, paid to GCStrategies over the ArriveCAN app. All Liberals vote no and lost… surprise, surprise. Second loss for the Liberals after losing the demand to produce spring budget.
And over in the Senate, 3 Senators to date, and more expected to cross over to the conservative in coming weeks, months.
How is being against advanced customs and immigration declaration for travellers either significant or ‘good’? lol
Being the member of a non-recognized party she has no voice in Parliament, nor much chance of being on Committees. Her position is worse than a backbencher.
“Trump is doing us a service by squeezing us to do more on defence,” Leblanc said, noting that for years different U.S. administrations have been “irritated” by the lack of defence spending in Canada. Noting the new fencing being installed around Iqaluit FOL.
Canada does not possess any nuclear ballistic missiles. There is no reason for any country to undertake a pre-emptive or retaliatory strike against us.
The United States, Russia, China, France, India, the United Kingdom, Israel, and North Korea are the only countries known to have operational ICBMs.
The golden dome proposed by the US would protect it from countries like Russia, China and North Korea where there is a non-zero chance of a nuclear exchange between these adversaries.
Extending the golden dome into Canada would serve the purpose of a stand off interception of inbound missiles aimed at the US.
I do not believe it is a realistic scenario where Russia, China or North Korea would target Canada.
The US can complain all they want about us not spending money on defense. The only country that we actually need to protect ourselves against is them.
If we agree to extending the golden dome into Canada, we are not helping ourselves. We are doing them a favor.
Here are 2 books that might shed light when captured is allowed to happen. Wilful Blindness, 2024, and available next month, Canada Under Siege: How PEI Became a Forward Operating Base for the…
And on another side note about being captured without a shot fired. When Canadian citizens can’t buy a gas powered or diesel powered car or truck because of the coming gas/diesel car truck ban? Everything must be electric.
Arctic defence will happen in a few places, but required car/truck charging stations and lots and lots of electricity will be required all across Nunavut. Where will it come from and who paying? Although who will be able to afford an electric car and then afford to charge it in Nunavut?
Canadian Tax payer crunched the numbers and predict just for all Canadian private gas and diesel car/truck owners. 14 New CANDU reactors, at $13 billion each, will be needed to supply the electricity needs just to charge the cars.
But if the real goal is to restrict travel. Then it’s assumed snow machines, as promoted by the Governor General’s husband while in Iqaluit, will be electric along with ATV and outboards.
If road travel becomes restricted, then the forecasted air travel restrictions of one short flight every 3 years will soon be here (C40 documents).
So what is the goal for the arctic to become… Unpopulated, No-go zones for cough-cough, under the climate change banner to move the people out?