Trump’s Greenland threats show Canada’s need for Arctic port, proponent says
$350-million Qikiqtarjuaq port is shovel-ready; backers say it will be completed by 2028
The planned Qikiqtarjuaq port could become a military support hub due to its “strategic location,” its proponent says. (File photo by Arty Sarkisian)
U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats against Greenland make Arctic “nation-building” a more pressing need for Canada, says a proponent for the Qikiqtarjuaq deepsea port.
“We see the value in enhancing Canada’s Arctic sovereignty and security given the current geopolitics,” said Jeff Maurice, vice-president of partnerships at Arctic Economic Development Corp. in a phone interview Monday.
In recent weeks, Trump has cited national security needs as he ramped up his threats to acquire or annex Greenland, a self-governing territory of Denmark with a mostly Inuit population of approximately 56,000 people.
In response, several countries that oppose Trump’s plan and which are members of the NATO military and political alliance — which the U.S. also belongs to — have sent troops to Greenland for a military exercise. Canada is reportedly considering sending a small number of troops as well.
Because of the uncertainty caused by Trump’s threats, Canada needs to understand the “important strategic value” of the proposed Qikiqtarjuaq port, which sits at the entrance to the Northwest Passage and across from Greenland’s shore, Maurice said.
The planned port is “shovel-ready” with construction expected to start in the first week of June with the arrival of a sealift ship and icebreaker carrying heavy construction equipment, he said.
The $350-million port will include a 75-metre wharf, a crane for offloading cargo, security and operations offices, and a 275-metre-long access road. It will be located along the western shoreline of Broughton Island about one kilometre south of Qikiqtarjuaq.
It is set to be built and ready for operation by 2028 — earlier than a previously announced opening date of 2030 — making Qikiqtarjauq one of Baffin Island’s main fishing hubs.
With an increased focus on Arctic security and sovereignty, the port has potential to become a northern “support hub” for the Canadian navy, said Maurice.
“I think it offers an immense opportunity for Canada and the Department of National Defence and Canadian Coast Guard, as potential future anchor tenants for the port,” Maurice said.
He said port proponents are in “conversation” about the navy’s needs in the region.
The Arctic Economic Development Corp. and Qikiqtaaluk Corp., the business arm of Qikiqtani Inuit Association, inherited the project from the Government of Nunavut in September 2025.
So far, $53.4 million of the $350-million price tag has been secured — $13.3 million from the Nunavut government and $40.1 million from the federal government.
The project has applied for a $150 million investment from the federal $1-billion Arctic Infrastructure Fund. The rest could come together from a Canada Infrastructure Bank loan and private investments, Maurice said.
Qikiqtarjuaq has advocated for the long-promised port for decades due to its potential to bring new jobs to the community.
It has recently made the list of “nation-building” projects compiled by Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. and the Nunavut government, along with the Iqaluit hydroelectric project, Kivalliq hydro-fibre link and Grays Bay road and port.
“We’re very excited about,” Maurice said. “This is going to have huge economic, spin-offs for the community.”
Grays bay is not strategically in place for any ports airports and certainly not a road to nowhere. Our people in Kugluktuk do not want a road anywhere in the middle of nowhere BUT into Kugluktuk nstead. This road is a pipe dream of the kitikmeot inuit association and not the people. This road is being made using inuit impact benefit agreement money that should have been paid out to its beneficiaries. Put bases on the arcitic island like Banks island and upwards to the north not in the middle of northern Canada where it is locked in for 8 months of the year. Go west no ice over there , should we be pushed into war with others the boundaries within Canada should have bases strategically place all along its border and not inside of nunavut territory wrong place to be during an invasion
The AESC to Grays Bay and deep water port in addition to providing security to protect Canada’s sovereignty with road access to southern Canada, will also support commercial vessels outloading bulk minerals from the Slave Geological Province. There is nothing stopping Kuglutuk from participating to connect with this road would be my thoughts, a road just connecting Kuglutuk, will only serve Kuglutuk.
If the road even spurs to Kugluktuk then it will be on the map. A road here would just be a road to Kugluktuk is no joke ,on the otherhand this statement reflects ignorance for the people of Kugluktuk because we will prosper greatly if it get to Kugluktuk and this town can catch up on canadian living standerds you take for granted ,Furthermore Kugluktumeot are more resilient than any southern counterparts in this land of ours ,with that said why would you say it, just a road ? To Kugluktuk ? your enthused by the news it may happen ,your words come out like the whitehouse correspondant Caroline Leave it alone spokesperson for trump. Sorry it just wont be for kugluktuk because we also have mega uranium close by and the rare earth mineral deposits that are World class . We all know the ships will be loaded to brim with all exploited from Nunavut lands the precious metals and minerals that will more benefit the south than our own territory. What about the ecological effecacies that will happen once blasting begins and the surrounding environement surrounded by prestine lakes and calving grounds .this project does not think of inuit but profit for foriegn entities. Good a few jobs maybe had but untul when the exploited lands are depleted what next ? Wish the road be nowhere near any comminity in the territory is the ideal because this is designed only for mining and shipping minerals out of territory. It may help but how many more times materials have to be handeled before reaching any community how is it going to bring cost of living down
Theres 600 people in qik and they can barely fill positions in town what makes anyone think they’ll be able to operate a massive port? Hopefully they’ve thought this out because they’ll need round the clock staff dring summer and fall to keep things running and it doesnt turn into a nanisivik 2.0. At least theres the dewline nearby they can use the workers from there i guess?
It will operate the same way everything else operates in Nunavut – Local employment will be maximized when and where possible and the rest will be folks who come to Nunavut to work.
We lived in that community for 9 years.
What I learned in those years shows me that that community can successfully undertake management of a project of this size
What a waste of good amount of funds ,
Yes the community of Qik will have e learn learn 20 to40 years how to operate port fish plant massive fuel tanks cargo shipping massive fish that sat too long spoiled ,
Not a wise choice just playing with a dream ….
Keep a eye on you
Do you even know where Qik is? Hint: It’s not at the end of a 100 km bay with an 11 m tide differential.
Nobody cares button.
Greenland is not out issure. Our own government is giving away billions to Ukraine and doing deals with the Communist China and making “new work order” claims. Stop virtue signaling. We get it. You’re compationate. Now be patriotic. Protect your own country from within. No more illegal immigration. Nk more sending tax dollars elsewhere. No more deals with communist countries and no more World Economic Forum. Also, get rid of Marky Mark and his tax dodging companies.
Is Arty S. advocating a military operation by NATO against the USA?
In the World economic forum a couple days ago Donald Trump had his ego by the world or saying that Trump was a weakness masqueradung as strength for his own mind. Deviation is normal but Trump is not. The world has spoken wonder what further expoitation he has in mind ! He wull need Nunavut too matbe he pay inuit IBAs which are due frim our designated inuit organizations by our federallies to take care of us in the arctic for Canada what a mess ….
Do not let american ice in, they will freeze and get lost and then polar bears gonna have to deal with them. They are invisible to u.s. ice agents.be also aware for our white fox agents they are spread arctic wide.