Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre announces plans for a permanent military base in Nunavut, financed by substantial reductions to Canada's foreign aid budget. He emphasizes the need for strengthened Arctic defense in response to growing foreign threats.
A Conservative government led by Pierre Poilievre would establish a permanent military base in Nunavut, funded by substantial cuts to Canada 's foreign aid budget. Poilievre made the announcement in Iqaluit, stating that CFB Iqaluit would serve as a base for the Royal Canadian Air Force in the Arctic and for search and rescue missions. He projected the base would be operational within two years of a Conservative victory in the next election.
Poilievre asserted that the entire cost of the base would be covered by reallocating funds from the foreign aid budget, claiming that this realignment would even contribute to reducing the deficit. He criticized current foreign aid spending, alleging that a significant portion goes to 'dictators, terrorists and global bureaucracies,' emphasizing the need to prioritize domestic concerns and national security.Poilievre's spokesperson, Sebastian Skamski, referred to a January 2024 speech by Poilievre to the Conservative caucus, where he expressed criticism of the government's contributions to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). This criticism stemmed from allegations that some UNRWA employees were involved in the Hamas-led attack on Israel in October 2023. Canada, along with other nations, temporarily suspended funding to UNRWA last year to investigate these claims. While UNRWA cleared 10 employees, it terminated the contracts of nine others due to evidence suggesting their potential involvement in the attack. Canada had provided UNRWA with $39 million in 2023 and resumed its 2024 payments after reviewing an interim report on the allegations. Poilievre did not disclose a specific figure for the proposed cuts to the foreign aid budget, labeling them as 'massive.'Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok welcomed the political attention on the Arctic but stressed the importance of significant input from northerners in shaping decisions about the region. Poilievre assured that local residents and Inuit groups would be consulted during the construction of the new base. Akeeagok emphasized the need for substantial Arctic investments as the region's geopolitical significance grows, ensuring that community needs are met in the process. Poilievre stated that Monday's announcement represents only a part of his broader Arctic strategy, promising to address other critical issues, such as the regional economy, in the future. Canada currently operates several outposts and training centers in the North. Poilievre pledged to double the number of Canadian Rangers to 4,000 and acquire four heavy icebreakers — two for the Canadian Coast Guard and two for the Royal Canadian Navy. He highlighted that the two new icebreakers for the Coast Guard, announced last year and currently in the design phase, would be completed by 2029 if he becomes prime minister. Poilievre's Arctic defense strategy is driven by concerns regarding foreign threats, including the increasing presence of Russian military units and Chinese vessels in the region. He expressed support for current North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) modernization efforts and pledged to continue this work if elected, but stressed that Canada can no longer rely solely on the United States for Arctic protection. 'We cannot rely on the Americans to do it for us anymore. This is the reality, this is the wake-up call,' he stated. Poilievre also vowed to respond to U.S. President Donald Trump's threatened 25% tariffs on aluminum and steel imports with matching retaliatory tariffs on American steel and aluminum. Trump announced the tariffs later Monday, stating they would take effect in March. Poilievre's office clarified that any revenue collected from counter-tariffs must be used to support affected industries, workers, and to reduce taxes, with no funds remaining in government coffers or diverted for other priorities.
ARCTIC DEFENSE FOREIGN AID CANADA CONSERVATIVE PARTY PIERRE POILIEVRE
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