T
he safety, security, and de-
fence chapter of Canada's
2019 "Arctic and Northern
Policy Framework" (ANPF)
lays out the Government of
Canada's objectives to ensure a safe, se-
cure, and well-defended Arctic and North
through to 2030. "While Canada sees no
immediate threat in the Arctic and the
North, as the region's physical environ-
ment changes, the circumpolar North
is becoming an area of strategic interna-
tional importance, with both Arctic and
non-Arctic states expressing a variety of
economic and military interests in the re-
gion," the policy framework emphasizes.
18 APRIL/MAY 2021 www.vanguardcanada.com
NORAD
BY P. WHITNEY LACKENBAUER, TROY BOUFFARD, AND NANCY TEEPLE
NORTH AMERICAN
DEFENCE
THE ARCTIC AND
"As the Arctic becomes more accessible,
these states are poised to conduct re-
search, transit through, and engage in
more trade in the region. Given the grow-
ing international interest and competition
in the Arctic, continued security and de-
fence of Canada's Arctic requires effective
safety and security frameworks, national
defence, and deterrence."
The ANPF's dedicated chapter on safety,
security, and defence – like Canada's 2017
defence policy Strong, Secure, Engaged –
emphasizes that "Canada sees no immedi-
ate threat in the Arctic and the North."
It suggests that "growing international
interest and competition in the Arctic
… requires effective safety and security
frameworks, national defence, and deter-
rence." The logic flow, like most Cana-
dian official products associated with the
Arctic, compresses climate change, greater
foreign access and activity to and in the re-
gion, human and environmental security
risks to Arctic peoples and communities,
technological change producing new stra-
tegic military delivery systems, and great
power competition into a single narrative.
Accordingly, ANPF objectives refer to the
need "to strengthen Canada's coopera-
tion and collaboration with domestic and
international partners on safety, security
and defence issues," "enhance Canada's
