Yellowknife councillors have agreed to work together with Inuvik on promoting military investment in the North.
Earlier this year, the federal government designated both Yellowknife and Inuvik as northern operational support hubs as part of a defence plan to assert Canada’s sovereignty in the Arctic and increase military presence in the region.
The Canadian government has committed to create “dual use” infrastructure where possible, meaning roads, airstrips, facilities and equipment that can benefit both the military and local communities.
Federal officials have said decisions will be made in consultation with territorial, municipal and Indigenous governments.
Yellowknife councillors unanimously voted on Monday evening in favour of a memorandum of understanding between the city and the Town of Inuvik regarding Arctic security and investments in northern municipalities by the Canadian Armed Forces, North American Aerospace Defense Command, and the Department of National Defence.
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Councillor Garett Cochrane thanked Mayor Ben Hendriksen and city staff for developing a relationship with Inuvik in “dealing with the federal government to get more military funding.”
