OTTAWA — The Canadian military’s infrastructure in the Arctic is “limited and deteriorating” and will soon reach a “rust-out” stage unless action is taken to stop it from getting worse, according to a new first-of-its-kind evaluation of the armed forces’ operations in the region.
The report from the Department of National Defence raises concerns about a lack of strategic direction for the military in the Arctic that could hamper future planning. It describes shortages of personnel and resources that require the Canadian Armed Forces to rely heavily on contractors for planes and over-the-snow vehicles for its largest annual exercise in the region. It also highlights how aging northern radar stations leave gaps for detecting potential threats that aren’t set to be addressed until new infrastructure is ready in the early 2030s.
