Good morning everyone,

Thank you for the opportunity to be here with you in Inuvik for the Arctic Development Expo. It’s always good to be back in the Beaufort Delta, and especially meaningful to speak on a subject as important—and as personal to Northerners—as Arctic sovereignty and security.

Premier Simpson sends his regrets that he couldn’t be here in person. He’s currently in Behchokǫ̀ for the Northwest Territories Council of Leaders meetings, but he’s asked me to deliver this keynote on his behalf—and to extend his sincere appreciation to the organizers of this Expo and to all of you who’ve gathered here to help shape the future of the North.

Sovereignty and security are big words. They can feel distant and abstract when spoken from Ottawa or debated in global forums. But here, in the Arctic, these words have immediate meaning. They speak to who we are, how we live, and what kind of future we’re building together.

For us, sovereignty isn’t an academic concept. It’s not a matter of flags on a map or policy declarations from far away. It’s about presence. It’s about people. It’s about the deep and enduring connection between Northern communities and the land, waters, and skies that surround us. It’s the reality that in the Arctic, you don’t just defend sovereignty—you live it.

The Northwest Territories plays a central role in securing Canada’s place in the world. But that role has never been more important than it is right now.

We are living through a time of global volatility. Climate change is altering landscapes and disrupting infrastructure. Arctic waters are becoming more navigable. There is increased interest—some of it cooperative, some of it not—in Northern airspace, shipping routes, and resources. And across the globe, competition for critical minerals and clean energy is intensifying.

At the same time, digital threats—from cyber attacks to foreign interference—are testing our resilience in new ways. We’ve seen this right here in Canada, with targeted disruptions to government systems, infrastructure, and institutions. This is not hypothetical. It’s already happening.

So the question isn’t whether Arctic sovereignty matters. The question is: are we ready? Are we ready to meet this moment—not just with military investment, but with a whole-of-society approach that reflects the complexity and opportunity of the North?

We believe the answer is yes—but only if we work together.

The Government of Canada has clear responsibilities when it comes to national defence. But true sovereignty in the North goes beyond jets and radars. It requires strong communities. It requires reliable infrastructure. And it requires respect—respect for the rights, jurisdictions, and leadership of Indigenous governments, who are central to any serious conversation about the future of this region.

That’s why the Government of the Northwest Territories is committed to working alongside Canada, Indigenous governments, community governments, and regional partners to strengthen sovereignty in a way that serves the people who live here. That means ensuring that every federal investment in Arctic security also supports housing, health care, energy security, and economic opportunity.

We’ve seen some encouraging progress.

Canada’s updated defence policy—Our North, Strong and Free—acknowledges the strategic role of the Arctic and promises new investments in infrastructure, capabilities, and continental defence. That’s a good start. But Premier Simpson has been clear: these investments must reflect Northern priorities. They must be designed with communities, not imposed upon them.

The announcement that Yellowknife and Inuvik will serve as Northern Operational Support Hubs is an important recognition of the NWT’s role in continental defence. These hubs can create local jobs, bring new infrastructure, and support a long-term federal presence in the region. But they will only succeed if they’re built through partnership with Indigenous and community governments—and if they’re supported by investments in core municipal services, housing, energy, and transportation.

That brings me to one of the most important themes of today’s Expo: dual-use infrastructure.

Premier Simpson has been very clear about this too: infrastructure that supports both security and community needs is the smartest investment we can make—not just for the NWT, but for Canada as a whole. When a road can connect communities and deliver military logistics—when a hydro line can power clean energy and radar stations—when a runway can support sovereignty patrols and medevac services—that’s what real strategic planning looks like.

That’s why we’ve identified a small number of high-impact projects that can deliver both immediate benefits and long-term national value.

First is the Mackenzie Valley Highway. I don’t need to tell this audience what that road means. It’s more than a transportation route—it’s a promise. A promise of year-round access, of supply chain reliability, of health and food security, of community safety in the face of wildfires and permafrost collapse. But it’s also a strategic defence asset. It could, for the first time, connect our two military hubs—Yellowknife and Inuvik—by all-season road, enabling more responsive movement of personnel, equipment, and supplies. It could serve as a northern logistics artery in a time when redundancy and reach are key to continental defence.

Second is the Taltson Hydro Expansion. This clean energy project would provide reliable, renewable electricity to more than 70% of our territory’s population. It would reduce diesel reliance, lower emissions, and unlock sustainable development. But Taltson is also a sovereignty asset. It could power radar installations, research facilities, and mining operations essential to national security. It supports energy independence and long-term climate resilience in a region on the frontlines of global warming.

Third is the Arctic Security Corridor—a coordinated plan to connect roads, energy infrastructure, mineral zones, and northern ports into a strategic network that supports both sovereignty and sustainable development. This corridor would enable secure movement, support resource development, empower Indigenous leadership, and allow for rapid response when it matters most. It’s designed not only to unlock economic potential—but to enhance Canada’s security posture, ensure Arctic accessibility, and reinforce sovereignty where it matters most: on the ground.

These are not just territorial projects. They are national in scope. They advance Canada’s climate strategy, clean electricity goals, critical minerals strategy, and Arctic defence policy all at once. And they are rooted in Indigenous partnership and territorial leadership—because that’s how sovereignty succeeds in the modern North.

Speaking of critical minerals—we have to talk about what’s under our feet.

The Northwest Territories is home to 25 of Canada’s 34 critical minerals. These are the building blocks of the global clean economy—materials used in batteries, solar panels, wind turbines, semiconductors, defence systems, and electric vehicles.

The world is in a race to secure these supply chains. And Canada can’t compete if it leaves the North behind.

Right now, our projects face unique barriers: lack of roads and power, smaller labour pools, complex permitting systems, and limited access to capital. That’s why we’re pushing for measures like the North of 60 Mineral Exploration Tax Credit—a shovel-ready, low-cost federal tool to level the playing field and drive private investment into the Territories.

Critical minerals are not just an economic opportunity—they’re a sovereignty strategy. And if we get this right, the North can lead the way not only in responsible resource development, but in reshaping global expectations for what inclusive, sustainable, Indigenous-partnered development can look like.

There are other areas where we can—and must—do more.

We need continued support for the Canadian Rangers and Junior Rangers, who serve as the eyes and ears of the North. We need investment in cybersecurity, to help governments and communities defend against growing threats. And we need long-term commitment to research infrastructure like the Western Arctic Research Centre, which provides not only scientific leadership, but year-round, Northern-led collaboration with allied researchers and strategic partners.

Finally, we must continue to uphold and advance the leadership of Indigenous governments. In the Northwest Territories, modern treaties and self-government agreements are not side notes—they are foundational to sovereignty. Indigenous governments must have a seat at every table where Northern lands, waters, and communities are discussed. The GNWT is proud to work in partnership with Indigenous leaders—and we know that the path to Arctic security runs directly through reconciliation, not around it.

To close, I want to say this:

The Arctic is not a frontier to be protected from the outside. It is a homeland to be supported from within.

The people of the North are not passive observers in Canada’s sovereignty—we are its defenders, its builders, and its best bet for long-term success.

We have the knowledge, the natural resources, the partnerships, and the strategic position. What we need now is the commitment. Commitment to work with us. Commitment to invest with us. And commitment to see sovereignty not just as a military exercise—but as a living, breathing expression of partnership, resilience, and shared opportunity.

Thank you.