Highlights of Canada's Arctic and Northern Policy Framework
Canada's Arctic and Northern Policy Framework
An infographic showing framework partners, goals, key milestones and next phase. (PDF, 3 Mb, 1 page)
A shared vision of the future where Arctic and northern people are thriving, strong and safe.
Who are we partnering with?
The new policy framework takes into account both the "Arctic" and "northern" character of the region and those who live there, including the entirety of Inuit Nunangat, the Inuit homeland in Canada.
This whole-of-government, co-development process has been supported by:
- 3 territorial governments
- Over 25 Indigenous organizations representing, Inuit, First Nations and Métis
- 3 provincial governments (Manitoba, Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador)
The framework builds on 8 overarching and interconnected goals:
- Strong, sustainable, diversified and inclusive local and regional economies
- Canadian Arctic and northern Indigenous peoples are resilient and healthy
- The Canadian Arctic and North and its people are safe, secure and well-defended
- Strengthened infrastructure that closes gaps with other regions of Canada
- The rules-based international order in the Arctic responds effectively to new challenges and opportunities
- Knowledge and understanding guides decision-making
- Canadian Arctic and northern ecosystems are healthy and resilient
- Reconciliation supports self-determination and nurtures mutually-respectful relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples
Key milestones in the co-development of the framework
- December 2016: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau commits to co-developing a new Arctic Policy Framework, with northerners and Indigenous, territorial and provincial partners.
- March 2017 to October 2017: Roundtable engagements held with Arctic and Northern residents, youth and key experts and stakeholders, including industry, academics and non-governmental organizations
- November 2017: Discussion guide released to facilitate public engagement on the framework
- Spring 2018 to Spring 2019: Drafting and validation of framework with partners. Validation engagements, led by Parliamentary Secretary Yvonne Jones, took place in Arctic and northern communities.
- March 2019: The 2019 federal budget includes over $700 million in new and dedicated funding to support the framework
- September 2019: Launch of Canada's Arctic and Northern Policy Framework
Moving from co-development to co-implementation
In the second phase, the Government of Canada and partners will develop:
- Governance mechanisms describing how partners will collaborate to share information and assess progress on the framework
- An Implementation Plan outlining how new investments and other economic and regulatory levers will contribute to the implementation of the framework.