Minister Blair to visit Iqaluit to highlight Our North, Strong and Free

May 3, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario – Department of National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

The Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, will visit Iqaluit, Nunavut on May 5-6, 2024 to discuss Our North, Strong and Free: A Renewed Vision for Canada’s Defence. Minister Blair will be joined by Yvonne Jones, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence (Northern Defence).

On May 5, in advance of the Northern Premiers Forum, Minister Blair, Ms. Jones and senior officials from the Department of National Defence, Canadian Armed Forces, and Communications Security Establishment will provide a briefing to territorial Premiers about the changing security environment in the Arctic and North – and how the investments in Our North, Strong and Free will enable the Canadian Armed Forces to protect the Arctic and North.

On May 5, Minister Blair and Ms. Jones will also meet with the Honourable P.J. Akeeagok, Premier of Nunavut; the Honourable Ranj Pillai, Premier of Yukon; and the Honourable R.J. Simpson, Premier of the Northwest Territories.

On May 6, Minister Blair, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, Northern Affairs Minister Dan Vandal, and Ms. Jones will hold a roundtable discussion with journalists to discuss Our North, Strong and Free: A Renewed Vision for Canada’s Defence.

Event:  Roundtable with media on Our North, Strong and Free: A Renewed Vision for Canada’s Defence.

Details:  Monday May 6, 2024, 9:15 a.m.

Location:  Government of Canada Ministers’ Regional Office – Iqaluit

                    Qamutiq Centre, Fourth Floor

                     630 Queen Elizabeth II Way

                     Iqaluit, Nunavut X0A 0H0

Note to Media:

Media wishing to attend the media roundtable are asked to register with Diana.Ebadi@forces.gc.ca.