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Northern Operational Support Hubs (NOSH)

The Northern Operational Support Hubs (NOSH) Program is a long-term investment to strengthen Canada’s military presence in the North and Arctic. The program will build a network of support sites to help the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) respond faster, stay longer, and operate more effectively in the Canadian Arctic. These hubs will improve access, reduce logistical challenges, and support year-round operations. The NOSH Program will help protect Canadian sovereignty by enhancing the CAF’s presence across the Canadian Arctic and North.

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Vision

The Government of Canada is investing $2.67 billion in a network of Northern Operational Support Hubs (NOSH) between 2024 and 2044. The NOSH Program was announced as part of Canada’s defence policy, Our North, Strong and Free: A Renewed Vision for Canada’s Defence.

The program aims to:

NOSH is establishing scalable capabilities that can be activated quickly. These capabilities will provide cost-efficient, multi-modal support across land, air, maritime, cyber, and space domains.

The NOSH Program is part of a comprehensive whole-of-government national defence framework. This framework provides integrated support across the Arctic and northern regions of Canada, including:

Hubs and nodes

NOSH will establish a network of facilities including:

NOSH are principal operational support locations that provide a broad range of all-domain support facilities and services tailored to the safety, security and defence threats prevalent at or operationally proximal to each site. These hubs act as a reception, staging and onward movement location for a joint task force, as well as being a deployed operating base to support the command and control of operations in those regions. They include sufficient materiel storage capacity, including storage for ammunition, small arms and cryptographic assets, and medical and maintenance facilities.

NOSN are secondary support facilities that function as forward operating bases. These nodes will enable CAF to project and sustain forces into more remote Arctic areas. NOSN provides much of the same support as hubs, but on a smaller scale. They will be equipped to accept and stage CAF operational and tactical aircraft.

Sites will be connected by one or more transportation corridors across the Canadian Arctic and North. This hub-and-spoke model will increase the CAF’s presence and responsiveness in a region that encompasses approximately 40 percent of Canada’s landmass.

This network of facilities will:

NOSH and NOSN facilities are intended to support a variety of operations and activities by DND, CAF, and other federal government departments and agencies. Where feasible, the facilities may also be used to support Indigenous, territorial, provincial, and municipal governments in their ongoing activities.

Site locations

Confirmed NOSH locations include:

Confirmed NOSN locations include:

Arctic and northern investment

NOSH and NOSN facilities will support CAF operational requirements and meet the needs of federal partners; territorial, provincial and municipal governments; Indigenous partners and northern communities, wherever possible.

NOSH and NOSN sites will provide long-term benefits to northern communities in the form of roads, runways, seaports, and medical and power generation facilities that will benefit both the CAF and northern communities.

Looking ahead

The NOSH Program will seek additional dual-use initiatives and capabilities that will support increased military presence in the Canadian Arctic and North over the coming decades.

Future investments will support all areas of defence with a growing focus on space and cyber capabilities.

Engagement and consultation

The NOSH Program is committed to building strong, meaningful relationships with stakeholders, partners, and with Indigenous rightsholders and organizations in the Canadian Arctic and North.

These relationships help strengthen collaboration, advance shared objectives and foster long-term engagement and success.

Working with Indigenous Peoples

The NOSH Program is committed to meaningful, distinctions-based engagement and consultation and collaboration with Indigenous governments and organizations in the Canadian Arctic and North. This is a foundational pillar of how the program is developed and delivered. The approach is grounded in reconciliation and guided by respect for Indigenous rights, governance systems, and cultural values, ensuring relationships are built on trust, transparency and reciprocity.

Key Commitments:

  1. Respect for Rights and Obligations
    • Uphold and align work with key federal and legal frameworks, including:
      • The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (UNDA)
      • Canada’s legal Duty to Consult
      • The Arctic and Northern Policy Framework (ANPF)
      • The Inuit Nunangat Policy (INP)
    • Fulfilling obligations under modern treaties, land claims agreements and self-government agreements.
  2. Distinctions-based approach
    Recognize and respect the unique rights, priorities and governance structures of First Nations, Inuit and Métis partners, ensuring engagement approaches reflect these distinctions
  3. Transparency and accountability
    Provide clear, timely communication, including regular updates, reporting and opportunities for dialogue with Indigenous partners
  4. Adaptive and responsive approach
    Continuously refine strategies based on feedback, evolving priorities and lessons learned
  5. Knowledge sharing and capacity building
    Promote collaborative knowledge exchange and opportunities that strengthen Indigenous participation, leadership and long-term, mutually beneficial outcomes
  6. Economic opportunities and community benefits
    Ensure investments create lasting economic and social outcomes for Indigenous communities, including:
    • employment and training opportunities during construction and operations
    • procurement strategies that include and support Indigenous-owned businesses
    • infrastructure improvements that support local and regional economic development (e.g., airports, seaports, energy systems)

Working with other partners and stakeholders

The NOSH Program also collaborates with a broad network of partners to advance shared objectives and foster long-term success, including:

Fostering multi-level partnerships contributes to a whole-of-government approach, strengthens regional security, improves operational resilience and maintains collaboration in the region.

Engagement principles:

  1. Inclusivity and collaboration
    Support a whole-of-government approach through multi-stakeholder engagement.
  2. Transparency and strategic coordination
    Maintain trust through clear communication and reporting.
  3. Adaptive Engagement
    Respond to emerging priorities, infrastructure development, and geopolitical changes.
  4. Knowledge sharing
    Facilitate collaboration to strengthen regional security and operational resilience.

Measuring progress

The NOSH Program tracks progress, monitors effectiveness, and makes data-driven adjustments to improve its engagement efforts. This confirms that engagement efforts support program development and maintain a commitment to fostering inclusive, respectful and meaningful relationships with Indigenous governments and organizations, as well as with stakeholders and other partners.

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2026-03-13