Iqaluit, Nunavut - 26 August 2014
On the final day of this year’s Northern Tour, Prime Minister Stephen Harper participated in Operation NANOOK, an annual Canadian Armed Forces-led sovereignty exercise held in Canada’s North.
This year’s edition, Operation NANOOK 14, is a combined, joint, and interagency operation to provide a visible presence in the North and demonstrate Canada’s ability to respond to safety and security incidents in the region.
Taking place from August 20 to 29, 2014, Operation NANOOK 14 involves more than 800 participants, including personnel from all branches of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), as well as numerous federal, territorial, and regional governments and international partners.
Operation NANOOK 14 is centered on two scenario-driven events in the Baffin Island region of Nunavut. The first involves the deployment of maritime and air forces on a search and rescue response to a distress signal from a fishing vessel in Davis Strait, off the coast of Baffin Island, Nunavut. The second involves the deployment of the CAF and northern partners from other government departments to York Sound, located in Frobisher Bay near the southern tip of Baffin Island, to assist a small cruise ship that grounded after experiencing mechanical difficulties.
Both scenarios will underline the primary focus of the CAF at home: to safeguard the nation, deter threats to our security, and respond to emergencies anywhere in the country. They will also help the CAF develop and maintain strong relationships with other government departments, international partners and local authorities that contribute to safety and security in the North.
The Canadian Rangers, who maintain a presence across Canada’s North, are integrated into every northern operation conducted by the CAF, providing mentorship and expertise about the land and its challenges to southern-based troops.
The CAF’s success in conducting large-scale operations in the North is a testament to their training, professionalism, and outstanding ability to perform in the most harsh and rugged regions of the world. Operation NANOOK 14 serves to enhance the skills of the soldiers, sailors, airmen and airwomen who are dedicated to protecting Canada. Led by Canadian Joint Operations Command, Operation NANOOK 14 supports a key objective of Canada’s Northern Strategy – to protect and defend Canadian sovereignty.
Other government departments participating in Operation NANOOK 14 are:
- Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada;
- Canada Border Services Agency;
- Canadian Coast Guard;
- Environment Canada;
- Government of Nunavut;
- National Search and Rescue Secretariat;
- Public Health Agency of Canada;
- Public Safety Canada;
- Royal Canadian Mounted Police;
- Transport Canada; and,
- Transportation Safety Board of Canada.
International partners participating in the Davis Strait component are:
- Royal Danish Navy – HMDS Triton (ship); and,
- United States Navy – USN P-8 (aircraft).
This operation builds upon previous iterations of Operation NANOOK conducted in Canada’s high Arctic every summer since 2007.
This document is also available in Inuktitut at http://pm.gc.ca
