Polar Knowledge Canada's 2025-26 Departmental Plan

In 2025-26, Polar Knowledge Canada will continue to engage in valuable research projects and partnerships that further its goals in key areas of Arctic science including cold climate technologies, climate change and ecosystems, and One Health - an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals and ecosystems. Through internal capacity as well as through its transfer payment programs, the agency will work collaboratively with Northern communities and other partners to share and apply the research it supports. Additionally, research collaborations will continue with academic, government, and community partners to strengthen networks and share results.

To ensure that polar research is available to the Canadian public and its partners, Polar Knowledge Canada will develop digital storytelling knowledge products in 2025-26, including podcasts, informative videos, and scientific research articles, which will be made available through Polar Knowledge Canada’s online periodical, Aqhaliat. These knowledge products will integrate scientific research with Indigenous and local knowledge on a range of diverse topics to generate a broader pan-Canadian audience and enhance public engagement with polar research.

Polar Knowledge Canada’s continues to pilot its Elders in Residence Program which plays a vital role in the transfer of Indigenous and local knowledge across generations. This program strengthens the connection between youth and Elders, offering invaluable cultural insights and learning opportunities. Activities such as traditional tool and Qamutik-making workshops and hands-on experiences with country food will enrich the learning of participants and ensure Indigenous and local knowledge is preserved, shared, and seamlessly integrated with scientific research.

Throughout 2025-26, the agency will continue fostering the integration of Indigenous and local knowledge into its research by continuing to engage Inuit Field staff in assisting researchers. This work includes expanding opportunities for graduates from the Nunavut Arctic College Environmental Technician Program and field experts under the Ekaluktutiak Hunters & Trappers Organization contract.

Polar Knowledge Canada remains committed to implementing its Inuit Employment Plan to attract and retain Inuit employees at its Cambridge Bay headquarters, across the Territory, and within the agency. The agency’s renewed Inuit Employment Plan focuses on reducing employment barriers for Inuit and fostering the growth and development of both new and existing Inuit employees, with guidance from its Inuit Advisory Council.

Polar Knowledge Canada will strengthen its engagements with Northern and other collaborators by mobilizing knowledge through impactful products and initiatives. The Polar Knowledge Canada Speaker Series will remain a vital collaboration platform, bringing together domestic and international researchers to disseminate knowledge within the community of Cambridge Bay at the Canadian High Arctic Research Station. Starting 2025-26, the series will also be recorded and broadcast online to expand its reach. It will highlight current research, encourage dialogue on both polar science and technology and Indigenous and local knowledge, and their implications for Northern and Arctic communities.

To enhance inclusivity, Knowledge Sharing events are being planned that will bring together diverse participants including Elders, Indigenous Knowledge holders, researchers, scientists, policy analysts, decision-makers, Northerners, and youth. These think-tank sessions will address critical issues like climate change and Arctic security, while fostering the exchange of research findings from federal, territorial, and academic researchers. Through these initiatives, Polar Knowledge Canada aims to drive domestic knowledge exchange, collaboration with Northern communities, and build strong partnerships in polar science.

Leveraging the world-class facility of Canadian High Arctic Research Station, Polar Knowledge Canada will provide a leadership role, convening stakeholder and communities, and supporting Arctic science and technology research. In 2025-26, the agency will continue implementing its 2020-2025 Science and Technology Framework, and prepare for the renewed 2025-2030 Science and Technology Framework. Research in 2025-26 will focus on cold climate technologies, climate change and ecosystems, and One Health. Collaborative research partnerships will play a key role, with highlights including:

• researching climate change impacts on wildlife populations, the vulnerability of Northern and Arctic plant species, and the establishment of baseline data on marine biodiversity and distribution with the Canadian Museum of Nature
• advancing renewable energy innovations, including solid waste management in partnership with the Government of Nunavut’s Climate Change Secretariat
• creating test houses and testing energy efficient technologies in a Northern and high latitude environment with CanmetENERGY

With the 5^th International Polar Year in 2032-33 drawing closer, Polar Knowledge Canada will continue supporting Canada’s national contributions by acting as a convenor for researchers, partners, and Indigenous Knowledge holders to optimize collaboration. In 2025-26, the agency will focus on the preparatory planning phase and the establishment of a national point of contact for early International Polar Year planning in Canada.

To strengthen domestic and international partnerships and foster knowledge exchange, the Canadian High Arctic Research Station will continue to host meaningful engagement between staff and researchers. New service delivery standards will be established to enhance collaboration and encourage greater use of the Canadian High Arctic Research Station facilities.

Supporting the next generation of polar researchers continues to be a priority for the agency. In 2025-26, Polar Knowledge Canada will continue providing grants and scholarships, including:

• polar regional research and activities grants through the Northern Scientific Training program
• awards for Northern residents and early career researchers including fellowships for post-doctoral and visiting researchers
• Antarctic Scholarships to Canadian graduate students conducting research in Antarctica

Through these initiatives, Polar Knowledge Canada will support Canada’s leadership in polar science, foster innovation, and promote collaboration at both the national and international levels.

Polar Knowledge Canada integrates a gender-based analysis plus lens in its policy and decision-making with a focus on Inuit perspectives to support its role as a Northern organization operating in Nunavut. This approach aligns with the agency’s commitment to Article 23 of the Nunavut Agreement and its mandate, which emphasizes the organization's responsibility to engage and support Indigenous communities in its research and knowledge mobilization. In 2025-26, Polar Knowledge Canada will:

• prioritize funding projects that incorporate Indigenous and local knowledge as well as Indigenous leadership in advancing Polar Knowledge Canada’s science and technology goals
• build trusted relationships between researchers at the Canadian High Arctic Research Station and local Indigenous communities through shared information and decision-making
• upport Canadian youth through funding to universities across Canada to foster science and technology in Canada's North
• develop projects which ensure that Indigenous voices are represented through workshops led by Elders and Indigenous youth participation
• enhance inclusivity by seeking and maintaining partnerships with Northern Indigenous organizations, ensuring equal representation of researchers and participants from diverse genders, ages, and backgrounds
• incorporate feedback mechanisms to assess how effectively gender-based analysis plus considerations are being integrated into Polar Knowledge Canada projects, allowing for continuous improvement and responsiveness to the needs of diverse communities

Through these efforts, Polar Knowledge Canada reaffirms its commitment to inclusivity, Indigenous leadership, and equitable engagement in its work.

The increase in actual expenditures from 2022-23 to 2023-24 is mainly due to the one-time in-year funding Polar Knowledge Canada received through a reprofile request. The increase in expenditures from 2023-24 to 2024-25 is primarily due to the one-time funding received in Budget 2024 to support its activities, including the operation of the Canadian High Arctic Research Station.

There are no significant variances in planned spending for 2025-26 to 2027-28.

In 2023-24 and 2024-25, Polar Knowledge Canada received one-time, in-year funding through Budget requests increasing its available funds. In 2025-26 and beyond, the agency does not anticipate any additional funding and is forecasting remaining at its baseline funding levels.

The variance between the 2025-26 planned results and 2024-25 forecast results can be attributed to the incremental funding received in 2024-25, including one-time funding announced in Budget 2024.

Polar Knowledge Canada’s increase in full-time equivalents is mainly due to the continued need for capacity to support the delivery of programs, and management of the Canadian High Arctic Research Station. The agency will continue to evaluate its staffing levels to ensure its resourcing requirements are met to achieve planned results while remaining within budget.

Over the next three years, Polar Knowledge Canada expects its workforce to remain stable at 107 full-time equivalents, ensuring the effective delivery of all operations and programs.

Appropriate minister(s): The Honourable Rebecca Chartrand

Institutional head: Suzanne Kerr, Acting President and Chief Executive Officer

Ministerial portfolio: Northern and Arctic Affairs

Enabling instrument(s): Canadian High Arctic Research Station Act

Year of incorporation / commencement: 2015

Other: Polar Knowledge Canada is overseen by a nine-member Board of Directors, including a Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson. The Board approves the agency's Science and Technology Plan and annual work plan and budget. The Board is accountable to the Minister of Northern Affairs. All members are appointed by Order-in-Council to hold office for terms not exceeding five years and are eligible for re-appointment for a second term of office. Members of the Board of Directors hold office on a part-time basis.

Cambridge Bay Headquarters:

Mailing address:

Polar Knowledge Canada - Canadian High Arctic Research Station

1 Uvajuq Road

P.O. Box 2150

Cambridge Bay, NU, X0B 0C0

Ottawa Office:

Mailing address:

Polar Knowledge Canada

170 Laurier Avenue West, Suite 200

Ottawa, ON, K1P 5V5

Email: communications@polar-polaire.gc.ca

Website: https://www.canada.ca/en/polar-knowledge.html

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budgetary expenditures (dépenses budgétaires)

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A report on the plans and expected performance of an appropriated department over a 3year period. Departmental Plans are usually tabled in Parliament each spring.

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gender-based analysis plus (GBA Plus) (analyse comparative entre les sexes plus [ACS Plus])

Is an analytical tool used to support the development of responsive and inclusive policies, programs, and other initiatives. GBA Plus is a process for understanding who is impacted by the issue or opportunity being addressed by the initiative; identifying how the initiative could be tailored to meet diverse needs of the people most impacted; and anticipating and mitigating any barriers to accessing or benefitting from the initiative. GBA Plus is an intersectional analysis that goes beyond biological (sex) and socio-cultural (gender) differences to consider other factors, such as age, disability, education, ethnicity, economic status, geography (including rurality), language, race, religion, and sexual orientation. Using GBA Plus involves taking a gender- and diversity-sensitive approach to our work. Considering all intersecting identity factors as part of GBA Plus, not only sex and gender, is a Government of Canada commitment.

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For the purpose of the 2025-26 Departmental Plan, government priorities are the high-level themes outlining the government’s agenda in the in the most recent Speech from the Throne.

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An initiative where two or more federal departments are given funding to pursue a shared outcome, often linked to a government priority.

Indigenous business

For the purpose of the Directive on the Management of Procurement Appendix E: Mandatory Procedures for Contracts Awarded to Indigenous Businesses and the Government of Canada’s commitment that a mandatory minimum target of 5% of the total value of contracts is awarded to Indigenous businesses, a department that meets the definition and requirements as defined by the Indigenous Business Directory.

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plan (plan)

The articulation of strategic choices, which provides information on how a department intends to achieve its priorities and associated results. Generally, a plan will explain the logic behind the strategies chosen and tend to focus on actions that lead to the expected result.

planned spending (dépenses prévues)

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voted expenditures (dépenses votées)

Expenditures that Parliament approves annually through an appropriation act. The vote wording becomes the governing conditions under which these expenditures may be made.