The Honourable Julian Fantino, Associate Minister of National Defence, today visited Operation NUNALIVUT 2015, one of the Canadian Armed Forces’ (CAF) premier High Arctic military exercises, to highlight the Harper Government’s commitment to protecting Canada’s northern borders. Minister Fantino met with Canadian Armed Forces personnel, who demonstrate Canada’s readiness and ability to operate in the challenging Arctic environment to counter any threat to Canada’s Arctic Sovereignty.

The large scale military exercise brings together Canadian Armed Forces members from the Third Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (3 PPCLI), the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), the Royal Canadian Air Force, and Canadian Rangers. During his trip, Minister Fantino will also visit the headquarters of the Joint Task Force (North), as well as the 1 Canadian Rangers Patrol Group, in addition to visiting the ice dive site of the HMS Erebus.

Quick Facts

• Commanded by Joint Task Force (North), Operation NUNALIVUT 2015 began on 1 April and runs until 22 April, and involves more than 200 CAF personnel deploying from across Canada.
• Operation NUNALIVUT is a sovereignty operation conducted annually since 2007 in Canada’s North, providing an opportunity for the CAF to assert Canada’s sovereignty over its northernmost regions, to demonstrate the ability to operate in the harsh winter environment in remote areas of the High Arctic, and to enhance CAF capability to respond to any situation in Canada’s North.
• The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) exercise Canada’s sovereignty in the North by conducting several major operations each year to demonstrate the ability to operate in the harsh winter environment in remote areas of the High Arctic, and to enhance CAF capability to respond to any situation in Canada’s North.

Quotes

“Seeing the remarkable men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces – including our Canadian Rangers – operate in Canada’s high Arctic has been an honour. Our Government has never been more committed to our CAF personnel and we will continue to support them as they protect our northern borders and assert our sovereignty in the region.”

The Honourable Julian Fantino, Associate Minister of National Defence