Arctic sovereignty, defence on the minds of many Yukon voters

For many Yukon voters, it's become a central concern as they decide how to cast their ballots in the federal election this month: who will work to protect Canada and the North against threats to national sovereignty?

Those voters are not alone. Arctic sovereignty and national defence have become big issues for many people across the country during this campaign. 

"I love seeing the unity, the way Canadians are coming out," said Marie-Louise Boylan, who lives just outside of Whitehorse.

"I'm not really pro-defence, but I know now is the moment." 

The sort of patriotism on display across much of the country in recent months is significant, according to an expert on Arctic history and contemporary Northern policy. 

Whitney Lackenbaeur, Canada research chair in the study of the Canadian North at Trent University, says he's excited — but not surprised — to see the Arctic becoming a prominent topic for all of the federal party leaders. He says it's clearly in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's unpredictable behaviour, and his threats to annex Canada. 

"All this talk about annexing Canada as 51st state ...  it's feeding a sense of disbelief, but also anxiety that the world is changing in fundamental ways," Lackenbaeur said.

 "What does that mean for our Arctic?"

This question echoes concerns heard from Yukoners ahead of election day. 

"Like a lot of people, I think sovereignty is really important ... protecting Canada from obvious threats coming from outside," said Lawrence Purdy of Whitehorse, when asked about what matters to him. 

"I'm looking for a government that can bring people together, rather than dividing them." 

Al Stannard, owner Mandalay Farm just outside of Whitehorse, said he's always been a supporter of the military and the North.

"I want to see the country that I grew up in and loved so much maintain the beauty that it is, and the independence that we deserve," Stannard said. 

"We need to be a secure nation standing on her own."

Mackenzie Neal, also in Whitehorse, says that for him, it's all about about bolstering Canada's defences and securing the borders. 

"I think it's important, especially with the aggression shown by China and Russia," Neal said. 

'It's important for us to have capabilities'

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) has detected and tracked an increase in Russian military activities in the Arctic region in recent years, including bombers and fighter jets operating near Alaska. 

"They do kind of remind us that they're there, and this could be a vector, a pathway, to come and attack North America," Lackenbaeur said. 

"So it's important for us to have capabilities to go and demonstrate that we can meet those kind of threats."

Last month, the Yukon government launched the Canadian Institute for Arctic Security at an international conference in Whitehorse, where officials cited "the need for continued relations with the U.S. military amid current political tensions."

Lackenbaeur agrees, and says the Yukon should still consider Alaska to be an ally in defence.

However, he also says that Yukoners shouldn't fear a military invasion in the region. He says there are several other threats to the Arctic that are not related to military defence.

He cites climate change, crumbling infrastructure, and foreign investments — including control over resources such as critical minerals — as serious pressures in the region. 

"Wildland fires ... flooding — it's extreme weather and it's also the dangers that some of our infrastructure is pretty limited," he said. 

"If there's one cut to the fibreoptic cable running along the Alaska Highway, internet goes down. So there's also a lot of concerns about whether or not we have the right mechanisms to respond to an emergency and whether we have the right kind of resilience."

Lackenbaeur says federal leaders should look at investing in infrastructure that will benefit both civilian and military purposes. 

"What kind of investments can be made in the Yukon that help the Yukon, and by extension all Canadians?"

Yukon's candidates weigh in 

While they may disagree on details, all four federal candidates in the Yukon agree that Arctic security is an important issue. Each has also spoken of the importance of including local and Indigenous knowledge as part of any national strategy. 

"We need to invest in organizations and in human beings who already have the knowledge, who can share that knowledge, in terms of protecting and keeping us safe," NDP candidate Katherine McCallum told CBC News. 

McCallum also emphasized the need to create renewable energy solutions to avoid putting pressure on Arctic resources. 

Liberal candidate Brendan Hanley spoke of the necessity to invest in dual-use infrastructure.

Both Hanley and Conservative candidate Ryan Leef have also suggested pushing for greater support for the Canadian Rangers, an idea that the Green Party also pitched when the party's co-leader came to Whitehorse last week to support local candidate Gabrielle Dupont. The Greens are also pitching a 120,000-person civil defence corps. 

Leef said he wants to see "a little bit more of a military presence in some form or fashion here," arguing it would remind Yukoners of the challenges beyond the territory. 

"We are part of ... a much bigger national picture when it comes to the question of Arctic sovereignty," Leef told CBC News.