OTTAWA, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Thursday announced a plan worth over 40 billion Canadian dollars (about 29.3 billion U.S. dollars) to enhance the country's defense and economic development in the Arctic.
Carney said that after decades of limited investment, Canada is now securing its northern territory and unlocking its vast resources. "In this new era, we cannot rely on other nations for our security and prosperity. We are defending and building together, the true North, strong and free," he said.
The plan includes over 35 billion Canadian dollars (25.6 billion U.S. dollars) for military infrastructure upgrades, such as airfields, hangars, fuel facilities, and multipurpose buildings. It also focuses on improving operational support across northern regions to enhance the armed forces' presence and responsiveness.
Additionally, four major projects, totaling about 10 billion Canadian dollars (7.3 billion U.S. dollars), have been fast-tracked, including the construction of Canada's first overland link to a deep-water port on the Arctic Ocean. This will connect critical mineral resources to national highways and global markets.
The projects are scheduled to be operational by the early 2030s.
The Canadian Arctic, which covers 40 percent of Canada's landmass and 70 percent of its coastline, spans approximately 4 million square km and is home to more than 140,000 people. ■