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A recent Canadian Senate report on Arctic security argues that the concept must extend beyond defence to include environmental, economic and social dimensions, especially the well-being of northern communities.

This reflects a broader shift in thinking. Climate change is opening Arctic waters, increasing shipping traffic and access to natural resources.

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At the same time, new threats — including long-range missiles and cyber operations — mean geography alone no longer protects Canada’s North. Security also depends on something more basic: people.

Northern Canada faces significant labour shortages, limited infrastructure and declining or stagnant populations. These challenges affect everything from emergency response and health care to transportation and construction. Without a stable work force and strong communities, Canada’s ability to maintain a consistent presence in the Arctic is weakened.

Research shows that immigration can help address demographic and labour challenges in rural and northern regions. However, attracting newcomers is only part of the equation — retaining them remains a major challenge.

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The urgency of this issue is rapidly growing. Russia has invested heavily in Arctic military infrastructure while China has declared itself a “near-Arctic state,” increasing its research and economic activities in the region.

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Canada’s Arctic sovereignty has long been associated with geography and military presence. But sovereignty is now also about resilience — the ability of communities to live, work and thrive in the North.

The Centre for Immigrant Research, a Calgary-based Canadian think tank, argues in its recent work on the North that immigration and migration — when thoughtfully designed and implemented in partnership with Indigenous and territorial governments — can play a key role in strengthening regional resilience and national sovereignty.

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