Iqaluit, Nunavut - The Canadian Arctic covers 40 per cent of Canada's territory and plays a fundamental role in our national identity. Expansions in commercial shipping, the impacts of climate change, and increased maritime activity in the Arctic have underscored the importance of safe navigation in the region.
Today, the Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, was in Iqaluit, Nunavut to unveil the names of the Canadian Coast Guard's two future Polar Icebreakers: the CCGS Arpatuuq and CCGS Imnaryuaq. The vessels' names were chosen in collaboration with Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami for their cultural significance to Inuit, marking another step forward in the Government of Canada's commitment to build a stronger relationship with Indigenous Peoples based on rights, respect, cooperation, and partnership.
Once built, the Polar Icebreakers will be the largest vessels in the Canadian Coast Guard's fleet of the future. The CCGS Arpatuuq and CCGS Imnaryuaq will enable the Canadian Coast Guard to operate in the Canadian Arctic year-round to support Indigenous Peoples and Northern communities, Arctic sovereignty, high Arctic science, and emergency response.
This announcement follows the recent name unveiling and launch of the Canadian Coast Guard's new Offshore Oceanographic Science Vessel, the CCGS Naalak Nappaaluk, at Vancouver Shipyards in British Columbia. The CCGS Naalak Nappaaluk pays tribute to an esteemed Inuk Elder, and the name was also chosen in collaboration with Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami.
As part of today's announcement, Minister Lebouthillier also marked the launch of the Canadian Coast Guard's Arctic Strategy. The Strategy outlines the Canadian Coast Guard's vision for the Arctic region over the next decade and was developed in collaboration with Inuit, First Nations, and Métis peoples. As noted in the Strategy, the Canadian Coast Guard is enhancing its year-round presence in the Arctic with innovative programs, a modernized fleet, an equitable and representative workforce, and policies that are made in the North, by the North, and for the North.
Finally, Minister Lebouthillier announced that year two of the Canadian Hydrographic Service's dedicated mission to conduct hydrographic surveys in the Arctic will launch from Iqaluit on August 26, 2024. These surveys are critical to advance knowledge of the Arctic seabed, and the data collected plays a significant role in enhancing navigational safety in a challenging marine environment.
Funded through the Oceans Protection Plan, the initiative supports job training and provides employment opportunities for post-secondary Indigenous students to work aboard the vessel as cadets while supporting the mission, which will continue to improve marine safety in the challenging environment of the Arctic Ocean.
