The Arctic is at a turning point — here’s how Canada should meet this moment: Senators Francis and Galvez
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What happens in the Arctic does not stay in the Arctic. It is already reshaping global security, energy systems and the stability of our planet’s climate.
That reality came into sharp focus during our recent participation in the Arctic Encounter Summit 2026. The summit was an opportunity to exchange with colleagues at the Conference of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region, and to visit the Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies in Alaska.
One thing is clear: the Arctic is no longer a distant frontier. It is Canada’s frontline.
Like all Arctic nations, Canada is already living the consequences of a warming planet. It is not surprising that planet warming researchers focus on the Arctic: when historical data cannot predict the future, you go where the changes are accelerated.
Nowhere are these changes happening faster than in the North where temperatures are rising at nearly three times the global average. Permafrost is thawing beneath homes and runways. Ice roads, which are essential lifelines for many communities, are disappearing sooner each year. Wildlife patterns are shifting in ways that directly affect food security. For northern and Indigenous communities, climate change is not a future threat; it is a daily reality.
And the effects do not stop there. Across the country, Canadians are facing more intense wildfires, devastating floods and extreme weather events that are costing billions of dollars and forcing people out of their homes. But in the Arctic, these pressures converge and intensify.
As sea ice retreats, new shipping routes open and geopolitical interest grows. As one participant noted during the summit, global priorities are now colliding in the North.
The real question is no longer whether Canada should act, but whether we are prepared to act with the clarity and urgency this moment demands.
First, we need to treat climate change for what it is: a core infrastructure challenge. That means investing in climate resilient housing, reliable clean energy and nature-based, Indigenous-led solutions that protect both communities and ecosystems. Today, many northern and remote communities still depend on diesel, even while sitting on abundant renewable resources. This dependency is costly, polluting and precarious. Transitioning to local, clean energy is not just an environmental goal; it is about sovereignty, security and dignity.
Second, we must move beyond seeing Indigenous Peoples as participants in Arctic governance and recognize them as leaders. They are not stakeholders; they are rights-holders, knowledge keepers and guardians of these lands and waters. What we heard repeatedly from Indigenous researchers at University of Alaska Fairbanks was not opposition to development, but a call for better development — development that respects ecosystems, supports community well-being and creates lasting economic opportunities.
Whether in renewable energy, sustainable fisheries or critical minerals, Indigenous Nations are already shaping solutions that balance economic growth with environmental protection. When projects are co-developed, they are stronger, more durable and more widely supported. The path forward is not consultation as a checkbox; it is true partnership and ownership.
Third, Canada must understand that the Arctic is now central to its geopolitical future. The region is becoming more accessible and more contested. Sovereignty can’t be asserted by presence alone; it must be reinforced through resilient communities, sustainable infrastructure and a clear long-term vision. At the same time, co-operation with Arctic partners remains essential. Security in the North is inseparable from climate stability and human well-being.
We are at a turning point. Decisions being made today about infrastructure, energy and resource development in the Arctic will shape Canada’s future for decades. If done right, they can strengthen communities, support reconciliation and position this country as a leader in a changing world. If done poorly, they risk repeating the extractive patterns that have too often left lasting harm.
The way forward is not complicated, yet it requires political will. We must align our actions with three principles: climate responsibility, Indigenous leadership and long-term sustainability. That means investing wisely, listening carefully and acting decisively.
The Arctic is changing faster than anywhere else on Earth. The question is whether Canada will rise to meet that change or be defined by its consequences.
In the past, the Senate of Canada had a special committee on the Arctic. It is time to reinstate this committee.
Because, in the Arctic, the future isn’t coming, it has already arrived.
Senator Brian Francis the first Indigenous person to represent Prince Edward Island (Epekwitk) in the Senate of Canada.
Senator Rosa Galvez is a civil environmental engineer. She represents the Bedford division of Quebec in the Senate.
This article was published in The Hill Times on May 6, 2026.
What happens in the Arctic does not stay in the Arctic. It is already reshaping global security, energy systems and the stability of our planet’s climate.
That reality came into sharp focus during our recent participation in the Arctic Encounter Summit 2026. The summit was an opportunity to exchange with colleagues at the Conference of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region, and to visit the Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies in Alaska.
One thing is clear: the Arctic is no longer a distant frontier. It is Canada’s frontline.
Like all Arctic nations, Canada is already living the consequences of a warming planet. It is not surprising that planet warming researchers focus on the Arctic: when historical data cannot predict the future, you go where the changes are accelerated.
Nowhere are these changes happening faster than in the North where temperatures are rising at nearly three times the global average. Permafrost is thawing beneath homes and runways. Ice roads, which are essential lifelines for many communities, are disappearing sooner each year. Wildlife patterns are shifting in ways that directly affect food security. For northern and Indigenous communities, climate change is not a future threat; it is a daily reality.
And the effects do not stop there. Across the country, Canadians are facing more intense wildfires, devastating floods and extreme weather events that are costing billions of dollars and forcing people out of their homes. But in the Arctic, these pressures converge and intensify.
As sea ice retreats, new shipping routes open and geopolitical interest grows. As one participant noted during the summit, global priorities are now colliding in the North.
The real question is no longer whether Canada should act, but whether we are prepared to act with the clarity and urgency this moment demands.
First, we need to treat climate change for what it is: a core infrastructure challenge. That means investing in climate resilient housing, reliable clean energy and nature-based, Indigenous-led solutions that protect both communities and ecosystems. Today, many northern and remote communities still depend on diesel, even while sitting on abundant renewable resources. This dependency is costly, polluting and precarious. Transitioning to local, clean energy is not just an environmental goal; it is about sovereignty, security and dignity.
Second, we must move beyond seeing Indigenous Peoples as participants in Arctic governance and recognize them as leaders. They are not stakeholders; they are rights-holders, knowledge keepers and guardians of these lands and waters. What we heard repeatedly from Indigenous researchers at University of Alaska Fairbanks was not opposition to development, but a call for better development — development that respects ecosystems, supports community well-being and creates lasting economic opportunities.
Whether in renewable energy, sustainable fisheries or critical minerals, Indigenous Nations are already shaping solutions that balance economic growth with environmental protection. When projects are co-developed, they are stronger, more durable and more widely supported. The path forward is not consultation as a checkbox; it is true partnership and ownership.
Third, Canada must understand that the Arctic is now central to its geopolitical future. The region is becoming more accessible and more contested. Sovereignty can’t be asserted by presence alone; it must be reinforced through resilient communities, sustainable infrastructure and a clear long-term vision. At the same time, co-operation with Arctic partners remains essential. Security in the North is inseparable from climate stability and human well-being.
We are at a turning point. Decisions being made today about infrastructure, energy and resource development in the Arctic will shape Canada’s future for decades. If done right, they can strengthen communities, support reconciliation and position this country as a leader in a changing world. If done poorly, they risk repeating the extractive patterns that have too often left lasting harm.
The way forward is not complicated, yet it requires political will. We must align our actions with three principles: climate responsibility, Indigenous leadership and long-term sustainability. That means investing wisely, listening carefully and acting decisively.
The Arctic is changing faster than anywhere else on Earth. The question is whether Canada will rise to meet that change or be defined by its consequences.
In the past, the Senate of Canada had a special committee on the Arctic. It is time to reinstate this committee.
Because, in the Arctic, the future isn’t coming, it has already arrived.
Senator Brian Francis the first Indigenous person to represent Prince Edward Island (Epekwitk) in the Senate of Canada.
Senator Rosa Galvez is a civil environmental engineer. She represents the Bedford division of Quebec in the Senate.
This article was published in The Hill Times on May 6, 2026.