Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I said in my Member's statement, I would have questions for the Premier.
Can the Premier explain how the GNWT liaisons with the national defence in security efforts? Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Honourable Premier.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Canada takes the lead on international security and defence, including Arctic security. The Department of National Defence will respond to any military threat in the Arctic. Canada is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) which supports security of member nations. Canada and the United States partner in the North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) with the goal of defending North America and protecting critical infrastructure in Canada and the States.
Last summer, they committed to modernizing our north warning system, of which we have seven in the Inuvialuit region.
Our security is a priority for the GNWT and for our Indigenous partners. It's a priority in our NWT chapter of the Arctic and Northern Policy Framework, in fact. So we meet regularly with the joint task force here in the North. They regularly conduct exercises throughout the North that many of us are aware of. It includes the Canadian Armed Forces and Reserve members, including our Canadian Rangers.
We also participate in the Arctic Security Working Group where we share information and cooperation among federal and territorial government departments, including the national defence, the coast guard, the Canadian space agency, the RCMP, the United States military, as well as nongovernment organizations, academics, private sector, and other stakeholders. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My understanding of the Arctic Council, that Russia has now been made the chair on the last time that they met. So what role does the Arctic Council, which Russia currently is the chair, have in Arctic security and what tables are GNWT at in this or where any conversations taking place in this? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Arctic Council is actually a forum for cooperation and collaboration on critical issues affecting the Arctic, but it doesn't include defence and security.
However, based on what's going on in the Ukraine, member countries, including Canada, have raised concerns about Russia's leadership of the Arctic Council and they're pausing participation on all meetings of the council at this time.
I also want to say that since this has been going on, I've met with the northern Premiers across the three territories. We all have concerns, and we've written a letter to our prime minister to request a meeting with him to discuss the Arctic security.
We've also requested that Arctic sovereignty be included in our next Council of Federation meeting, which happens this summer, and we want to be an agenda it needs to be a priority for all jurisdictions across Canada. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You know, I think in this House when it was raised yesterday that there was a Russian plane landing, you know, everybody kind of gets excited and we think for a while there, we're just watching it on TV but, you know, it's just over the ocean for us. It's just across the road or, some may say.
So does the Premier expect an increase of military presence in the NWT, especially around the coast in Inuvik now or in the near future, or is any of that discussion been happening? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's no doubt that our waters are opening up. We've known that for a while; we're watching it. Canada does acknowledge that the Arctic is becoming an international interest, and we've been having discussions on that and those will continue.
Right now in our discussions with Canada, there's no clear threat. The threat is on Ukraine. But we're going to continue to have the discussions, including the one with the prime minister that we've asked to meet with now. We need to ensure the security of Northerners.
But I also want to reinforce to the people of the Northwest Territories that we're going to have Russian tourists. We're going to have researchers. We're going to have explorers. We possibly will have family members of Russian residents that live in the NWT. The civilians of Russia are not the threat. So people need to realize that.
I've been watching the news, we've all been watching, and many Russian people are also not liking what's going on in the Ukraine. So don't blame all people. But I do want to reassure the residents, again, that the GNWT and our sister territories are aware of what's going on. We're watching closely, and we're working closely with the federal government to make sure that we protect our Arctic. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Honourable Premier. Final supplementary, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Premier for that. You know, I just wanted to bring it up in the House so that way, you know, our residents know kind of where we are as a territory in discussions or what's the threat and, as you said, there's no threat at this time, which is great news. And I'm glad that you mentioned the part where, you know, we don't we will have Russian families and tourists and people coming here. And, you know, I know better than a lot of people, like Indigenous people being targeted for just of who they are. And with COVID we found out you know, with COVID, we noticed that Asiandescent people were being targeted, you know, so more of just a thank you for your information, and I'm glad that you know, I'm glad I'm Canadian. Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. I take that as a comment. Thank you. Oral questions. Member for Great Slave.
