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CBC
25 minutes ago
- CBC
True sovereignty
Amidst all the buzz about the future of the Canadian Arctic, some Nunavummiut believe there's one voice missing — the young generation of Inuit who call this land home. Your browser does not support the video tag. Pause By Samuel Wat Jul. 27, 2025 Gazing at the land and water surrounding Apex Beach, Iqaluit's Manu Kunuk reflects on how his home in the Arctic has become a focal point for geopolitical tensions. There's a lot of uncertainty around the world right now, but if there's one thing he's sure about, that's the need for Inuit — and especially youth — to be at the heart of Arctic policy. 'We're the future of the land — we're going to be the next leaders,' he said. Like many Nunavummiut, Kunuk is still trying to learn about the true meaning of Arctic sovereignty, but he believes it starts with protecting the land and the people living on it. From a colonial perspective, sovereignty in Canada's North is often tied to military exercises, major infrastructure projects and defence spending — actions the government takes to show its control of the vast region. Less commonly explored is how Nunavut's communities and the people who live there are already at the heart of Arctic sovereignty. Nolan Qamanirq, from Arctic Bay, doesn't believe there is a word in Inuktitut that truly describes sovereignty, and it's hard to talk about land ownership because his ancestors didn't believe in that. 'The way the term is used today, especially in Ottawa and in places in Iqaluit, it really feels hollow. It's about military presence, mining approvals, transportation corridors. It's really not about what Inuit and communities prioritize,' he said. images expandAlassua Hanson set out on a Students on Ice expedition in the Arctic in 2016. This is one of several avenues she believes helps empower youth to become future leaders. The way the Canadian government is currently trying to reaffirm its borders in the Arctic makes Iqaluit's Alassua Hanson think back to the country's colonial history. 'I find the federal government does control Arctic sovereignty, in a way, because they did try to claim Nunavut before with the missionaries. And Inuit in general were trying to stay on their own land,' she said. These days, Hanson sees an increasing number of meetings, forums and summits about Arctic sovereignty. She believes some of those discussions should also happen inside the classroom and in youth groups. 'I think a lot of youth should be present or should be knowledgeable about ongoing things for Arctic sovereignty. And I don't think a lot of it is taught in school at all,' she said. Giving back to the community Three of Canada's main parties made military announcements in Iqaluit as part of their election campaign blitz earlier this year, but not all of those pledges involved consultation with local leaders. Nunavut's Premier, P.J. Akeeagok said he only learned about the Conservatives' Arctic announcement the day of, and he stressed the importance of consultations. Part of the Liberal government's own announcement in March was to establish three new military hubs in the North, with Iqaluit set to be home to one of them. At the time, the Department of National Defence said the hubs will consist of airstrips, logistics facilities and equipment and are intended to support military aircraft operations and also serve as storage for equipment and spare parts. 'Sovereignty isn't proven by planting a flag or opening a port. It's proven by a community's ability to feed itself, govern itself, and pass on knowledge without interference.' Nolan Qamanirq To many Canadian leaders, Iqaluit is a strategic location for missions in the Arctic. It has a functional airport and seaport that can accommodate both the navy and air force, for example, and it is also home to one of Canada's forward operating locations, which supports temporary missions. Yet Kunuk says he often struggles to find information about Arctic sovereignty and updates to what's happening in the territory. If the Canadian government is serious about sovereignty initiatives, he would like to see more information publicly shared about security developments. 'Hopefully community consultations, maybe even more training [if there is] supposed to be a military base here,' he said. Bringing Inuit into the conversation Despite all the talk, Hanson doesn't see much of a military presence in Nunavut. And when there is, she said she often doesn't see Inuit involved. She said she knows very little about what happens up in Alert, Nunavut, for example — the location of Canada's northernmost military outpost. She knows of a few people who head up there occasionally for work, but very few of them are Inuit. When there are members of the military in town, or people visiting for some Arctic security conference, she hasn't seen those visitors engaging much with the community. 'They could be more involved. They could provide food hampers, they could do a workshop on the meeting and what they're doing here. They could be present in the community rather than holding five day long meetings or get an opportunity to hear from the locals,' she said. She adds that youth should get the opportunity to hear about the results of the work these travellers are doing in the community. Creating global citizens Empowering Canada's future leaders has been a lifelong passion for Geoff Green. He founded Students on Ice (SOI) 25 years ago, which organizes educational expeditions — combining science and traditional knowledge — for youth to learn more about the Arctic. Talking about military spending and nation-building infrastructure projects is all well and good, he said, but he wonders where the investment is for youth. 'You're building a house of cards if you're not also investing in youth … they're going to be the ones we need for an upskilled workforce, and the leadership that's needed,' he said. In his view, a big part of youth empowerment comes from investments in education, plus programs to connect with the land and other youth around the world. He said there are more opportunities for youth nowadays compared to when he first founded SOI, but it's imperative that Canada builds on that. 'So engaging with youth from other parts of the world, seeing their worldviews, their knowledge bases, and having those friendships and relationships formed [early] are critical. We need global youth addressing global issues together,' he said. 'It's an investment in experiential education, which is truly one of the most proven and most powerful forms of education.' Kunuk echoes that sentiment, having been a delegate to international forums in the past, including to the Arctic Circle Assembly in Iceland last year. 'It really opens the doors for me, especially being here in Nunavut, in an isolated community and territory,' he said. images expandFor Manu Kunuk, Arctic sovereignty means ensuring the people living in the region are healthy and well. No flag or port can replace true sovereignty Ultimately, Qamanirq believes Arctic sovereignty can only exist if Canada recognizes the true priorities of northern communities. 'Sovereignty isn't proven by planting a flag or opening a port," he said. 'It's proven by a community's ability to feed itself, govern itself, and pass on knowledge without interference.' 'I don't think we need more youth leadership programs that teach us how to behave like bureaucrats. We need more programs that teach us our rights in our language, that explain what was negotiated in the land claims and what was left out," he added. Qamanirq also calls on Canada to be more open to partnerships with other countries in the circumpolar world, who share similar interests and challenges. 'If there was a serious attitude about sovereignty in the Arctic, [Canada] would let Inuit strengthen ties across the Arctic without forcing national policy filters. These connections are older than the borders and we shouldn't have to ask permission to remember them.' About the Author Footer Links My Account Profile CBC Gem Newsletters Connect with CBC Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram Mobile RSS Podcasts Contact CBC Submit Feedback Help Centre Audience Relations, CBC P.O. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6 Toll-free (Canada only): 1-866-306-4636 TTY/Teletype writer: 1-866-220-6045 About CBC Corporate Info Sitemap Reuse & Permission Terms of Use Privacy Jobs Our Unions Independent Producers Political Ads Registry AdChoices Services Ombudsman Public Appearances Commercial Services CBC Shop Doing Business with Us Renting Facilities Accessibility It is a priority for CBC to create a website that is accessible to all Canadians including people with visual, hearing, motor and cognitive challenges. Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. About CBC Accessibility Accessibility Feedback © 2025 CBC/Radio-Canada. All rights reserved. Visitez
Canada News.Net
30 minutes ago
- Canada News.Net
Starmer, Modi hail long-sought India-UK free trade deal
LONDON, U.K.: In a significant step forward for post-Brexit Britain and rising global power India, Prime Ministers Keir Starmer and Narendra Modi on July 24 concluded a long-awaited free trade agreement that will dramatically reduce tariffs on key goods and deepen economic and strategic cooperation between the two countries. The signing took place at Chequers, the British Prime Minister's official country residence, where trade ministers Jonathan Reynolds of the U.K. and Piyush Goyal of India formalized the pact. The deal, years in the making, was hailed as a turning point in bilateral relations and a symbol of renewed ambition on both sides. Starmer described it as "the most substantial and economically transformative trade agreement" the United Kingdom has entered into since its departure from the European Union in 2020. Modi, echoing the sentiment, called it "a historic day" in India–U.K. relations. Alongside the trade pact, the two nations unveiled nearly six billion pounds (US$8 billion) in new commercial and investment commitments across strategic sectors such as artificial intelligence, aerospace, dairy, and clean energy. Both leaders pledged closer collaboration in defense, climate action, healthcare, and migration policy. The deal, which still requires ratification by the British Parliament, has been in negotiation since early 2022. Talks were launched initially under then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who ambitiously promised a conclusion by the Diwali festival that year. However, negotiations saw multiple delays under the former Conservative government, only gaining new momentum after the 2024 elections, which saw Modi win re-election and Labour come to power under Starmer. Under the agreement, India's average tariff on British exports will drop sharply from 15 percent to three percent. Notably, tariffs on Scotch whisky and English gin — long a sticking point — will be cut in half from 150 percent to 75 percent, and gradually reduced to 40 percent over a decade. Automotive tariffs, which currently exceed 100 percent, will fall to 10 percent under a tariff-rate quota system. The U.K. projects that the deal will boost bilateral trade by 25.5 billion pounds ($35 billion) annually by 2040 and inject nearly five billion pounds ($6.8 billion) a year into the British economy. Meanwhile, India's Trade Ministry has stated that 99 percent of Indian exports, including textiles, leather goods, and food items, will be granted duty-free access to the U.K. market. Beyond the numbers, the agreement underscores a renewed political and cultural closeness. Nearly two million people of Indian origin live in the U.K., a legacy of deep historical ties dating back to the colonial era, which ended in 1947. Starmer emphasized that shared heritage and people-to-people connections provide a strong foundation for a modern partnership. "The U.K. and India have unique bonds of history, of family and of culture," he said. "This deal marks the beginning of a new chapter — ambitious, modern, and built for the future." With a nod to the cricket rivalry currently playing out between the two nations, Modi added a lighthearted metaphor: "Cricket is a great symbol of our partnership. There may be a swing and a miss at times, but we always play with a straight bat. Together, we are building a high-scoring, enduring alliance." The agreement is seen not just as a bilateral milestone, but as a signal of Britain's growing pivot toward the Indo-Pacific and India's emergence as a central player in global trade diplomacy.
CBC
33 minutes ago
- CBC
Nova Scotia Power temporarily shut off power in part of Cape Breton to carry out repairs
A power outage affecting over 3,000 customers in the Whycocomagh area of Cape Breton was expanded for two hours at noon AT on Sunday as Nova Scotia Power carried out repairs. But as of 3:30 p.m. AT Sunday the utility's outage map showed that power had been restored to all affected areas. On Saturday night, over 9,000 customers were affected by the outage, which also included Chéticamp, Inverness, Mabou and Baddeck. Sunday's planned outage included customers in the areas that previously had their power restored. In a post on X, the utility said the additional outage was being done to ensure power could be safely restored to all areas. At one point, Sunday more than 11,000 customers were without electricity. Asked what the cause of the initial outage was, a Nova Scotia Power spokesperson said the company is focused on restoring power. Bonny MacIsaac, warden for the Municipality of the County of Inverness, said the outage coincided with the busy Inverness Gathering weekend. She said some businesses had to close as a result of the outage and haven't reopened. This includes the only grocery store in the community of Inverness, said MacIsaac.
