The extent to which climatic conditions are opening the Arctic to shipping is illustrated by the prospect of Russian tankers that are not designed for Arctic conditions using the Northwest Passage, which links the Atlantic and Pacific through Canadian Arctic waters, to deliver oil to China.
Canada’s critical minerals strategy would need to reduce regulatory burdens in order to accelerate Arctic infrastructure construction.
A new Conservative government may pay greater attention to the Arctic but will continue to face constraints on regional spending.
Canada’s Indigenous population in the Arctic may push for greater participation in decision-making about the region.
Immigration to the Arctic from elsewhere in Canada and beyond will increase, boosting the region’s non-Indigenous population.
