Alberta Premier Smith pitching joint Canada-U.S. Norad military base in Arctic

A NORAD base in Arctic Canada would expand the organization’s aerospace and maritime defence efforts, says Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. (Eilis Quinn/Eye on the Arctic)

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is calling for a joint Canada-U.S. Norad military base in Northern Canada, expanding the organization’s aerospace and maritime defence efforts.

In a Thursday statement, Smith said she pitched the idea at a meeting on Wednesday with fellow premiers and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

“To further bolster Canada-U.S. Arctic security, I asked my provincial and federal counterparts in the first ministers’ meeting to consider establishing a joint Canada-U.S. Norad region base in Northern Canada, similar to the Canadian Norad Region (CANR) headquarters in Winnipeg, Manitoba,” she wrote.

Smith has been urging more collaboration with the U.S., as President Donald Trump has threatened to impose 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods starting Saturday.

“The U.S. has emphasized the need for immediate measures on border security, and l stressed the importance of Canada taking that demand seriously,” said Smith of Wednesday’s meeting.

She has called for Ottawa to immediately appoint a Canadian border czar to work with the U.S. on securing the shared border.

While Ottawa has pledged $1.3 billion for its border security plan, Smith’s provincial government is putting $29 million into beefing up surveillance of its shared border with Montana.

Howard Lutnick, Trump’s pick to lead the U.S. Department of Commerce, told the U.S. Senate on Wednesday that he sees the tariffs as a way to get Canada to take action on border security, but they could be followed by other tariffs.

Related stories from around the North: 

Canada: Survey shows Canadians fear losing Arctic territory without stronger action, CBC News

Denmark: ICC warns against sidelining Inuit as global powers eye Greenland, Eye on the Arctic

Finland: US in Greenland could improve Arctic security, Finnish defence minister suggests, Yle News

Greenland: Greenlanders overwhelmingly oppose becoming part of the United States, poll shows, Reuters

Norway: Norway’s Finnmark brigade to boost Arctic border defense, reevaluate training limits, The Independent Barents Observer

Russia: New radars sharpen Russian air defense over northern Finland, Norway, The Independent Barents Observer

SwedenSwedish PM on Trump comments: Only Denmark and Greenland decide, Radio Sweden

United States: Trump again calls to buy Greenland after eyeing Canada and the Panama Canal, Eye on the Arctic

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