Ottawa, Ontario — The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Member of Parliament for Nunavut, Minister of Health and Minister Responsible for the North, arrived in Ottawa today after accompanying Prime Minister Stephen Harper on his annual tour of Canada’s North.

“The Prime Minister’s annual Northern Tour was once again an overwhelming success on many fronts,” said Minister Aglukkaq. “Having the Prime Minister join us in the North year after year is a true reflection of his commitment to promoting the Canadian Arctic as a vital part of our national identity, our sovereignty and our economic security.”

As a result, our government is committed to a Northern Strategy – a vision committed to improving the quality of life for families and communities in the Arctic and ensuring the North reaches its full potential.

The Northern Tour began in Manitoba early this week, where the Prime Minister announced support for essential upgrades to taxiways, ramps, runways and the terminal building entrance road at the Churchill Airport.

On the second day of the Northern Tour, it was announced that Cambridge Bay, Nunavut would be the location for the Canadian High Arctic Research Station. Minister Aglukkaq, joined by the Honourable John Duncan, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, made the announcement from the community, while the Prime Minister made the same announcement from Churchill, Manitoba due to unforeseen weather conditions.

As a world-class, year-round and multidisciplinary facility, the Canadian Arctic Research Station will be at the cutting-edge of Arctic science and technology and play a key role in unlocking the enormous economic potential of the North.

“As a central location easily accessible to all four parts of the North, the new Canadian High Arctic Research Station belongs in Cambridge Bay,” said Minister Aglukkaq. “This facility will act as a world-class hub for science and technology, maintaining a strong research presence right here in Cambridge Bay that will serve not only our nation, but the rest of the world.”

Following the announcement, Minister Aglukkaq and Minister Duncan joined a classroom of local children gathered at the May Hakongak Community Library and Cultural Centre for story telling and a variety of country food.

In Resolute Bay, the Prime Minister, Minister Aglukkaq and Minister Duncan participated in Operation NANOOK 10 – a major sovereignty exercise conducted by the Canadian Forces, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Canadian Coast Guard and other government departments and agencies in Canada’s North. The exercise features sovereignty and presence patrolling, military exercises and a whole-of-Government operation that focuses on containment and remediation of a simulated tanker leak in the Resolute Bay area.

Minister Aglukkaq later departed to Inuvik, Northwest Territories with the Prime Minister’s tour where they participated in a community feast and took part in traditional Inuvialuit dance.

The following day in Tuktoyaktuk, the Prime Minister, accompanied by Minister Aglukkaq, Minister Duncan, the Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and Mayor Gruben, announced the establishment of the Tarium Niryutait Marine Protected Area, aimed to protect one of the world’s largest seasonal populations of beluga whales. Also in attendance were Nellie Cournoyea, Chair and CEO of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and Frank Pokiak, Chair of the Inuvialuit Game Council. The designation of the Marine Protected Area is representative of the successful collaboration among the Inuvialuit people, private industry, local stakeholders and governments.

On the final day of the Northern Tour, the Prime Minister, Minister Aglukkaq and Minister Duncan traveled to Whitehorse, Yukon to announce support for affordable homes for families, seniors, people with disabilities and Aboriginal peoples across the Territory. In partnership with the Government of Yukon, this project invests in the construction and retrofit of the 323 new and existing housing units in the Territory.

“As we wrap up another positive Northern Tour, I am overwhelmingly proud of my culture, my Territory, my North,” said Minister Aglukkaq. “Reflecting on the week, I am so happy to have witnessed our Prime Minister’s commitment to keeping the North a priority in this country.”

If you have any questions about the information in this release or any other matters, please visit Minister Aglukkaq’s website at leonaaglukkaq.ca or contact her office at 613-992-2848.