On 8 April the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Defence Minister Bill Blair released Our North, Strong and Free – a defence policy update that responds to the significant global shifts witnessed since Canada’s comprehensive defence policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged, was announced in 2017.
The accompanying media release said the most urgent and important task Canada faces is asserting its sovereignty in the Arctic and northern regions, where the changing physical and geopolitical landscapes have created new threats and vulnerabilities to Canada and Canadians. This includes the need to upgrade our continental defences to threats or defeat them when necessary.
