Inuit leaders urge Ottawa to follow Greenland's infrastructure lead

Inuit leaders returning from Greenland say Canada's Arctic lags on power, ports and post-secondary facilities and are pressing the federal government to invest in community-focused infrastructure; funding and enabling legislation for a proposed Inuit Nunangat university remain pending.

Inuit leaders who recently visited Greenland say they saw clearer infrastructure and community services there compared with Canada's North, and they are urging the federal government to address those gaps as Arctic security draws more attention. They cited differences in power systems, port capacity and higher-education facilities. Leaders described Greenland's greater use of hydro power, a deepwater port in Nuuk that moves more cargo, and a university that teaches in the Greenlandic language. They also highlighted plans for an Inuit-led university in Inuit Nunangat that still needs federal funding and enabling legislation. Key facts: - Greenland's communities mostly use hydro power, while most communities in Inuit Nunangat still rely on diesel, with Inukjuak, Que., reported as transitioning to hydro. - Nuuk's deepwater port has higher cargo capacity and fewer seasonal-ice constraints than Iqaluit's port in Inuit Nunangat. - Greenland's post-secondary system uses Kalaallisut as a primary language of instruction, while Inuktitut is not the primary language for most Inuit students in their homeland. - Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami selected Arviat as the main campus site for a proposed Inuit Nunangat university; leaders say federal funding commitments and legislation to allow the institution to operate across multiple jurisdictions are still pending. Summary: Leaders say investment in housing, power, ports and an Inuit-led university would support community functioning and signal a domestic presence in the Arctic. They are awaiting a federal commitment of funds and enabling legislation for the proposed university; the timeline and final decisions are undetermined at this time.